Because the Metropolis continues to wrangle over funds priorities, each Mayor Bruce Harrell and Seattle Metropolis Council Price range Chair Dan Strauss agree that the Metropolis can by no means spend an excessive amount of cash on cops. Strauss’s latest funds proposal even upped the ante on Harrell, suggesting that the Mayor’s $62 million funds enhance for the Seattle Police Division (SPD) wasn’t sufficient, and including one other $10 million on high of that.
by Ashley Nerbovig
Because the Metropolis continues to wrangle over funds priorities, each Mayor Bruce Harrell and Seattle Metropolis Council Price range Chair Dan Strauss agree that the Metropolis can by no means spend an excessive amount of cash on cops. Strauss’s latest funds proposal even upped the ante on Harrell, suggesting that the Mayor’s $62 million funds enhance for the Seattle Police Division (SPD) wasn’t sufficient, and including one other $10 million on high of that.
With that in thoughts, let’s check out the SPD officers who earn six determine salaries to handcuff folks in psychological well being crises, drive nearly 4 occasions the velocity restrict, and use a automobile to cease a person on a motorbike.
Bringing a Bike to a Automotive Battle
Case #2023OPA-0291
First up, we’ve got Disaster Response Squad Officer Albert Khandzhayan who on July 4, 2023, responded to a name about an alleged home violence assault. A witness noticed the suspect hop on a motorbike and peddle away from the scene. An officer on scene requested for officers to verify the world to attempt to discover the person. Khandzhayan noticed the person at a bus cease on his bike and tried to talk to him, at which level the person hopped again on his bike and ran from the officers. Khandzhayan adopted the person in his patrol automobile, utilizing his PA system to order the person to cease. The person ignored the order. Khandzhayan instructed Workplace of Police Accountability (OPA) investigators that the person rode recklessly, and he believed may endanger himself or others. So, Khandzhayan moved his patrol automobile out in entrance of the person. The person mentioned he was touring at 20 miles per hour on the time, and that Khandzhayan sideswiped him when he pulled his patrol automobile in shut, inflicting the person to flip off his bike, and fall arduous sufficient to knock the wind out of him. Khandzhayan denied hitting the person. The person complained of sore ribs, however docs discovered no noticeable accidents.
OPA discovered Khandzhayan’s use of power cheap and famous that SPD has no coverage on the way to deal with folks making an attempt to elude cops on bikes. In 2023, the Metropolis paid Khandzhayan a wage of $150,000.
Cop Laughs at Man in Disaster
Case #2024OPA-0014
Subsequent up, we’ve got SPD North Precinct Officer Derek Norton who on January 3 responded to a name a few man reportedly experiencing a psychological well being disaster. Norton and Officer Kieran Barton checked on the person at about 3:30 am and a witness instructed officers the person posed no hurt to anybody they usually anticipated psychological well being professionals to reach later. Nonetheless, at 8 am, SPD returned to the constructing for an additional name concerning the man. A case supervisor requested officers to intervene as a result of the person appeared escalated, evidenced by his banging on the door and breaking issues. Barton, Norton, in addition to Officer Jacklyn Ferver, and a fourth unnamed officer, determined to involuntarily commit the person.
As officers approached the person’s door, Barton introduced out his taser and the unnamed officer unholstered his gun, although in line with the OPA report, neither officer pointed their weapons on the man. Barton knocked on the person’s door, and the person opened it fully bare. The person complied with Barton’s order to step out and allowed the cops to handcuff him. A witness requested the officers to place garments on the person earlier than they escorted him out, and Ferver wrapped a jacket across the man’s waist.
As Norton and Ferver escorted the person out of the constructing, Norton requested Ferver, a girl officer who was a pupil on the time, “You gonna search him?” Norton laughed. He requested her once more, “You wanna search him?” Norton laughed once more, and Ferver didn’t reply.
Norton’s remark earned him a written reprimand for unprofessional habits. Norton argued he supposed to only lighten the temper, however OPA investigators argued that Norton selected to lighten the temper on the expense of a virtually bare, handcuffed man, reportedly experiencing a psychological well being disaster, who officers had been escorting to a patrol automobile in public in broad daylight. The Metropolis paid Norton a wage of $166,000 in 2023 to deal with these conditions with this stage of sensitivity.
Dangerous Driver Roundup
Case #2024OPA-0080
Lastly, we’ve got SPD Officers Jessica Chandler and Christian Lara who on February 12, 2024 responded to a name a few girl allegedly hurting her household and trying suicide. Nothing particularly notable concerning the name besides that Chandler texted from her private cellphone as she drove to the scene and Lara drove 80mph in a 25mph zone. The OPA despatched each doable coverage violations to every officer’s chain of command. In 2023, Chandler earned a wage of greater than $148,000, and Lara earned $168,000. Lara now not works for SPD.
