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Dozens pack public hearing for 'De-escalate Washington'

A packed house in Olympia to debate Initiative 940, a measure that would make it easier to prosecute police for misuse of deadly force.
Community members packed a public hearing in Olympia Tuesday night, to debate voter Initiative 940, known as "De-escalate Washington.

Community members packed a public hearing in Olympia Tuesday night to debate voter Initiative 940, known as "De-escalate Washington."

The ballot measure, which would make it easier to prosecute police for misuse of deadly force, has already gathered the necessary signatures to appear on the ballot. However, there’s a chance state lawmakers could pass it first, or propose an alternative measure.

Initiative 940 would revise state law on the use of deadly force in policing, a law that currently makes it very difficult to prosecute police in deadly incidents.

Under state statute, officers cannot be held liable if they acted "without malice and with a good faith belief." I-940 removes the word "malice" from the law and further defines the good faith standard.

The initiative would also require additional de-escalation, first aid and mental health training. Recent police shootings over the past year, including that of Charleena Lyles, have reignited the push for police accountability initiatives.

Lyles’ cousin, Katrina Johnson, was among the long list of community members who testified in support of the bill Tuesday night.

“I believe if this was enacted then, my cousin would still be alive today,” said Johnson.

“We have to start bridging the gap between communities and policing because the distrust is so huge that people are unwilling to call the police for help,” Johnson continued.

Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin made a surprise appearance at the hearing, speaking in support of the measure as a concerned citizen.

“I think it’s vitally important we have an objective standard to what good faith is,” said Baldwin.

While some law enforcement officers, including King County Mitzi Johanknecht, endorsed I-940, the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs does not support the measure as written.

“We’re respectfully but firmly opposed to the initiative, but we’re not here just to say no. We just think it can be better,” said the association’s executive director Steve Strachan, also a former sheriff of King County.

“If the goal is to reduce violent interaction with law enforcement, we can do better than this initiative,” continued Strachan who says he’d liked to work with the legislature to come up with an alternative measure.

Lawmakers have the option of writing an alternative that would then compete with I-940 on the November ballot. Or, they could pass the initiative as is. If lawmakers reject the measure or fail to act, then it would automatically go before voters in the fall.

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