After Chauvin verdict, Washington cousin of George Floyd calls for more police accountability
Chauvin verdict in Minnesota, legislation in Washington state are just the beginning, says George Floyd s cousin Shayla Zartman, who lives in western Washington. Author: Lionel Donovan (KING) Updated: 11:06 PM PDT April 21, 2021
TACOMA, Wash. Derek Chauvin being found guilty for the death of George Floyd was welcome news for Floyd’s cousin, Shayla Zartman. But as Zartman celebrated the results, she was also prepared for a different, and more likely, outcome.
“We see it happen all the time,” Zartman said. “Only 1% of police officers are convicted when they murder someone. So even with as much evidence, even with how well everyone thought the trial was going, there was still a chance, because he’s a police officer, that it would be a not guilty verdict.”
Bill Creating Office of Independent Investigation for Police Deadly Uses of Force Passes Legislature
April 21, 2021
OLYMPIA – The Washington House of Representatives concurred with Senate amendments to House Bill 1267, which would establish an Office of Independent Investigation for police deadly uses of force, by a vote of 56-41. Sponsored by Rep. Debra Entenman (D-Kent), the bill was requested by Gov. Inslee and is based on recommendations made by the Governor’s Task Force on Independent Investigations of Police Use of Force.
Rep. Debra Entenmen, D-47
The Task Force was created in June of 2020 following the disclosure that the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office had conducted the investigation into the death of Manuel Ellis despite the fact that one of their deputies was on scene. This was a clear violation of Initiative 940, which banned law enforcement agencies from investigating their own officers. The Governor’s Task Force was composed of 23 members from comm
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.
UpdatedThu, Mar 4, 2021 at 6:13 pm PT
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Police follow protesters as they move through the city during racial justice protests on November 3, 2020 in Seattle (David Ryder/Getty Images)
OLYMPIA, WA Washington s top lawmakers are debating the creation of a new agency, one which would independently investigate deadly uses of force by the state s law enforcement officers.
On Wednesday, House Bill 1267 passed the House on a vote of 57-39. If approved by the Senate, the bill would create the Office of Independent Investigations an agency serving under the governor, comprised of non-law enforcement personnel and tasked solely with reviewing incidents in which police kill civilians.