East King News

City of Issaquah issued the following announcement on Aug. 11

Learn more about the City's Police Accountability, Equity and Human Services Action Plan.

Following the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, people across our country – including on the steps of Issaquah City Hall – have rightfully demonstrated against racial injustice throughout our country.

The Black Lives Matters demonstrators have asked that we take this moment to talk about what we need to do as a community to recognize racial bias, and make changes to eliminate the disproportionate damage it is doing to community members of color.

King County has declared that racism is a public health crisis, and Issaquah joins our regional partners in pledging to implement a racially-equitable response that’s centered on community.

We are committed to:

• Listening to a diverse range of opinions, stories and perspectives.
• Continuing the dialogue, and sharing what we’ve heard.
• Implementing change as a community.

Moving forward, we must come together in our community conversations – and ensure everyone has a voice that is heard.

Here in Issaquah, kindness is our strength. We are welcoming and inclusive, but more work needs to be done.

Background

At the City Council’s June 15 meeting, the City provided an overview of City training, procedures and programs focused on racial equity with a specific emphasis on the Issaquah Police Department and Municipal Court. Public comments were also provided.

Development of Plan

In response to public and City Council input, the City developed a draft Police Accountability, Equity and Human Services Action Plan to address enhanced police accountability, equity initiatives and human services programs in Issaquah over the next 18 months. 

Before finalizing the plan, the City also hosted a virtual community meeting July 29, 2020 to collect feedback.

Reporting

Incorporating community feedback, a final Action Plan was endorsed by the City Council on Aug. 10, 2020. The City will produce a quarterly report updating the implementation of this plan through Dec. 31, 2021, which will be posted on this web page.

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Original source can be found here.