Ever since the Justice Department released the results of its probe into the Seattle Police Department and its issues with police brutality, it has been open season on the department, its chief and the man signing the paychecks as far as the mainstream media is concerned. Unsurprisingly, it is the local television news that are really running wild with it -- somewhat expected considering that up until the John T. Williams case last year, "brute force with a shield" was a story that didn't get a lot of play on their airwaves. They are making up for lost time, it seems. more ›

In August of 2008, way before the recent attention to the unfortunate collection of violent incidents by the Seattle Police Department, King County Deputy Don Griffee picked up Johnny R. Bradford, who later was determined to be falsely accused. Bradford later left the patrol car with a bloody lip, saying that Griffee had punched him. The deputy was acquitted, barely, two years ago, but subsequently lost his job for excessive force and criminal conduct -- an example of King County Sheriff's Sue Rahr's then-recent no tolerance policy with use excessive force. But the decision to fire him has been reversed by an arbitrator, awarding him with 19 months of back wages. He was making $34.91 an hour at the time he was fired. more ›

The horrifying security video footage--of a fifteen-year-old girl beaten, while in custody, by King County Sheriff Deputy Paul Schene--that was released on Friday, thank god, has raised more than just local hackles: Schene is now under a civil rights federal investigation for his unbelievably irresponsible actions in that holding cell. Aside from the ongoing internal Sheriff's Office investigative findings and whatever disciplinary action will (we hope) weigh heavily on Schene's head as a consequence, the man now faces a $250,000 fine and a possible five years in prison if he's found guilty on this federal civil rights charge. more ›

A new corrections officer in Pierce County has been charged with second degree assault for freaking out on the road in Burien and pulling a gun on some civilians. It wasn't an official Department of Corrections gun; the man was carrying his own weapon, which he pointed at a couple (and their kid!) when their existence on the road pissed him off. So soon after watching the horrifying footage of the BART shooting in California earlier this month, we have zero tolerance for cops gone wacko. Corrections officers especially need to be able to keep cool, fair and calm, on the road or on the job; people's lives and the reputation of the local corrections system depend on it. And after reporting on thousands of lay-offs in the region, it's frustrating to hear about "paid administrative leave" for the officer who had what sounds like an psychotic break. Get that man out of the force and into heavy-duty therapy, and make him pay for it himself. Bah. more ›

"WTOpolice_1" by Seattlest Flickr Pool contributor ntisocl. Daaang, he got right in there. Thanks! more ›