Yesterday, right before the legislative cutoff, the state senate passed SB 5352, a bill allowing police officers more discretion to pursue dangerous high speed chases. This was a rollback of successful reforms we passed in the wake of the George Floyd protests.
A *majority of Democrats* voted to pass this rollback. What’s more, 12 of the Democrats who voted for this rollback even voted for the original reform in the first place! These Democrats knew better, but caved to police unions and cheap tough-on-crime politics.
Allowing for more high speed pursuits does not make us safer. It increases the chance of fatalities, including of bystanders to the chase; and the lowered standard gives ample room for officers to racially profile.
ACTION: Below is the roll call for this terrible vote. If your senator voted for SB 5352, call and email to let them know you are angry and disappointed. If they voted against it, thank them.
Find Your District: https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/
Legislative Hotline: (800) 562-6000
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These Democrats voted for SB 5352 even after voting for the reform in the first place: Sen.’s Billig, Cleveland, Conway, Dhingra, Keiser, Liias, Lovick, Mullet, Randall, Robinson, Rolfes, Salomon, Wellman
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These Democrats voted for SB 5352: Sen.’s Kauffman, Shewmeke, Van de Wege
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THANK these Democrats who stood strong and voted against the rollback: Sen.’s Frame, Hasegawa, Hunt, Kuderer, Lovelett, Nguyen, Nobles, Pedersen, Saldana, Stanford, Trudeau, Valdez, C. Wilson
Background: https://www.washingtoncoalitionforpoliceaccountability.com/pursuitsslides
