City Council officer-involved shooting letter

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Spokane City Council 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. Spokane, WA 99201-3335 (509) 625-6255 Honorable Steven Tucker, Spokane County Prosecutor, We write you today to urge swift action in regards to the criminal review process as it relates to officer involved shootings concerning the Spokane Police Department. We understand that the criminal review process must be undertaken with great care. But we also believe that a process which can take months and sometime more than a year to come to a close does not serve the best interests of the citizens of Spokane or the police officers who are involved in these incidences. In the past, there have been times where the process has taken up to a year for the Prosecutor’s to a render a decision on whether to pursue charges. Recently, the Department of Justice questioned the length of time that it has taken many officer involved shooting cases to undergo prosecutorial review. We echo their concerns that delays and extensions in the review process, unless tied to new evidence or extenuating circumstances, do not serve the best interests of the people or the law enforcement personnel involved. To that end, we respectfully request that your office allocate the necessary resources to pending and future officer involved shooting incidences so that the review process is completed in a timely manner in order to assure that the public and the police officers involved will have closure sooner rather than later. Sincerely, Ben Stuckart Jon Snyder Candace Mumm Amber Waldref Council President Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Mike Allen Steve Salvatori Mike Fagan Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember

Transcript of City Council officer-involved shooting letter

Page 1: City Council officer-involved shooting letter

Spokane City Council808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.

Spokane, WA 99201-3335

(509) 625-6255

Honorable Steven Tucker, Spokane County Prosecutor,

We write you today to urge swift action in regards to the criminal review process as it relates to

officer involved shootings concerning the Spokane Police Department.

We understand that the criminal review process must be undertaken with great care. But we

also believe that a process which can take months and sometime more than a year to come to a

close does not serve the best interests of the citizens of Spokane or the police officers who are

involved in these incidences. In the past, there have been times where the process has taken

up to a year for the Prosecutor’s to a render a decision on whether to pursue charges. Recently,

the Department of Justice questioned the length of time that it has taken many officer involved

shooting cases to undergo prosecutorial review. We echo their concerns that delays and

extensions in the review process, unless tied to new evidence or extenuating circumstances, do

not serve the best interests of the people or the law enforcement personnel involved.

To that end, we respectfully request that your office allocate the necessary resources to pending

and future officer involved shooting incidences so that the review process is completed in a

timely manner in order to assure that the public and the police officers involved will have closure

sooner rather than later.

Sincerely,

Ben Stuckart Jon Snyder Candace Mumm Amber WaldrefCouncil President Councilmember Councilmember

Councilmember

Mike Allen Steve Salvatori Mike FaganCouncilmember Councilmember Councilmember