After three days of deliberation, the jury in the Jeff Nelson trial reached a verdict. The tension in the courtroom was palpable as the verdict was read - guilty on charges of second-degree murder and first-degree assault.

The murder conviction of Auburn police officer Jeffrey Nelson in the 2019 death of 26-year-old Jesse Sarey is more than just the first murder conviction of a police officer in Washington state in over 85 years. It also stands as a guide to prosecutors on how to apply the law when deciding whether to bring criminal charges against a police officer.

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.

Delay has real consequences for communities across the state. We know that officer decision-making on who they will stop and when is highly discretionary and involves racial disparities. The impacts will burden communities of color and persons who are struggling financially.

WCPA members spent the day at the state Capitol in Olympia, January 24, 2024.

The Washington Coalition for Police Accountability opposes the newest effort to weaken Washington’s pursuit policy, Initiative to the Legislature 2113, which was certified on January 11, 2024.

At an October briefing for reporters, WCPA family members who have lost loved ones to unnecessary police violence and police reform policy experts released our priorities for the 2024 Washington legislative session. 

When we hear a recording of police officers joking about Jaahnavi Kandula’s death, we can’t help but imagine all of the unrecorded conversations of police officers belittling our dead loved ones.”

“As a mother whose life was shattered when her child was killed by police, I’ll say it again: We want police to stop killing our families.”

The Washington Coalition for Police Accountability (WCPA) announces its newly appointed Interim Executive Director, Dr. Gary Damon, Jr.

The OII is now accepting requests to review prior investigations of deadly force cases

Let’s talk Facts about police vehicle pursuits.

Low-risk traffic stops are ineffective at keeping people safe. They waste resources, and harm members of the community. Years of data have shown that low-risk traffic stops and searches disproportionately target Black drivers and other people of color.

In 2021, the Washington State Legislature adopted a balanced statewide standard for police vehicular pursuits to address the growing risk that pursuits posed to the general public. At that time, pursuits were responsible for 10-20% of the fatalities from police activities each year. Half of those killed were uninvolved bystanders or passengers.

The 2023 state Legislative Session begins today and the Washington Coalition for Police Accountability is back for our third year of advocacy. This is the first time since 2020 that the session will be held in person.

Getting legislation enacted to establish an independent state-wide prosecutor is a top priority for the Washington Coalition for Police Accountability (WCPA) for the 2023 legislative session.