Additional Seattle police officers under internal investigation for abuse

SEATTLE -- Additional Seattle police officers are under investigation in connection with the October incident in which an undercover officer was captured on tape kicking a suspected teen who had his hands up.

The incident involving Officer James Lee was captured on surveillance tape.

And the Problem Solvers have obtained several other videos from that same night and series of arrests that show several other officers involved in the arrests taking other suspects to the ground or subduing them once they're on the ground.

KOMO News has confirmed Seattle Police Department has launched an internal investigation into the other involved officers, but it's not yet clear what role the video clips are playing in that investigation.

Seattle police say the internal investigations are administrative, meaning they are not criminal investigations.

"But what's remarkable to us -- it's not only what happened in the grocery store; it's also what happened right outside the grocery store," said James Bible, president of NAACP.

Bible believes the Justice Department's review of SPD should be enlarged to specifically include all the events and officers from that night.

"I think that ultimately it's time for a real change in Seattle in terms of policing and police practices," he said.

That appears to be the Seattle City Council's intent with a letter to the police chief, the police guild and the mayor outlining 11 initiatives for the department. One of the initiatives requires testing for drugs including steroids whenever there's a use of force incident.

"I don't believe we're in denial," said Sgt. Rich O'Neill, president of the Seattle Police Guild.

O'Neill found fault earlier this week with Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn's criticism of the guild, and says the guild has helped create the original accountability system. The two appear poised for battle.

"We were here long before this mayor, and we'll be here long after this mayor," said O'Neill.

Lee has been placed on administrative leave. He is said to be a 10-year veteran of the force.

Seattle's Office of Professional Accountability has also launched its own investigation.


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