Policy Recommendations

What is a Management Action Recommendation?

During an investigation, OPA sometimes identifies issues with SPD policies or practices that have implications beyond the case at hand. To address them, OPA can issue a Management Action Recommendation (MAR) in the form of a letter to the Chief of Police identifying specific issues and recommending changes. A MAR is a tool for correcting gaps, ambiguities, or concerns with SPD policies and/or training. SPD is not required to implement OPA's recommendations, but they do actively collaborate and attempt to find solutions.

Below are all MARs issued by OPA since 2018, as well as the responses provided by SPD, if available. Links to MARs issued between 2015-2017 are located below their related Closed Case Summary on our Closed Case Summaries page.

Status Definitions

Active: SPD is reviewing the recommendation(s) and will notify OPA when action has been completed.

In Progress: SPD has provided an update to OPA indicating a plan to address the recommendation(s). The MAR is still open.

Partially Implemented: OPA considers the MAR complete. SPD implemented one or more recommendations. For the recommendation(s) SPD did not implement, a rationale was provided.

Fully Implemented: OPA considers the MAR complete. SPD implemented all recommendation(s) proposed by OPA.

Declined Action: OPA considers the MAR complete. SPD indicated why no action was taken on the recommendation(s). This rationale may be based on feasibility, law, policy and/or a difference in opinion.

Management Action Recommendations - By Year

Date Issued	Case #	Topic	OPA Status
September 20, 2023	2023OPA-0291 2024COMP-0005	Pursuing Alternative Transportation	Fully Implemented
September 20, 2023	2023OPA-0300 2024COMP-0006	Off-Duty Employment	Active
September 20, 2023	2023OPA-0523 2024COMP-0007	Employee Timekeeping	Active
June 28, 2024	2023OPA-0418 2024COMP-0004	De Minimis Force on Restrained Persons	Fully Implemented
May 29, 2024	2022OPA-0033 2024COMP-0002	Spit Sock Use	Fully Implemented
May 29, 2024	2023OPA-0155 2024COMP-0003	Releasing Evidence	Active
March 22, 2024	2024-COMP-0001	3rd Avenue Corridor	Fully Implemented
September 21, 2023	2023OPA-0058 2023COMP-0007	Vehicle Tactics and Joint Taskforce Agreements	Fully Implemented
September 21, 2023	2022OPA-0361 2023COMP-0001	Money Evidence	Partially Implemented
August 10, 2023	2022OPA-0126 2023COMP-0005	Un-handcuffing Screenings	Declined Action
August 10, 2023	2022OPA-0254 2023COMP-0006	Use of Force on Restrained Persons	Declined
August 10, 2023	2023OPA-0047 2023COMP-0004	Taser Use	Partially Implemented

Date Issued	Case #	Topic	OPA Status
November 7, 2022	2022OPA-0042 2022COMP-0015	Deadly Force Clarification	Fully Implemented
August 9, 2022	2021OPA-0528 2022COMP-0012	Vehicle Eluding/Pursuits	Partially Implemented
August 9, 2022	2021OPA-0529 2022COMP-0013	East Precinct Garage	In Progress
August 9, 2022	2020OPA-0753 2022COMP-0014	Vehicle-to-Vehicle Contact	In Progress
June 9, 2022	2021OPA-0398 2022COMP-0010	Case Management	In Progress
June 9, 2022	2021OPA-0437 2022COMP-0011	Employee Timekeeping	In Progress
May 3, 2022	2021OPA-0238 2022COMP-0009	Firearm Storage	Fully Implemented
April 29, 2022	2021OPA-0343 2022COMP-0008	Patrol Officer Responsibilities	Declined Action
March 21, 2022	2020OPA-0329 2022COMP-0007	Rifle Storage	Declined Action
March 21, 2022	2020OPA-0621 2022COMP-0006	Email Access	Declined Action
March 2, 2022	2021OPA-0263 2022COMP-0005	Vehicle Arrest Scenarios	Fully Implemented
March 2, 2022	2020OPA-0513 2022COMP-0004	Car Brigades	Partially Implemented
February 8, 2022	2021OPA-0281 2021OPA-0287 2022COMP-0003	Vehicle Pursuits	Declined Action
February 8, 2022	2020OPA-0583 2020OPA-0618 2022COMP-0002	Bicycles as Impact Weapons	Fully Implemented
February 1, 2022	2021OPA-0094 2021COMP-0049	Subjects with Knives	Fully Implemented
January 10, 2022	2021OPA-0188 2022COMP-0001	Reporting Policy Violations	Active
January 10, 2022	2021OPA-0229	Bias Complaints Against PEOs	Completed

Date Issued	Case #	Topic	OPA Status
December 16, 2021	2021OPA-0223 2021COMP-0045	Canine Deployment	Fully Implemented
December 16, 2021	2021OPA-0149 2021COMP-0044	FIT Investigations	In Progress
November 18, 2021	2021OPA-0165 2021OPA-0171 2021COMP-0042	Traffic Section Mask Compliance	Fully Implemented
September 21, 2021	2021OPA-0125 2021COMP-0042	Traffic Section Mask Compliance	Fully Implemented
September 21, 2021	2017OPA-1085 2021COMP-0041	High-Risk Vehicle Stops	Declined Action
August 25, 2021	2020OPA-0519 2021COMP-0039	Responding to Subject with Knives	Fully Implemented
August 25, 2021	2020OPA-0766 2021COMP-0040	Use of Force Definitions	Fully Implemented
August 2, 2021	2021OPA-0024 2021COMP-0036	Medical Exemptions	Partially Implemented
July 12, 2021	2020OPA-0748 2021COMP-0035	Handcuffing Exception	Declined Action
June 9, 2021	2020OPA-0741 2021COMP-0032	Long Range Acoustic Device	Fully Implemented
June 9, 2021	2020OPA-0731 2021COMP-0031	Surveillance	Fully Implemented
June 9, 2021	2020OPA-0511 2021COMP-0030	Timekeeping	Declined Action
May 20, 2021	2020OPA-0628 2021COMP-0020	Leaf Blowers in Demonstrations	Declined Action
May 20, 2021	2020OPA-0484 2021COMP-0019	Miranda Warnings	Fully Implemented
April 29, 2021	2020OPA-0613 2021COMP-0018	Providing Medical Aid	Declined Action
April 29, 2021	2020OPA-0495 2020OPA-0644 2021COMP-0017	Use of Force - Blast Balls	Partially Implemented
April 8, 2021	2020OPA-0620 2021COMP-0016	Arresting SPD Employees	Fully Implemented
February 25, 2021	2020OPA-0477 2021COMP-0012	Enforcement Towards Media	Fully Implemented
February 4, 2021	2020OPA-0403 2021COMP-0012	Enforcement Towards Media	Fully Implemented
February 4, 2021	2020OPA-0328 2021COMP-0011	Complex Incident Command	Fully Implemented
January 14, 2021	2020OPA-0419 2021COMP-0005	Use of Force - Blast Balls	Partially Implemented
January 13, 2021	2020OPA-0425 2021COMP-0004	Screening SPD Social Media Posts	Fully Implemented
January 13, 2021	2020OPA-0344 2021COMP-0003	Force Reporting in Demonstrations	Partially Implemented
January 5, 2021	2020OPA-0082 2021COMP-0002	Vehicles as Deadly Weapons	Fully Implemented
January 5, 2021	2020OPA-0330 2020OPA-0332 2021COMP-0001	Escalation of Crowds	Partially Implemented

Date Issued	Case #	Topic	OPA Status
December 14, 2020	2020OPA-0303 2020COMP-0016	High-Risk Vehicle Stops	Declined Action
December 9, 2020	2020OPA-0326 2020COMP-0015	Recording Demonstrations on BWV	Declined Action
December 2, 2020	2020OPA-0369 2020COMP-0014	Racial Equity	Partially Implemented
December 2, 2020	2020OPA-0305 2020COMP-0013	Surveillance	Fully Implemented
September 28, 2020	2019OPA-0922 2020COMP-0012	Traffic Contact Reports	Fully Implemented
September 28, 2020	2019OPA-0422 2020COMP-0011	Leadership Expectations	Declined Action
August 3, 2020	2020OPA-0199 2020COMP-0009	Mental Health Transport	Fully Implemented
April 21, 2020	2017OPA-0089 2020COMP-0008	Court Dispositions	Fully Implemented
April 8, 2020	2019OPA-0190 2020COMP-0007	Sound Transit Response	Declined Action
March 30, 2020	2018OPA-0395 2020COMP-0006	Special Commission Permits	Partially Implemented
March 30, 2020	2018OPA-0358 2020COMP-0005	Special Commission Permits	Partially Implemented
March 30, 2020	2019OPA-0034 2020COMP-0004	Employee Timekeeping	Declined Action
March 30, 2020	2018OPA-0742 2020COMP-0003	Handling Money Evidence	Fully Implemented
January 17, 2020	2019OPA-0383 2020COMP-0002	Employee Wellness	Fully Implemented
January 9, 2020	2019OPA-0479 2020COMP-0001	Body-Worn Video Recording	Fully Implemented

Date Issued	Case #	Topic	OPA Status
12/16/2019	2019OPA-0186 2019COMP-0037	Use of Force Reporting and Investigation	Fully Implemented
12/16/2019	2019OPA-0420 2019COMP-0036	Officer Deployment	Fully Implemented
11/14/2019	2019OPA-0364 2019COMP-0033	Search Warrant Exception	Fully Implemented
11/8/2019	2019OPA-0168 2019COMP-0032	Ruses	Partially Implemented
11/1/2019	2019OPA-0280 2019COMP-0031	Vehicle Pursuits	Fully Implemented
10/15/2019	2019OPA-0015 2019COMP-0030	Use of Force: Neck and Carotid Restraint	Withdrawn
10/10/2019	2019OPA-0225 2019COMP-0029	Search Warrant Exception	Fully Implemented
10/10/2019	2019OPA-0105 2019COMP-0028	Canine Deployment	Fully Implemented
9/19/2019	2019OPA-0308 2019COMP-0027	Search Warrant Exception	Fully Implemented
8/1/2019	2019OPA-0069 2019COMP-0025	Custodial Search	Fully Implemented
7/3/2019	2017OPA-0886 2019COMP-0024	Medical Leave	Declined Action
6/25/2019	2019OPA-0097 2019COMP-0017	Criminal Justice Information Systems	Fully Implemented
6/18/2019	2019OPA-0172 2019COMP-0021	Canine Deployment	Fully Implemented
6/11/2019	2018OPA-1107 2019COMP-0016	Custodial Search	Fully Implemented
6/11/2019	2018OPA-0740 2019COMP-0015	Taser Application	Fully Implemented
6/11/2019	2018OPA-1037 2019COMP-0020	Canine Deployment	Fully Implemented
5/29/2019	2018OPA-0783 2019COMP-0014	Canine Deployment	Fully Implemented
5/29/2019	2015OPA-0370 2019COMP-0013	Special Commission Permits	Partially Implemented
3/15/2019	2018OPA-0872 2019COMP-0019	Taser Application	Fully Implemented
3/15/2019	2018OPA-0772 2019COMP-0010	Impact of Swatting	Partially Implemented
3/15/2019	2018OPA-0751 2019COMP-0009	Detainee Checks	Fully Implemented
3/15/2019	2018OPA-0198 2019COMP-0008	Pursuit Termination	Declined Action
3/15/2019	2018OPA-0582 2019COMP-0007	Roadblocks	Fully Implemented
3/13/2019	2018OPA-0704 2019COMP-0018	De-Escalation/Threats of Force	Fully Implemented
3/13/2019	2018OPA-0661 2019COMP-0006	Spit Sock Hood Screening and Reporting	Fully Implemented
3/13/2019	2018OPA-0201 2019COMP-0004	Ferrier Warning	Fully Implemented
1/18/2019	2018OPA-0250 2019COMP-0023	Terry Template	Declined Action
1/17/2019	2018OPA-0577 2019COMP-0001	De-Escalation/Threats of Force	Fully Implemented

OPA submitted the following MARs to the SPD Chief of Police on the dates listed below.

January 10, 2018

Fully Implemented

Bias Reviews (2017OPA-0938, 2017OPA-1014, 2017OPA-1016, 2017OPA-1017, 2017OPA-1018, 2017OPA-1077, 2017OPA-1079, 2017OPA-1108)

Chief of Police Response - Issued February 7, 2018

January 25, 2018

Fully Implemented

2017OPA-0571 - Specialty Unit Manuals

Chief of Police Response - Issued February 7, 2018

March 9, 2018

Declined Action

2016OPA-0719 - Secondary Employment: Volunteer Work

Chief of Police Response - Issued April 10, 2018

Declined Action

2017OPA-0270 - In-Car Video: Exception to Stop Recording

Chief of Police Response - Issued April 10, 2018

April 5, 2018

This letter contains 14 MARs covering various topics. The status of each policy recommendation is shown below.

Fully Implemented
2017OPA-0031 - Collision Review Board
2017OPA-0751 - In-Car Video: Following Ambulances
2017OPA-0755 - Secondary Employment at Large Events
2017OPA-0813 - Reporting Misconduct
2017OPA-0820 - DUI Training
2017OPA-1131 - In-Car Video: Following Ambulances
2017OPA-1015 - Follow-Up Investigations

Partially Implemented
2017OPA-0318 - Use of Force Tools: Taser

Declined Action
2017OPA-0420 - Involvement in Vehicle Pursuits
2017OPA-0667 - High-Risk Felony Stops
2017OPA-0705 - Scheduling Training
2017OPA-0909 - De-Escalation
2017OPA-0937 - In-Car and Body-Worn Video Equipment
2017OPA-0967 - Terry Template