Seattle’s LGBTQ community members say they hope that this Friday’s World Cup “Pride Match” between Egypt and Iran, two countries where homosexuality is criminalized, can be an opportunity to change minds.
Seattle, WA
Seattle mayor seeks SPD reforms after probe of Diaz claims
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has called for significant changes within the Seattle Police Department (SPD) following a detailed investigation into allegations of gender discrimination and sexual harassment.
In a letter Harrell sent to the Seattle City Council on Dec. 30, the mayor reveals not only troubling findings about SPD’s handling of harassment cases but also the role of former SPD Chief Adrian Diaz in a scandal that has shaken the department.
The investigation was initiated after multiple reports of sexual harassment and gender discrimination within SPD, including claims made against Diaz.
Marcella Fleming Reed, an expert in workplace harassment and discrimination, conducted the investigation. It was commissioned earlier in 2024.
Her findings reveal serious flaws in how SPD has dealt with these issues in the past.
More on Adrian Diaz: Ex-chief fired from SPD for alleged ‘intimate’ relationship with staffer
Rising number of EEO complaints
One key finding from the investigation was the dramatic rise in Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) complaints within SPD over the past few years.
According to the report, SPD received 21 employee complaints in 2019, 30 in 2020, and 42 in 2021.
While the number dipped to 25 in 2022 and again in 2023 to 23, by the first nine months of 2024, SPD had already received 42 complaints, with the projected annual total suggesting a 144% increase over 2023.
The investigation revealed that many individuals within SPD acknowledged the increase in complaints but were unable to explain why it was happening or what might be driving the rise.
Concerns were expressed this higher volume of internal complaints had become the “new normal” for the department.
This dramatic uptick in complaints signals potential underlying issues within the department, possibly tied to a toxic culture or inadequate handling of past complaints.
Harrell letter to Seattle City Council on SPD investigation — 12302024 by scoogan on Scribd
The role of former SPD Chief Adrian Diaz
Perhaps the most significant revelation from the investigation was the involvement of Diaz.
According to the report, Diaz had received confidential information about ongoing investigations into harassment claims, which he used to pressure and manipulate witnesses.
This breach of confidentiality, combined with multiple allegations of sexual harassment and gender discrimination against him, ultimately led to his firing on Dec. 17.
Harrell emphasized that the decision to remove Diaz was necessary to restore trust in the police department.
The investigation into Diaz’s conduct revealed several troubling aspects of SPD’s internal processes.
Between 2020 and 2024, a number of EEO complaints, including allegations of sexual harassment, were not investigated thoroughly or were mishandled.
In some cases, investigations were never even initiated, while in others, complaints were dismissed or not substantiated, despite the serious nature of the claims.
The investigator also observed a troubling pattern within SPD involving a small group of individuals filing multiple complaints against one another, primarily related to systemic concerns of race and gender discrimination and harassment.
The investigator concluded that the recurring complaints suggested that there may be broader, underlying issues of workplace discrimination that were not being fully addressed.
However, the investigation did not directly interview those involved in filing or investigating these complaints, leaving a gap in understanding the root causes of these tensions.
One particular case highlighted by the investigation involved “Leader A,” a Black supervisor at SPD, who was reportedly targeted by subordinates due to their race.
Supervisors within the department expressed concerns that Leader A was being subjected to insubordination, largely driven by racial animus.
Despite these concerns, it appeared that the complaints were not thoroughly investigated.
This lack of action led to further complications, including allegations of retaliation and harassment from Leader A’s subordinates, as well as fears that their race and gender were being used as the basis for the mistreatment.
The investigation also uncovered instances where SPD’s oversight bodies, such as the Office of Police Accountability (OPA), SPD’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) office, and the Human Resources Investigations Unit (HRIU), failed to properly coordinate their efforts.
In one case, an SPD supervisor raised the concern that the issue was being “weaponized” by employees filing retaliatory complaints.
Rantz Exclusive: Former SPD Chief Adrian Diaz announces he’s gay
What needs to change in SPD
The findings from the independent investigation laid out several critical recommendations for reforming SPD.
The report called for changes that would improve how complaints of harassment and discrimination are investigated and handled.
Among the top recommendations was expanding the OPA’s authority to handle equal employment opportunity (EEO) complaints, which would make the department more accountable for internal discrimination and harassment cases.
Another suggestion was to improve SPD’s policies to encourage more open participation in investigations.
This includes making it easier for people to report misconduct without fear of retaliation or being silenced.
The investigation also pointed out the need to separate certain roles within SPD, such as the roles of EEO investigators and employee relations advisors, to make sure investigations are independent and unbiased.
In light of the damage caused by Diaz’s actions, Harrell emphasized the need for new structures to ensure that future investigations remain impartial.
The report recommended moving some of SPD’s investigation responsibilities to the OPA, which would help preserve neutrality and prevent any future conflicts of interest.
Previous coverage from Matt Markovich: Diaz to depart as SPD chief; Rahr to focus on cultural change
Commitment to change: Harrell urges appointment of Shon Barnes
In his letter, Harrell reaffirmed his goal of building a more inclusive police department, one that actively supports women and fosters a culture of trust.
Harrell said Interim SPD Chief Sue Rahr has agreed to continue to consult with the department after a new chief is in place.
The mayor is suggesting the Seattle City Council approve the appointment of Shon Barnes, currently the police chief of Madison, Wisconsin.
Harrell highlighted Barnes as a “generational leader” with a proven track record of advancing diversity and inclusion in law enforcement.
In Madison, Barnes led an initiative that successfully increased the number of female officers in the department.
Under his leadership, 30% of Madison’s police officers were women, a goal Harrell wants to replicate in Seattle.
MFR Associates assessment report on the Seattle Police Department by scoogan on Scribd
Matt Markovich often covers the state legislature and public policy for KIRO Newsradio. You can read more of Matt’s stories here. Follow him on X, or email him here.
SEATTLE — Seattle police are investigating a shooting that left a 17-year-old boy injured early Thursday morning in the High Point neighborhood.
At about 12:48 a.m., dispatchers received multiple reports of rapid gunfire near Sylvan Way Southwest and Southwest Morgan Street.
Officers arrived and found a 17-year-old boy suffering from a gunshot wound to the hip area. Medics transported the teen to Harborview Medical Center in serious but stable condition.
Before officers located the victim, they found a car that had crashed and become disabled near Sylvan Way Southwest and Delridge Way Southwest. Police said multiple suspects were seen running from the vehicle through a nearby Home Depot parking lot.
Officers cordoned off the area and searched for the suspects with assistance from the K-9 Unit, but were unable to locate them. Police recovered the vehicle and impounded it for processing.
During the incident, gunfire struck at least three vehicles and two buildings. No other injuries were reported.
Officers processed multiple nearby scenes and recovered evidence before clearing the area. Detectives with the Gun Violence Reduction Unit will lead the investigation.
Seattle, WA
Council eyes street barricades in fight against violence, sex trafficking in north Seattle
SEATTLE — The Seattle City Council is expected to vote next week on a plan that would give the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) the authority to close off street access for public safety reasons.
The proposal comes after months of outcry from residents in north Seattle who say sex traffickers and sex buyers are looping through the streets surrounding Aurora Avenue North.
The street-closure proposal passed the council’s Public Safety Committee on Tuesday and is expected to be voted on by the full council next week.
“I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say the crime has gotten much worse, much more violent, and much more predator,” said District 5 councilmember Debora Juarez. “I think that we do have the authority to shut down a street for bullets flying and endangering the lives of those who live there.”
Frustrated neighbors have installed their own homemade barricades after a spate of gun violence between sex traffickers in May.
RELATED | SDOT removes street barricades near Aurora Ave; neighbors doubtful of temporary measures
Councilmember Bob Kettle says street closures will help tamp down sex buying in certain areas, but he emphasizes it must be accompanied by an increase in outreach and enforcement.
“We have to have a sustained effort,” Kettle told KOMO News. “My concern is for every action, there’s a reaction. We need to take this flex and then really attack it … because if we do just a bit and our attention wanders, we could have this conversation three months from now and we’re talking about the same thing.”
A 15-year-old boy was shot near 95th Street and Aurora Avenue North around 10:45 p.m. last night. The teen initially claimed he had been shot while walking down the street, but investigators now say he was shot by a passenger in his car.
RELATED | Seattle police say ‘drive-by’ on Aurora Ave. was actually passenger shooting teen driver
Kettle credited the city’s Real Time Crime Center cameras with helping investigators quickly piece together the events of the shooting.
“Just as important to finding out what happened, the cameras help police determine what did not happen,” Kettle said.
According to Seattle police data, reports of shootings and shots fired in the north precinct area are at their lowest levels since 2021.
Through the end of May, there were 48 total reports of shootings or shots fired, with one fatal shooting and seven nonfatal injury shootings.
That’s down from 63 total reports of shootings and shots fired – one fatal and seven injuries – in 2025; and 64 shootings or shots fired reports – one fatal and 17 injuries – in 2024.
At Tuesday’s committee meeting, councilmembers pointed out residents are calling for a new police precinct to be built on Aurora Avenue.
Ten years ago, a new North Precinct building was slated to be built at 130th Avenue and Aurora Avenue North to replace the existing precinct building, which was decades old and did not have enough space for the department’s needs.
Led by former councilmember Kshama Sawant, the “Block the Bunker” movement successfully got the North Precinct replacement project killed in city council.
Kettle said the city’s current financial issues make it essentially impossible to bring back a project similar to the one the previous council defeated.
“We have to connect the dots back,” Kettle said. “If we want to know why we are where we are today, we have to look at decisions made over the last two councils.”
Seattle, WA
Iran and Egypt to play in Seattle ‘Pride Match’ despite earlier complaints | The Jerusalem Post
Seattle revels in its reputation as a welcoming place and Pride flags are visible all over the city, all year round. Its June Pride weekend is one of the biggest in the United States.
So, ahead of December’s World Cup draw, it was only natural that local organizers designated the June 26 match to be held in the city as a “Pride Match.”
Then the draw happened — and the two teams scheduled to play the game were Egypt and Iran.
Egypt’s Football Association urged global soccer governing body FIFA to prevent any Pride-related activities, arguing such events clashed with the Muslim-majority country’s cultural and religious values. The governing body in Iran, where same-sex relations can carry the death penalty, filed an objection with FIFA.
Some in Seattle have doubts over the teams in the ‘Pride Match’
But in Seattle, there is no question that the Pride Match will go ahead as planned.
“The World Cup is going to come and go in three weeks,” Hedda McLendon, from Seattle’s local World Cup organizing committee, told Reuters. “The Pride celebration … has happened on this weekend for 50-plus years.
“It is going to happen this weekend, it is going to happen long after the World Cup.”
Some in the city’s LGBTQ community had mixed feelings given the participants, said Jon Cairns, 49, manager of local LGBTQ+ club Kremwerk.
Cairns, however, said his own view was that it provided a platform to promote acceptance that only the world’s biggest sporting event could offer.
“My reaction is let’s have them,” he told Reuters. “International sports is one of the biggest brokers historically of social change and individual rights and freedoms worldwide, including in the U.S.”
He cited black U.S. sprinter Jesse Owens’ four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games in Nazi Germany and Tommie Smith and John Carlos’ raised-fist protest in 1968 as moments where “only international sports could reach that big of an audience.”
“They’re not going to turn off the World Cup on state television in Iran or Egypt to block out a Pride flag in the audience,” Cairns said.
The Pride Match is “a host city initiative” and separate of FIFA, a spokesperson for soccer’s governing body told Reuters.
Seattle’s LGBTQ community sees an opportunity
Egypt and Iran’s involvement in the Pride Match is not the first time the World Cup has grappled with stark differences in attitudes between hosts and visitors.
In 2022 World Cup host Qatar, the emir said visitors should “respect our culture” when asked about gay people attending the tournament.
FIFA threatened yellow cards for captains wearing the “OneLove” armband, citing its rules against political slogans. Teams including England and the Netherlands that had been planning to wear the armbands to protest Qatar’s laws against same-sex relationships abandoned the plan.
For Ryan Webster, a 40-year-old lifestyle manager who was at Kremwerk the weekend before Pride, Seattle’s “Pride Match” was an opportunity to show solidarity with people in countries where their sexuality was outlawed.
“I’m choosing to believe that this is our moment to allow the members of the LGBTQ community that come from those countries to have the opportunity to celebrate themselves in totality that they might not have otherwise,” he said outside the club, which will host a watch party for Friday’s game.
Inside, ‘Venus Fengz’ lip-synced to Cher’s “Believe” before introducing fellow drag performers to the stage, clapped and cheered by a raucous crowd.
Fengz, who only wanted to provide their stage name, said Pride coinciding with the World Cup would bring increased visibility, anticipating perhaps some new audience members.
“I think it’s always great for us to be able to share space and share places with people who don’t have the same experiences as us,” they told Reuters.
“Sometimes you just have to be the bigger person and show grace where you can and know that everyone is a human learning (from) different experiences, but also it can get hard — because you’re on the shorter end of the stick, always trying to have to explain yourself around people who don’t grow up with the same worldview.”
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