Gov. Inslee signs police accountability package, some cops have lingering concern May 18, 2021 at 6:01 pm
Gov. Inslee signs an historic package of police accountability bills into law on Tuesday. (Office of the Governor)
Exactly one week before the one-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd, Governor Inslee signed on Tuesday a large package of police accountability bills into law.
The dozen or so bills the Legislature passed this session are policies a handful of lawmakers spent the interim working on last year, along with families of those killed by police locally.
The proposals became a top priority for the Legislature after the world watched Floyd’s death. Former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than 8 minutes while he pleaded for his life and uttered the words, “I can’t breathe.”
United-states
Washington
Seattle
Tacoma
Manny-ellis
Derek-chauvin
Che-taylor
Katrina-johnson
Roger-goodman
Donita-briscoe
Bob-ferguson
George-floyd
Legislature poised to bring sweeping police reforms to Washington
Seattle police at a protest. (Photo: Jason Rantz)
Washington state is no stranger to calls for police reforms.
It’s what was behind the years-long effort that culminated in 2019 with voters overwhelmingly approving I-940, Washington’s new police accountability law that, among other things, required more training for officers and fully independent investigations in use of force cases.
When it was passed, it was largely hailed a victory for families of those killed by police. But when the law took effect, it was clear something was missing: Someone to ensure police agencies were actually following the new rules. As it turns out some were not, such as the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department which, despite having had a deputy at the scene of the Tacoma Police Department’s in custody killing of Manny Ellis last year, still took on the “independent investigation” – which is not allowed under I-940.
United-states
Washington
Seattle
Olympia
Tacoma
Pierce-county
American
Manny-ellis
Brad-klippert
Roger-goodman
Jim-walsh
Mike-padden