Community Police Commission
The Community Police Commission empowers the community's voice in the police reform process. The CPC is a diverse coalition of 15 community members. It is designed to be completely independent, from among other things, the Mayor, City Council, and Seattle Police Department (SPD).
Created by the Consent Decree in 2013 and made permanent by the 2017 Accountability Legislation, the CPC reviews and provides input on the police accountability system, police services, and SPD's policies and practices.
About Our Staff
While Commissioners set the direction and priorities, staff help translate those goals into action by organizing meetings, preparing reports, supporting public outreach, and maintaining communication with community members, City officials, and accountability partners. Together, the Community Policing staff and Commissioners work to advance a stronger, more community-centered system of police accountability in Seattle.
Statements from the Community Police Commission
January 13, 2026 | CPC Statement on Harassment Targeting the East African Community in South Seattle
December 2, 2025 | CPC Letter to Council on the Collective Bargaining Agreement
September 11, 2025 | Upcoming Conversations on Police Accountability and Public Safety
September 4, 2025 | Letter to Council from Police Practices Workgroup - Regarding Proposed Expansion of the Surveillance Pilot
September 3, 2025 | CPC Statement on Consent Decree Termination
August 29, 2025 | Honoring John T. Williams, Fifteen Years Later
July 23, 2025 | CPC Amicus Brief in Response to City's Motion to Terminate the Consent Decree
January 8, 2025 | CPC Letter to Councilmembers Regarding Mayor Harrell's Proposed Ordinance on Crowd Management
Civil Service Rights
Employees covered by civil service have the right to:
- Open and competitive hiring processes, and freedom from coercion in hiring
- Limited probationary periods
- Just cause and due process for serious disciplinary actions including termination
- Appeal higher levels of discipline and alleged policy violations
- Continued employment (with limited exceptions)
Independent Oversight
Although the Community Police Commission (CPC) is independent, it works closely with others to engage with the community to advance measures that support effective and respectful policing.
The CPC partners with many community organizations. In 2013 it directly contracted with 13 organizations (through which 100 other organizations were also involved) to obtain insights about Seattle Police Department (SPD). All of these organizations are identified in the CPC's January 2014 Community Outreach Report. The CPC continues to partner with these and other groups to ensure that a wide variety of community perspectives about the police are heard.
Other key partners include SPD, the Office of Police Accountability (OPA), the Inspector General's Office (OIG), the Mayor's Office, and other City agencies and departments.