SEATTLE — Much of Chris Christman’s career, what he has learned and taught, and what he has cared about, was a prelude to a symbolic journey.
This is the story of that journey.
Officer Christman has been a police officer for 27 years. Much of it was spent on the street. These days, part of his duties include teaching classes about how law enforcement should best recognize and handle people who are dealing with what we now call Autism Spectrum Disorder.
He teaches the classes all over the country, and at the beginning of each one, he shows a heartbreaking video. In it, a young man in Arizona named Connor Leibol is approached by a member of the Buckeye Police Department.
https://seattlepoliceofficers.com/wp-content/uploads/Erics-Heroes2.png720892media@seattlepoliceofficers.orghttp://seattlepoliceofficers.com/wp-content/uploads/SPOG_logo_thumb-e1620362287686.pngmedia@seattlepoliceofficers.org2022-07-07 12:05:492022-07-07 13:08:19KOMO – Eric’s Heroes: A gift for a police dog enthusiast
KENT, Wash. — Confusion over the new statewide police reform laws has prompted urgent meetings between state lawmakers, police chiefs and sheriffs, including one set for Wednesday evening in King County.
Police in Kent recently had a situation with a suicidal man who ended up taking his own life.
Some of the officers thought they couldn’t respond physically to the address in case he shot himself because of the new laws.
On the officers’ bodycam video, one officer could be heard saying, “A shame they put new laws in place. We could have helped him.”
But Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla says it wasn’t because of the new laws.
“Our response before the new laws came out July 25 (was) we would not have gone up to the front door and knocked on it,” he said. “So, I want to make it clear the new laws weren’t a direct result of us not responding.
“So, what I think you were seeing there were some raw emotions of officers had literally just went in there and we’re doing lifesaving CPR,” Padilla said. “What I think what you saw was a moment of frustration, not specific to just that situation, but the overall feeling in law enforcement right now where they’re not sure they are really going to be supported for doing the things that they think they should do to protect the community that’s what I think you saw on that.”
https://seattlepoliceofficers.com/wp-content/uploads/Shameful-New-Law_9.2.21.jpg10801920media@seattlepoliceofficers.orghttp://seattlepoliceofficers.com/wp-content/uploads/SPOG_logo_thumb-e1620362287686.pngmedia@seattlepoliceofficers.org2021-09-02 17:19:562021-09-02 17:19:56Confusion Over Police Reform Law Continues as Recent Response Call in Kent Shows
SEATTLE — Seattle’s gun violence surge continues to grow with three shootings in one day.
A 20-year-old man was shot in Pioneer Square Tuesday night.
In GreenLake, a woman was robbed and shot in broad daylight hours earlier.
The shootings happened just hours after the city’s interim police chief spoke out about the alarming spike in violence.
Before that, Seattle Police said a man shot and killed another man who tried to rob him on Capitol Hill early Tuesday morning.
In broad daylight, in the middle of a quiet Greenlake neighborhood full of children—police say a 58-year-old woman was robbed at gunpoint and shot in the stomach on the sidewalk along 65th street.
Some neighbors heard the shots and others ran to help her as she cried out.
“I was shocked it happened you know ten feet away from my house,” said concerned neighbor Kyle Duggan.
“It feels like gun violence is kind of just getting worse and worse and it’s spooky because there’s a school right down the street, there’s an elementary school a block away and that’s really scary,” said concerned neighbor Sarah Gilwit.
https://seattlepoliceofficers.com/wp-content/uploads/Shooting_9.1.21_edit.jpg10801920media@seattlepoliceofficers.orghttp://seattlepoliceofficers.com/wp-content/uploads/SPOG_logo_thumb-e1620362287686.pngmedia@seattlepoliceofficers.org2021-09-01 20:37:272021-09-01 20:37:27Three Shootings in One Day Highlight Seattle’s Gun Violence Problem
KOMO – Eric’s Heroes: A gift for a police dog enthusiast
SEATTLE — Much of Chris Christman’s career, what he has learned and taught, and what he has cared about, was a prelude to a symbolic journey.
This is the story of that journey.
Officer Christman has been a police officer for 27 years. Much of it was spent on the street. These days, part of his duties include teaching classes about how law enforcement should best recognize and handle people who are dealing with what we now call Autism Spectrum Disorder.
He teaches the classes all over the country, and at the beginning of each one, he shows a heartbreaking video. In it, a young man in Arizona named Connor Leibol is approached by a member of the Buckeye Police Department.
READ MORE
Confusion Over Police Reform Law Continues as Recent Response Call in Kent Shows
KENT, Wash. — Confusion over the new statewide police reform laws has prompted urgent meetings between state lawmakers, police chiefs and sheriffs, including one set for Wednesday evening in King County.
Police in Kent recently had a situation with a suicidal man who ended up taking his own life.
Some of the officers thought they couldn’t respond physically to the address in case he shot himself because of the new laws.
On the officers’ bodycam video, one officer could be heard saying, “A shame they put new laws in place. We could have helped him.”
But Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla says it wasn’t because of the new laws.
“Our response before the new laws came out July 25 (was) we would not have gone up to the front door and knocked on it,” he said. “So, I want to make it clear the new laws weren’t a direct result of us not responding.
“So, what I think you were seeing there were some raw emotions of officers had literally just went in there and we’re doing lifesaving CPR,” Padilla said. “What I think what you saw was a moment of frustration, not specific to just that situation, but the overall feeling in law enforcement right now where they’re not sure they are really going to be supported for doing the things that they think they should do to protect the community that’s what I think you saw on that.”
READ MORE
Three Shootings in One Day Highlight Seattle’s Gun Violence Problem
SEATTLE — Seattle’s gun violence surge continues to grow with three shootings in one day.
A 20-year-old man was shot in Pioneer Square Tuesday night.
In GreenLake, a woman was robbed and shot in broad daylight hours earlier.
The shootings happened just hours after the city’s interim police chief spoke out about the alarming spike in violence.
Before that, Seattle Police said a man shot and killed another man who tried to rob him on Capitol Hill early Tuesday morning.
In broad daylight, in the middle of a quiet Greenlake neighborhood full of children—police say a 58-year-old woman was robbed at gunpoint and shot in the stomach on the sidewalk along 65th street.
Some neighbors heard the shots and others ran to help her as she cried out.
“I was shocked it happened you know ten feet away from my house,” said concerned neighbor Kyle Duggan.
“It feels like gun violence is kind of just getting worse and worse and it’s spooky because there’s a school right down the street, there’s an elementary school a block away and that’s really scary,” said concerned neighbor Sarah Gilwit.
The shooter got away.
READ MORE