Starting from Thursday, June 6, law enforcement officials in Washington are once again authorized to chase after individuals if they have a justifiable suspicion that such individuals have breached any law.
Earlier this year, a voter initiative was submitted to the legislature and adopted into law, prompting lawmakers to amend the stricter policy.
In 2021, a law was passed that imposed significant restrictions on the police. This legislation was part of a broader reform package that has been criticized by Republicans and law enforcement personnel. They contend that these changes have given criminals an unfair advantage and led to significant increases in crime rates.
According to Jim Ferrell, the former King County prosecutor and current Federal Way Mayor, the social experiment that involved legalizing drugs and banning police pursuits was completely unnecessary. He further added that this experiment led to Washington state becoming the leading place in the country for car theft per capita.
According to a report by the National Insurance Crime Bureau, Washington State has secured the fourth position overall, considering population.
Law enforcement agencies are now empowered to establish their own policies for officers to abide by.
According to Ferrell, car theft has significantly reduced in Federal Way even before the recent law change, as the criminals are aware of the changing situation.
Ferrell stated that car theft in the city has decreased by 39% through May of this year compared to last year. He further added that the number is expected to drop even lower in the coming months.
Those who oppose easing pursuit restrictions believe that it could result in harm or even death to both innocent bystanders and law enforcement officers involved in dangerous pursuits.
According to their argument, minor infractions could put officers or drivers in danger.
In March, Senator Patty Kuderer from Bellevue expressed her disagreement with the idea of lifting pursuit restrictions during a public hearing on I-2113.
According to her, the proposed initiative would enable authorities to engage in a pursuit for any violation of the law, no matter how minor it may be. This means that even something as simple as having an expired tab or a broken taillight or playing loud music could result in a high-speed chase initiated by law enforcement.
According to Ferrell, it is highly unlikely for that to occur.
“It’s ridiculous to suggest that law enforcement engages in such behavior. There have always been established protocols in place.”
Giving criminals free reign is a horrifying experience that Amber Goldade knows all too well.
According to Goldade, on a Saturday in January of 2022, his 12-year-old daughter Immaculee and her best friend Kathleen decided to walk to the nearby elementary school in Pierce County to play. When they were returning home, they opted to take the route down 104th, which was a busier road lacking sidewalks but had a fog line. At around 10:30 in the morning, a man driving a stolen truck, a large landscaping vehicle, hit them from behind.
Kathleen was the only survivor of the incident, whereas Immaculee lost her life instantly.
According to Goldade, Immaculee was an extraordinary young girl who had a unique way of making friends. “She had this incredible ability to connect with anyone she met, and people just loved her. It seemed like everyone thought she was their best friend because of her warm and welcoming personality,” he shared.
According to Goldade, if pursuit restrictions were not in place, the man who caused her daughter’s death would have been behind bars at the time. This realization was quite shocking for her, as she shared with The Center Square.
“It was heart-wrenching to discover that my daughter had fallen victim to this law,” expressed the speaker.
Two weeks ago, the landscaping business was broken into by the driver. Although the police were notified, they were unable to pursue the perpetrator. The same driver later revisited the business and stole a truck.
Goldade revealed that if he had been caught just two weeks earlier, he would have been imprisoned because of the warrant that was issued against him.
Terry Kohl, who is 32 years old, was found guilty of all eight counts related to Imaculee’s death and the severe injuries sustained by her companion on July 27, 2023, by a jury.
To Goldade, being able to allow the police to pursue suspects by changing the law back to how it used to be means the world.
Goldade expressed his frustration, stating that he had been advocating for this cause for the past year and a half. He further added that next week would mark two and a half years since the unfortunate incident of her death. He felt overwhelmed by the fact that he had to fight for this.
Immaculee came from a family of eight children, and she was the fourth among them. If everything went according to plan, she would have turned 15 in August and started high school this year.
Goldade expressed her sorrow, stating, “My family is torn apart by that hole. The no-pursuit law has made my loved one a victim forever.”
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