Washington State Legislators Push for Greater Accountability, Increased Training When Police Use Deadly Force

By Erika Haas

Washington state legislators are considering two bills that would hold police officers more accountable when they used deadly force, reports the Associated Press.

As of now, officers in the state cannot be held legally accountable unless it is proven that they acted without “good faith” and with “malice.” However, some lawmakers in both the House and the Senate are hoping to change that.

Two public hearings were scheduled for this this week after recommendations to change the law were approved in November by the Use of Deadly Force in Community Policing joint task force. The Washington legislative task force was created by Governor Jay Inslee with the hope of reducing violence, and ultimately building trust, between law enforcement and the public.

The hearing for House Bill 1529 was held in front of the House Committee on Public Safety on Tuesday. It’s companion bill, Senate Bill 5073, had its own hearing, today, in the Senate Committee on Law and Justice.

Democratic state Representative Cindy Ryu, the lead sponsor of HB 1529, admitted that altering the current law will be a challenge, especially when it comes to striking a balance between strictness and leniency. …Read the Rest

Source:: Bearing Arms