A federal civil rights lawsuit challenging new policies that restrict use of force has been filed by more than 100 Seattle police officers on Wednesday, claiming the rules endanger lives of both officers and civilians, Reuters reported.
The complaint, identifying four officers and referencing 122 others, states the new use-of-force policies "unreasonably restrict and burden Plaintiff's right to use force reasonably required, to protect themselves and others, from apparent harm and danger, in violation of the Second, Fourth, Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution."
The lawsuit seeks a complete dismantling of a new use of force policy hammered out between the Seattle Police Department and the U.S. Department of Justice to stem an alleged pattern of excessive force.
After officers appeared to engage in excessive force, particularly against minorities, in a series of incidents, an investigation was launched.
Since 2012, the Seattle Police Department has been under federal monitoring, according to Reuters.
The policy, which went into effect this year, has been called "unconstitutional and beyond repair" by officers demanding to gain financial compensation and a complete overhaul of the policy.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is among those targeted in the lawsuit.
Murray declined to comment on the lawsuit, but told local media, "We are under a federally mandated court order. We will follow that court order."
"The Justice Department and the federal courts say we need to deal with issues of use of force as well as other issues in our police department," he told Seattle's Fox affiliate.
Along with Holder, the lawsuit names Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, City Attorney Pete Holmes and others.
Mayor Murray issued the following statement about the complaint, MyNorthwest.com reported.
"I have not yet had the chance to review the lawsuit and it would be inappropriate for me to comment at this time.
"But I will say: the Seattle Police Department is under a federally-mandated court order, in part because of a disturbing pattern of unnecessary use of force and other forms of unconstitutional policing."
