News
City Attorney Ends SPD's Exclusive Contract With Law Firm, Hires Two More
City Attorney Pete Holmes has selected two additional private law firms, in addition to Stafford Frey Cooper, to represent the city and Seattle police in misconduct cases, ending Stafford Frey Cooper's nearly 40-year exclusive contract representing SPD officers accused of misconduct.
When SFC's contract ended last year, Holmes announced he'd be taking bids from other firms for SPD defense work in order to cut down on costs. SFC attorneys billed the city a whopping $275 an hour.
City Attorney Pete Holmes has picked the Christie Law Group and Freimund Jackson Tardiff (in addition to Stafford Frey Cooper) to represent the city and SPD in police misconduct cases.
Christie Law Group and Stafford Frey Cooper will also respond to crime scenes to provide legal assistance to SPD in shootings, and represent officers at inquests.
The Seattle Police Officers' Guild (SPOG) and the Seattle Police Management Association have filed unfair labor practice complaints, claiming Holmes needs to bargain with the police union in order to make any changes to Stafford Frey Cooper's contract.
In a statement, Holmes said his office can't handle defense of officers itself because of "capacity issues."
In that same statement, Holmes also said, “It’s a tough time budget-wise. Savings on legal fees translate to more officers on the street. There’s a direct connection."
That isn't exactly true.
Holmes' spokeswoman Kimberly Mills says reducing the cost of defending officers in civil cases by hiring additional (and presumably cheaper) firms means the city council has "the opportunity to redirect funds."
While Holmes' statement that "savings...translate to more officers on the street" seems pretty definitive, Mills admits Holmes' office "cannot prove that today, but hope[s] to prove that down the road."
SPOG President Rich O'Neill did not respond to a request for comment.
When SFC's contract ended last year, Holmes announced he'd be taking bids from other firms for SPD defense work in order to cut down on costs. SFC attorneys billed the city a whopping $275 an hour.
City Attorney Pete Holmes has picked the Christie Law Group and Freimund Jackson Tardiff (in addition to Stafford Frey Cooper) to represent the city and SPD in police misconduct cases.
Christie Law Group and Stafford Frey Cooper will also respond to crime scenes to provide legal assistance to SPD in shootings, and represent officers at inquests.
The Seattle Police Officers' Guild (SPOG) and the Seattle Police Management Association have filed unfair labor practice complaints, claiming Holmes needs to bargain with the police union in order to make any changes to Stafford Frey Cooper's contract.
In a statement, Holmes said his office can't handle defense of officers itself because of "capacity issues."
In that same statement, Holmes also said, “It’s a tough time budget-wise. Savings on legal fees translate to more officers on the street. There’s a direct connection."
That isn't exactly true.
Holmes' spokeswoman Kimberly Mills says reducing the cost of defending officers in civil cases by hiring additional (and presumably cheaper) firms means the city council has "the opportunity to redirect funds."
While Holmes' statement that "savings...translate to more officers on the street" seems pretty definitive, Mills admits Holmes' office "cannot prove that today, but hope[s] to prove that down the road."
SPOG President Rich O'Neill did not respond to a request for comment.
