SEATTLE — The Seattle Office of Police Accountability said an investigation showed that two Seattle officers failed to de-escalate a situation before fatally shooting a man last February.
The investigation also looked at whether the officers’ use of deadly force violated the department’s policy.
The shooting happened on Feb. 16, 2021, when two Port of Seattle officers saw a man, later identified as Derek Hayden, on Alaskan Way holding a butcher knife to his throat.
The officers summoned help and Seattle police officers responded. While the first group of officers began formulating a tactical plan while keeping a safe distance from Hayden, two more Seattle officers, who are at the center of the investigation, arrived and intercepted the man.
They stopped their patrol car in Hayden’s path, moved away from its cover, drew their weapons and began giving Hayden commands, according to the OPA.
Hayden moved toward one of the officers with a knife in his raised hand and said, “do it, please, just shoot me.” Both officers fired shots at Hayden, who was hit and killed.
OPA’s investigation found that the two officers “violated the SPD de‑escalation policy because they did not engage in any planning or tactical discussions, and their actions undermined the critical principles of time, distance, and shielding.”
By confronting Hayden with guns drawn, the officers eliminated the element of time, which is a crucial factor in de-escalation.
The report said, “if there is more time, there is more opportunity to gain voluntarily compliance, build rapport with the individual in crisis, or call in more resources. Had there been more time, the threat would have been minimal, and they could have taken as long as needed to reach a peaceful resolution.”
While the investigation found that both officers failed to de-escalate, it did not conclude that they violated the Seattle Police Department’s policy governing the use of deadly force.
The investigation found that the officers were allowed to fire their guns in defense after Hayden came toward one of them with a raised knife.
The OPA recommended that the officers be suspended without pay; one for three days and the other for a day.