Re: “Long backlog as state reviews complaints about police officers” (Sept. 22, A1):
I respect this overview of the legislation to handle police misconduct by decertification of cops.
The policing of police is significant in a democracy. Throughout my criminology profession of over 50 years, I’ve labored with police departments in the US and Canada on analysis and group points. Additionally throughout this time, I filed a citizen criticism in opposition to one division and lawsuits in opposition to two others. Whereas the overwhelming majority of officers perform their duties in a respectful and law-abiding method, there are exceptions that we should tackle.
Civilian management of police by way of such legal guidelines has been demanded by our leaders, and lots of civic organizations and residents. It has solely been in comparatively latest occasions that now we have tried to determine such controls. Whereas Washington state is a frontrunner in establishing unbiased evaluate mechanisms, there’s a lengthy technique to go to make sure justice.
The decertification legislation, like different makes an attempt to supply unbiased evaluate of police, is just nearly as good because the funding and assets supplied to hold them out.
Chuck Causes, Silverdale, emeritus professor, legislation and justice, Central Washington College
