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Council refines immigrant-safety resolution; police chief says language aligns with department practice
Summary
Councilmember Mata revised a resolution on immigrant safety after legal review and Chief Cole’s input. The updated draft emphasizes departmental communication, de-escalation, verifying federal agents 'if possible,' rendering medical aid 'if safe to do so,' and activating body cameras consistent with policy; chief said the language aligns with state law and departmental guidance.
Councilmember Mata presented a revised immigrant-safety resolution that she said incorporates legal feedback and input from the police chief to avoid directing municipal court operations or creating legally problematic directives.
"The city council urges the mayor to direct city department directors to engage in clear and consistent policy communication with their staff... to ensure that the policies and procedures consistent with this resolution are established and implemented," Mata said, summarizing a change that shifts mayoral direction toward departmental coordination rather than control of the municipal court.
On language about front-line police actions, Mata said she removed directive wording that could expose officers to legal risk and proposed new language modeled on a neighboring city’s resolution. The draft includes statements that the Lynnwood Police Department emphasizes de-escalation and community policing, will "if possible" confirm the identity of federal law-enforcement agents to prevent impersonation, and will "facilitate or render necessary medical aid if safe to do so." The draft also reaffirms activating body cameras "during calls of service consistent with department policy."
Chief Cole told council the proposed language is consistent with state law and with existing departmental guidance, and that staff will work to provide a public-facing special order explaining expectations: "We have no problem with this... It is consistent with the guidance that's already been given to our staff." He noted body-camera systems are configured so certain vehicle emergency activations will automatically turn cameras on while officers can also manually activate them.
Council members praised the collaborative drafting approach but expressed caution about overstating local protections. Several members asked that the city focus on concrete resources in the resolution (tenants' rights, workers' rights, language access) and on connecting residents with legal and community supports.
What’s next: councilmember Mata said she will finalize language and bring the resolution to the next business meeting for a vote; staff (police and legal) will draft the public-facing guidance referenced in the resolution.
