Use of force: Seattle police officers learn to cope with tough decisions

It was near 23rd and Cherry that Ron Smith shot someone for the first time.

Seattle police were called to a scene involving a man erratically waving a knife. When they located the suspect, the man dropped the knife and pulled a gun on the officers.

“You know, we used the necessary force we had to, to stop the threat,” said Smith, an officer of 21 years and president of the Seattle Police Officers’ Guild.

Smith would be involved in another shooting in 2008. It’s a feeling that officers don’t forget.

“I can explain it, but I don’t think anybody can understand what that’s like,” he said.

There is noise and sight deprivation and there are emotions people go through afterward that have to be dealt with, he explained. “Did I do the right thing? Did I see what I thought I saw?”

Immediately after a shooting involving an officer – or not involving an officer – occurs, an investigation is done. Officers are required to see a mental health professional if they’re involved. It’s a policy that went into effect four to five years ago, Smith said. It’s a safe place to talk about what they went through and to get an idea of an officers’ mental standing.

“It’s definitely a good thing,” Smith said.
Everyone processes a shooting differently. Though tragic, most officers realize it had to be done.

“There are things they have to do in the rest of their career to manage that exposure,” Smith said. “A lot of self-care—good outlets – the willingness to speak with professionals if needed.”

Within a few weeks, if an officer-involved shooting is found to be justified and an officer is OK’d by a mental health professional, he or she is asked to return to work in some capacity. Officers typically agree.

However, if the officer needs more time, it’s granted. Sometimes they are put on modified assignment, or desk duty, Smith explained.

Most officers involved in a shooting return to duty. However, there are times that they don’t. Smith recalled an officer in Seattle in the 1990s who was the focus of much media attention and did not have the support of his wife to return. He ended up resigning.

While attention from the media can have an effect, too, Smith said officers are impacted more by story comments than the stories themselves. When officers are on leave due to a shooting, they are told to detach themselves from the media and public scrutiny.

“I personally believe there are 12 people in Seattle responsible for all the negative comments about law enforcement,” Smith said. “But it’s those types of comments that are not healthy to read.”

An officer’s death can have a bigger impact.

The trial for the 2009 murder of Officer Timothy Brenton in Seattle’s Central District has resurfaced feelings.

“It just opens up the wounds for everybody,” Smith said.

For Britt Sweeney, a trainee with Brenton that night, reliving the moments when shots were fired at their parked patrol car is difficult.

“I felt so bad for her,” Smith said. “Knowing what she went through … very new out of the academy.”

“What a brave, brave police officer and an example for all officers.”

Luckily, many officers never fire a round said Smith. Many don’t pull their guns while on the force.