Washington attorney general’s office says police can still respond to non-criminal incidents
In a memo to state lawmakers this week, the Washington Attorney General’s Office (AGO) said a new police use-of-force law that recently took effect does not prevent officers from responding to mental health and other community welfare calls. Several Washington police agencies had signaled their intent to stop responding to calls for service involving non-criminal activities because of HB 1310. That law, which took effect along with several other sweeping police reform measures July 25, instructs officers to, among other things, exhaust de-escalation tactics and “[leave] the area if there is no threat of imminent harm and no crime has been committed.” Continue reading at NW News Network. (Max Pixel)
Police accountability will require leadership, courage and follow-up
By the time the state Legislature convened in January for the 2021 session, our state and nation had endured months of pain and public outcry over a series of high-profile police killings of members of communities of color, including some of our neighbors here in Washington. People turned out across the state to demonstrate against the killings of George Floyd, Manuel Ellis, Charleena Lyles, John T. Williams and many others. The police response to the demonstrations unfortunately exacerbated a deepening distrust by the very communities that the police are sworn to protect and serve. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Paul Tong/Op-Art)
Spokane organizations aim to debunk ‘fear-based’ perception of Washington’s new police-reform laws
More than a dozen community organizations on Thursday held a news conference aimed at debunking community perceptions of new police reform laws in Washington. After a week of collaborating with Peace & Justice Action League of Spokane leader Liz Moore, Jac Archer of Spokane Community Against Racism felt the need to host an in-person event to address myths and concerns regarding the new police reform measures, house bills 1054 and 1310. Continue reading at Spokesman-Review.
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