Posted on Nov 30, 2022
Police academy warned Tacoma Police about officer charged in Manuel Ellis' death
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A new investigation from The Seattle Times uncovers a memo sent from the state's police academy to the Tacoma Police Department.
That memo warned the department about the behavior of a new recruit: Timothy Rankine.
In December 2018, Rankine was given a test at the state police academy. It was a simulated situation controlled by an academy instructor, where Rankine was asked to respond to a wellness check at a park. The simulation was meant to be a way for Rankine to practice non-lethal force.
Instead, Rankine shot the simulated person.
Two months later, Rankine became a fully fledged officer with the Tacoma Police Department.
In March 2020, he helped fatally restrain Manuel Ellis, a 33-year-old Black man and lifelong resident of Tacoma. Rankine is one of three Tacoma officers facing charges for Ellis' death.
That memo warned the department about the behavior of a new recruit: Timothy Rankine.
In December 2018, Rankine was given a test at the state police academy. It was a simulated situation controlled by an academy instructor, where Rankine was asked to respond to a wellness check at a park. The simulation was meant to be a way for Rankine to practice non-lethal force.
Instead, Rankine shot the simulated person.
Two months later, Rankine became a fully fledged officer with the Tacoma Police Department.
In March 2020, he helped fatally restrain Manuel Ellis, a 33-year-old Black man and lifelong resident of Tacoma. Rankine is one of three Tacoma officers facing charges for Ellis' death.
Police academy warned Tacoma Police about officer charged in Manuel Ellis' death
Posted from kuow.org
Tacoma
Police
Law Enforcement
Murder
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
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Other academies should consider looking at this practice!
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When any department or company ignores warnings, bad things likely follow
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SSG Bill McCoy
ESPECIALLY when it comes from an academy. An early warning like that was foolish to ignore.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Experts Malone spoke to also noted that Rankine’s combat experience had colored his reaction to the simulated test back at the police academy.
"So what they wonder out loud is, 'Was Rankin ever really fit psychologically to hold this job as a Tacoma police officer?'" Malone says.
Not every military officer has PTSD. But experts Malone spoke to say any officer considering a move to a civilian police force should be screened for it.
"They should also be getting the care that they deserve," Malone says. "Both as veterans who serve this country, and people who we expect to act rationally when they encounter citizens of these communities that they work for."
The military has become a pipeline for police departments in the United States, Malone says. Veterans are an appealing group of diverse people who are disciplined and accustomed to following orders.
"But you've also got to be mindful that some of them are severely damaged by what they experienced and what they saw," he adds. "And there has to be a provision for that."
..."Experts Malone spoke to also noted that Rankine’s combat experience had colored his reaction to the simulated test back at the police academy.
"So what they wonder out loud is, 'Was Rankin ever really fit psychologically to hold this job as a Tacoma police officer?'" Malone says.
Not every military officer has PTSD. But experts Malone spoke to say any officer considering a move to a civilian police force should be screened for it.
"They should also be getting the care that they deserve," Malone says. "Both as veterans who serve this country, and people who we expect to act rationally when they encounter citizens of these communities that they work for."
The military has become a pipeline for police departments in the United States, Malone says. Veterans are an appealing group of diverse people who are disciplined and accustomed to following orders.
"But you've also got to be mindful that some of them are severely damaged by what they experienced and what they saw," he adds. "And there has to be a provision for that."
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