Kim Hendrickson works on police and mental health issues and has this take:
I am influenced by Plato so understand the importance–sometimes–of the noble lie. There is much to criticize in the investigations that lead to consent decrees. And they are often horribly unfair in the particulars. But in the Seattle context the process has done more good than bad even though the price has been high for many people (including taxpayers).
Do I wish change would happen without scandal, lawsuits, gross mischaracterizations and federal scrutiny? Yes. But it typically doesn’t.
The greatest catalyst for change, is a crisis.