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Clash over changing police deadly force rules

The push for new restrictions on police use of deadly force is being powered by situations like the killings of Manuel Ellis in Tacoma, Charleena Lyles in Seattle and George Floyd in Minnesota.

Alexis Francois told lawmakers her son was killed by King County deputies during a sting operation four years ago.

“We need to start with the de-escalation. De-escalation should be first and use of force should be last excessive use of force. Deadly force should be last.”

That’s what HB1310 would require in a new statewide standard for police. It would require officers first try deescalating situations before using physical force of any kind. And it would restrict the use of deadly force to “last resort” when there is an “imminent threat” to an officer or others.

“In the first place people really need to stop fighting with the police. They need to follow lawful orders,” said Jeff Devere of the Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs.

He said it goes too far in making officers criminally liable and physically unsafe.

“We believe that de-escalation and other tactics should be used, but if we continue to change our laws to find blame for an officer in every tragedy to exclude reasonable and valid review standards, the officers will change their approaches and officer’s safety will be affected.”

Devitta Briscoe’s brother was killed in a confrontation with police.

“Officers are trained on de-escalation. Let’s require them to use that in their decision-making. This is not about making policing unsafe. It’s about making our communities safer for the public and police.”