Olympia, WA (10/30/2026)—Impacted families from the Washington Coalition for Police Accountability today decried the brutal violence shown in a viral video of an Auburn, WA police officer and called for the officer’s firing.
A bystander video and body camera footage from this Wednesday show an Auburn police officer brutally beating a man in the middle of Auburn Way North. According to reporting by DivestSPD, the officer is Andrew Bryant. He has reportedly been placed on administrative leave by the department, who, in a social media post, called the beating an “incident” and “altercation”.
SEE: Auburn police officer on leave after video of violent arrest circulates | The Seattle Times
Elaine Simons, foster mother of Jesse Sarey who was killed by Auburn police in 2019, said, “Auburn Police Department has a pattern of unnecessary use of force. The person responsible for my foster son Jesse Sarey’s murder is a former Auburn Police Officer who is currently serving sixteen years in prison.”
Annalesa Thomas, mother of Leonard Thomas who was killed by Lakewood police in 2013, said, “This horrific beating shows what happens when there are no consequences for bad behavior or accountability for actions taken. If anyone other than a police officer had committed this attack, they would be in jail for assault. It is important that administrative leave is only the beginning—there must be real consequences and accountability for this officer.”
WCPA calls on the Auburn Police Department to hold this officer responsible to the full extent possible, including but not limited to removing him from the department.
WCPA also calls on Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown to conduct an investigation regarding patterns of misconduct and use of force in the Auburn Police Department.
Among WCPA’s draft priorities for the 2027 Washington state legislative session is a proposed bill for less-lethal alternatives, such as BolaWrap technology. This bill would expand safe intervention options. The coalition members believe strongly that every opportunity to reduce the use of deadly or excessive force should be explored.
The Washington Coalition for Police Accountability includes over 40 organizations. For more information about WCPA, visit https://www.wcforpa.org/
