The Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA) invites community members to a report back and discussion about the newly created Joint Legislative Task Force on the Use of Deadly Force in Community Policing. As the community is well aware, recent incidents have further elevated the urgency of examining Washington’s laws and practices regarding the use of deadly force by police officers.
The meeting will inform community members about the purpose of the task force and provide an opportunity to voice your feedback and concerns to CAPAA and our representative on the task force, Toshiko Hasegawa.
Community Report Back & Dialogue:
Task Force on the Use of Deadly Force in Community Policing
Wednesday, July 20th
5:30 – 7:30 PM
Keiro NW, Garden Room
1601 E Yesler Way
Seattle, WA 98122
Agenda
Welcome: Toshiko Hasegawa, Task Force member
Legal landscape in Washington regarding use of deadly force: Shankar Narayan, ACLU-WA
Legislative history/background on HB 2907 & HB 2908: Leslie Cushman, Olympia Coalition for Reform of Deadly Force Laws & Reverend Paul Benz, Faith Action Network
Summary of June 28 Task Force meeting: Toshiko Hasegawa, Task Force member
Community Input / Q&A: Toshiko Hasegawa (facilitator)
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. Toshiko Hasegawa is representing CAPAA, JACL Seattle, and the Asian Pacific Directors Coalition (APDC) on the task force. The task force must submit a report to the Governor and the appropriate committees of the Legislature by December 1, 2016. A minority report must also be submitted along with the task force’s report if requested by any task force member.
The task force must:
- review laws, practices, and training programs regarding the use of deadly force in Washington state and other states;
- review 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 nonlethal weapons; and
- review proposals and recommend modifications to the standards for justifiable homicide and criminal liability standards in statute to assure adequate protection for law enforcement and the community.
Task Force Meetings
- June 28
- Tuesday, July 26, 2016, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, Criminal Justice Training Center, 19010 1st Avenue South, Cascade Bldg, Room C-206, Burien WA
- Tuesday, September 13, 2016, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm, Criminal Justice Training Center, 19010 1stAvenue South, Cascade Bldg, Room C-206, Burien WA
- 4th & Final Meeting TBD
