Taser-less Seattle cop who shot pregnant mom gets 2-day suspension
Feb 12, 2018, 1:45 PM | Updated: 1:48 pm
The two officers who shot and killed Charleena Lyles acted within department policy, according to a review board. (SPD)
(SPD)
The officer who shot and killed Charleena Lyles, a 30-year-old pregnant black mother of four, was suspended for a total of two days for not having a Taser.
Don’t let Charleena Lyles’ death be in vain
Interim Police Chief Carmen Best imposed the discipline on Officer Jason Anderson, who didn’t have his Taser on him at the time of the fatal shooting in June of last year.
The punishment of two days without pay comes after a review board found the officers used proper tactics and decision making and were told they won’t face criminal charges. KIRO Radio’s Tom and Curley wondered how an officer can be suspended for two days after a review board already cleared the two of charges.
It comes down to paperwork.
Tom Tangney says the officer was expected to have the Taser on him at the time. When Lyles pulled a knife on them while they responded to a reported burglary, he is heard saying that he doesn’t have it on him.
Seattle police report “extraordinarily low” use-of-force in 2017
Best, according to The Associated Press, noted the disciplinary case didn’t reach a conclusion on whether or not the outcome would have been any different if Anderson had his Taser on him. Use of force may have been necessary even if a Taser would use, John Curley pointed out. However, that doesn’t excuse the fact that he should have had a charged Taser with him as a non-lethal option, Tom said.
“As long as you’ve got it written down and you violated the thing, you take your punishment,” John added.
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Tune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 3pm for John Curley and Shari Elliker.
