Washington Will Review All 2020 Police Deadly Use Of Force Probes

SEATTLE, WA — Washington state will review every single investigation into the use of deadly force by law enforcement in 2020. That means at least 30 cases where officers shot or otherwise killed civilians on the job will be reconsidered as the state tries to enforce police accountability reforms.

The move comes as a result of the recent confusion surrounding the death of Manuel Ellis and subsequent investigations into the death. Ellis was killed while being cuffed and restrained by four Tacoma officers. After his death, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department was called in to independently review the officer's use of force to determine if it was justified. The decision to review his death was routine: because of Initiative 940, which voters passed in 2018, in Washington all deadly use of force by police must be investigated by a separate, independent law enforcement agency.

However, after Pierce County deputies had investigated Ellis' death for months, it came to light that several of their deputies had been on scene when Ellis died, meaning their investigation had not been truly independent and called the objectivity of their work into question. After further review, the state found that the Pierce County Sheriff's Department had also failed to follow several other regulations mandated by Initiative 940: deputies had not appointed community members to be a part of the review process and had failed to set up a liaison with Ellis' immediate family, both of which are required by law.

Now, the Washington State Attorney General's Office will review that investigation, and at least 29 other investigations into police killings to make sure that law enforcement agencies across the state are following the mandates of Initiative 940.

“Pierce County’s admitted failure to comply with the requirements of I-940 is deeply troubling,” said Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson. “I hope our inquiry will find that law enforcement agencies across the state, unlike Pierce County, are following the law that requires independent, transparent investigations into the use of deadly force. Whatever my office finds, we will be transparent with the public.”

Ferguson's office says that there has been no evidence thus far that any agency other than the Pierce County Sheriff's Department has failed to follow the new police reform laws, but that they will be checking thoroughly to make sure no other investigations have been compromised.

The attorney general's office also says that they are working on a different report, which would give recommendations on how to better collect and report data on deadly use of force in Washington, that they will release by July 1.

While the state reviews the deadly use of force investigations, the investigation into Ellis' death has been handed over to the Washington State Patrol.

Related stories:

Manuel Ellis' Death Will Be Investigated By WSP After All: Inslee

Inslee: Pierce Deputies Cannot Objectively Review Ellis' Death

Medical Examiner Rules Manuel Ellis' Death Homicide