2 Seattle Police Officers Placed On Leave After D.C. Riot

SEATTLE — The Seattle Police Department has placed two officers on leave pending an investigation into their activities in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, officials announced late Friday. Neither officer was publicly identified.

In a short statement posted on the SPD website, interim Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz said the department became aware of "at least two officers" that were reportedly in D.C. on the same day that a violent mob stormed the U.S. Capitol, leading to five deaths, including a police officer.

The extent of the officers' involvement in Wednesday's riot was not immediately disclosed. Diaz said the Office of Police Accountability would conduct a thorough review, and the officers would be fired if they participated in illegal activities.

Diaz writes:

"The Department fully supports all lawful expressions of First Amendment freedom of speech, but the violent mob and events that unfolded at the U.S. Capitol were unlawful and resulted in the death of another police officer. The incident has been forwarded to the Office of Police Accountability for full review of any SPD employee activities at the U.S. Capitol.

The OPA will investigate whether any SPD policies were violated and if any potential illegal activities need to be referred for criminal investigation. If any SPD officers were directly involved in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, I will immediately terminate them. While OPA investigates, these officers have been placed on administrative leave."

Wednesday's events in the nation's capital sparked widespread condemnation, including from local leaders, and renewed calls to remove President Donald Trump from office before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. More than 80 people have been arrested so far on suspicion of participating in the mob violence.

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