Cop-out in Seattle

Behold the destruction of Seattle’s fine reputation for civic progress and national leadership on police reform.

Police Chief Carmen Best, the city’s first Black chief, resigned Tuesday because of mistreatment by the City Council. That highlights how far the council has fallen and how poorly it’s responding to the call for bold progress against racism and police brutality.

The council appropriated the momentum of recent protests for ideological ends. On Monday, it mindlessly began slashing the police department budget—all, astonishingly, without meaningful consultation with the chief.

Under the guidance of council President M. Lorena Gonzalez and budget chair Teresa Mosqueda, it simultaneously shifted dollars to activist organizations, building council members’ political capital.

The council charged ahead, despite warnings that its actions would force the layoff of the most diverse group of police recruits in Seattle’s history and may increase disparities in policing. Then members gave speeches congratulating themselves for doing so much for “the community.”

Reducing the number of officers on patrol could increase the use of force, particularly as more officers end up operating alone rather than in pairs, according to policing experts. Any such changes should have been presented first to the federal judge overseeing Seattle’s police reforms to ensure they don’t reverse progress.

Pay close attention, Seattle voters. The council’s actions speak louder than all of its platitudes and self praise.