Report Back: Task Force on Deadly Force (1/4-1/5) - Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs

The Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs invites community members to a community conversation and report back about the Joint Legislative Task Force on the Use of Deadly Force in Community Policing. The Task Force examined Washington’s laws and practices regarding the use of deadly force by police officers.

The Report Back meeting will inform community members about the work of the task force and its final recommendations.

Community Feedback Conversations:
Task Force on the Use of Deadly Force in Community Policing
(community meetings co-hosted by CAPAA, CHA, CAAA, and GOIA)

Agenda

Welcome/Introductions: Task Force member(s)
Summary of Task Force recommendations
Community Feedback / Q&A

*Additional speakers and agenda items to be announced

Background

Advocates for police accountability proposed legislation, House Bill 2907, to change state law on the legally permissible uses of deadly force by police officers. Currently, a public officer or peace officer cannot be held criminally liable for using deadly force when it is used without malice and with a good faith belief that the use is permitted under the law.

Although the bill did not pass, the Legislature approved House Bill 2908 in 2016, which established the Joint Legislative Task Force on the Use of Deadly Force in Community Policing. The task force submitted a report to the Governor and the appropriate committees of the Legislature by December 1, 2016.

The task force reviewed:

• laws, practices, and training programs regarding the use of deadly force in Washington state and other states;
• current policies, practices, and tools used by or otherwise available to law enforcement as an alternative to lethal uses of force, including tasers and other non-lethal weapons; and
• proposals and recommend modifications to the standards for justifiable homicide and criminal liability standards in the statute to assure adequate protection for law enforcement and the community.

Joint Legislative Task Force Meetings

Representative Roger Goodman and Senator Kirk Pearson co-chaired the Task Force and its 26 members. Toshiko Hasegawa represented CAPAA, JACL Seattle, and the Asian Pacific Directors Coalition (APDC) on the Task Force. The Task Force met on:

• June 28, 2016
  • Meeting Materials
  • TVW recording
• Tuesday, July 26, 2016
  • Meeting Materials
  • TVW recording
• September 13, 2016
  • Meeting Materials
  • TVW recording
• November 21, 2016
  • Meeting Materials
  • TVW recording (morning session)
  • TVW recording (afternoon session)

Task Force Members and Staff