Glossy mailers from Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler landed in residents' mailboxes that claimed recent police reform prevented police from pursuing and detaining the suspected killer of a local sheriff.
Herrera Beutler wrote in the flier that the arrest of Clark County sheriff Detective Jeremy Brown's suspected killer was hindered because of state policies enacted in 2021. It also alluded that the reform indirectly led to Brown's death because there wasn't probable cause to pursue the suspected killer prior to the shooting.
It should be noted, though, that officers needed probable cause to pursue suspects prior to the state's police reform. The bills that were contested include HB 1054 and HB 1310, both of which went into effect two days after the detective's slaying on July 23.
The prime suspect, Guillermo Raya Leon, shot Brown after discovering he was surveilling Raya Leon's apartment complex, according to reporting from The Columbian. Brown followed Raya Leon and others because they were the subjects of an investigation involving stolen guns.
On the morning of the shooting, Clark County Sheriff's detectives pursued Raya Leon and others several times under reasonable suspicion but got stuck in traffic on the Interstate 5 Bridge.
Craig Wheeler, communication director for Herrera Beutler, wrote in an email to The Columbian that the sheriff's department adopted policies disclosed in the state laws prior to the date it was deemed effective on July 25.
The sheriff's department did not return calls from The Columbian seeking comment.
He also said HB 1054 restricted the vehicular pursuit of the suspected group when the were seen earlier in the day. However, officers' pursuits were halted due to the aforementioned traffic.
However, there's nothing in the law that makes a difference in the situation.
Washington lawmakers passed HB 1310 in 2021, which governs when and how police can use force. Prior to its passing, the state law allowed police to complete arrests by "any means necessary," which could be interpreted broadly with unlimited power.
Specifically, this bill illustrates how peace officers are expected to use de-escalation training with an option to use force as a last resort. This course of action is only allowed if it's used to prevent serious injuries or death to the officer or others present.
Herrera Beutler wrote that HB 1310 restricts an officer from detaining a person fleeing from a crime scene regardless of whether they match the description of the suspect.
She also wrote that HB 1054 restricted police officers from car chases, conducting traffic stops and impedes their use of non-lethal weapons.
This bill bans certain tactics and equipment that are disproportionally used against people of color. Examples of the harmful uses of force include chokeholds, neck restraints, and the use of police dogs and tear gas. It also prohibits the purchase and use of military equipment, as well as no-knock warrants.
Officers still have authority to pursue a person if they have an arrest warrant or reasonably believe have committed a crime.
