New State Office of Independent Investigations to investigate first use-of-deadly-force incident
OLYMPIA—The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) will soon begin its first investigation since the agency was created by the state legislature in 2021 in the wake of national calls for accountable use of force following the death of George Floyd and national riots that followed in the summer of 2020. OII is to […]
Law enforcement use-of-force and pursuit bills pass, awaits Inslee’s signature
OLYMPIA, Wash., March 11, 2022 – Governor Jay Inslee is expected to sign int law two bills aimed to clarify police enforcement and accountability laws passed last year. SB 5919 – Concerning the standard for law enforcement authority to detain or pursue persons. Police can pursue and stop vehicles if they have a “reasonable suspicion” […]
Appropriate use of force for law enforcement debated
OLYMPIA, Wash., February 11, 2022 – The amount of force a police officer uses must be “proportional and reasonable,” a bill approved recently by the State Senate says. The bill also specifies officers will be allowed to engage in vehicular pursuits as long as there is “reasonable suspicion” when making a traffic stop. The Senate […]
