Following the death of George Floyd in the summer of 2020, people across the nation and here locally protested the continued reality of systemic racism. Mayor Lynne Robinson, with the support of the City Council, pledged to review police use of force in Bellevue to identify whether any reforms were needed.
The city hired an independent agency - the OIR Group - to review its police use-of-force policies and, following public outreach in the fall of 2020, OIR recommended changes to police policies in the spring of 2021. Since then, many Bellevue police policies have been changed in line with OIR's 47 recommendations. The city continues to update relevant police policies.
Background
In September 2020, the city hired OIR to review Bellevue’s use-of-force policies, in section 1 in the police department policy manual.
From October through December 2020, OIR led engagement with stakeholders and the community at large, inviting all to share experiences and expectations. OIR took feedback via calls with stakeholder groups, online survey responses, open public meetings, telephone calls, written communications and community listening sessions.
- Oct. 13, 2020 listening session recording
- Oct. 15, 2020 listening session recording
- Oct. 17, 2020 listening session recording
The OIR Group completed an analysis of Bellevue use-of-force policies, with its findings and recommendations representing the core of the report issued in the spring of 2021.
News and updates
- Council Roundup: Police continue work enacting reforms - Sept. 22, 2021
- Council Memo and Presentation - Sept. 20, 2021
- Council Roundup: Final use-of-force report presented - April 15, 2021
- Council meeting video – April 12, 2021
- Council meeting presentation materials: Final report presentation by OIR – April 12, 2021
- Release: Draft use of force review now available – Feb. 3, 2021
- Release: Public safety pledge listening sessions set Oct. 13, 15 and 17 – Oct. 2, 2020
- Council meeting memo: Advancing the Mayor’s Pledge – Sept. 28, 2020
- Release: Public safety pledge next steps discussed in council meeting – Aug. 6, 2020
- Release: Council commits to review of public safety practices – June 11, 2020