Police Accountability Advocates Applaud the Guilty Verdict for the Auburn Police Officer Who Killed Jesse Sarey
Guilty Verdict in Washington State Criminal Trial of Police Officer is the First in 85 Years and a Historic Milestone for Justice
SEATTLE, WA—The Washington Coalition for Police Accountability (WCPA), an organization led by families who’ve lost loved ones to police violence, is relieved at the guilty verdict in the trial of Auburn police officer Jeffery Nelson who faced first-degree assault and second-degree murder charges in the death of Jesse Sarey, a 26-year-old Cambodian man who was killed by police on May 31, 2019. The verdict is unprecedented. It makes history in Washington state and is a significant step towards greater accountability for police.
Leslie Cushman, who was on the team that helped lead the Initiative 940 campaign, also watched the trial in the courtroom. Cushman said:
“Accountability for criminal acts by law enforcement has been a missing piece in the legal system. This trial is profoundly important because, to the community and families, Nelson’s guilt was obvious. Had this gone the other way, we would have had a serious disillusionment. This is good news and affirming for all who stand for justice. I appreciate the hard work of the team of prosecutors for leading the way here. Jeff Nelson is a violent person who should not be a police officer and the next step with this result is the Criminal Justice Training Commission will revoke Nelson’s certification. His name will be placed on a national registry, to alert other jurisdictions of his unfitness to work in law enforcement. This is the way the system should work.”
Sonia Joseph, WCPA Board President, whose son, 20-year-old Giovonn Joseph-McDade, was shot and killed by Kent police in 2017 said:
“This is what justice looks like. This verdict is meaningful to all families who have lost loved ones to police violence, in a system where it has been impossible to bring charges against police for murder until now. This demonstrates that when community comes together to change laws it balances the scales of Justice and the possibilities for police accountability. I want to thank the prosecutors for their hard work on this case and leading the way. "
Sonia added:
“Police officers are not above the law. Jesse Sarey was killed over five years ago and during that time we have continued to learn about the shortcomings of the system. I-940 was just a modest beginning to the scale of work needed to address the legal and cultural barriers to holding police accountable. We are calling on legislators to support additional measures needed to bring about systemic change to address systemic problems. Together, we can prevent more families from experiencing the devastating loss of their loved ones.”
There is nothing easy about convicting a police officer, and WCPA recognizes the jury’s attention to the facts and the law. Jesse Sarey was unarmed when he was killed by Jeffery Nelson, who was attempting to arrest Sarey for disorderly conduct. This verdict is meaningful in a system in which it has been impossible to bring charges against police for murder until now, and demonstrates possibilities for further police accountability.
In Washington state, this is just the 6th criminal trial in the past 100 years, although an average of 40 people are killed by Washington state law enforcement each year. Initiative 940, which was passed by an overwhelming majority of voters in 2018, removed some of the barriers facing families impacted by police violence, helping make this trial possible. Families face nearly insurmountable challenges to justice from conflicts of interest and lack of accountability. Washington law is clear that law enforcement has a fundamental duty to protect and preserve all human life. This verdict reaffirms that duty and lifts up humanity.
Photo from KOMO News
