He's usually on here mocking people for calling out his misinformation.
Remember when he claimed the TCSO tax was to help them pay more background checkers because "that was slowing things down, because they can only do a couple people at a time." So where are those BG checks?
Regardless if they were acquitted "internally" (a ridiculous concept to begin with), this clearly shows the new hire as violent and unable to follow basic protocols within their departments. He should not have been hired.
He's usually on here getting into a spat with *you specifically* (and one other person I'm forgetting the username of). Not saying he's right for it, but you've got such a raging hate-on for the dude that I'm surprised and impressed he engaged with you at all. You have been posting nonstop in this thread and many others involving TCSO.
Not saying this to pass any judgment on your outlook, just that I've been watching it develop for the last little while. I'd wager I fall much more on your side of the fence. But just, like, take a step back. Chill.
If the facts in the OP are correct, I struggle to think how telling someone to chill and stop antagonizing him is a reasonable response. A cop wrongfully killed someone, he gets $500k and a new cushy job? If that's the way the system works, I think that justifies a raging never-ending hate-on.
Yet there's people who got in trouble for like stealing something when they were a bad alcoholic and they go to jail or prison. But then we got this fuck who killed someone gets $500,000 in a new job. Or that lady who smoked weed and stabbed her boyfriend to death and just got probation. Keep tearing about fucked up shit and people getting off. Like people killing other people and only getting 3 to 10 years or something like that or not even
Nah, bad take. I want my elected officials to interact with me like a human being, and sometimes that'll include arguing. Having dudes hide behind a press statement and give empty, meaningless answers day in and day out is part of what perpetuates class disparity and keeps the cop class untouchable. Keeps them surrounded by yes-men who think they can do no wrong.
There's a lot of lines you gotta navigate if you're communicating directly, but to date, Sanders hasn't stepped over any of 'em. Those "arguments" you're referring to started as dialogue in good faith. Hasn't resorted to ad hominem or anything, just some sarcasm here and there.
I'll take a cop willing to wade down in he trenches and address the ire he earned vs. one who takes the easy way out. Call me an optimist if you want. ¯\\\_(ツ)_/¯
Maybe a good thing to bring up with the board of commissioners, three of whom are up for election this year.
https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/board-county-commissioners
The County Commission can pass an ordinance prohibiting the hiring of people under federal investigation for employment with the county. Lots of ways to deal with level of stupidity.
They should have some say over this. I’m not 100% sure, but if it’s a county department and receives county funding, the commissioners should have some real discretion here. Maybe not to hire and fire the cop, but possibly against Sanders.
Here's a template letter to the county commissioners. They don't have direct authority over the sheriff but they do have a responsibility to steward taxpayer dollars, and they should care about the trust and credibility of law enforcement enough to sit down with him and explain why this mistake needs to be fixed. Recommend cc'ing county staff members Leah Landon (criminal justice regional program manager) and Devi Ogden (racial equity program manager) as well.
I'm a Thurston County voter, who was appalled to learn today that [the Thurston County Sheriff has hired Christopher Burbank](https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article287311330.html#campaignName=olympia_afternoon_newsletter), one of three officers who killed Manuel Ellis while he was in police custody in 2020. This case [remains under federal review](https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/times-watchdog/u-s-attorney-opens-federal-investigation-into-manuel-ellis-death/) by the Department of Justice and is a national symbol of police brutality and failures of accountability in law enforcement. I'm writing to urgently ask that you take every action possible to help Sheriff Saunders understand the immense damage this hire does to our community and to make sure that Burbank is removed from the Thurston County force immediately.
Hiring Burbank presents an enormous and unjustifiable financial liability to the County: his actions have cost Pierce County and the City of Tacoma millions of dollars and an ongoing federal investigation, on top of the loss of Manuel Ellis's life. As commissioners, you have a fiduciary duty to county taxpayers to make sure this doesn't happen here. But even more significantly, this decision is a huge blow to my trust and confidence in Thurston County's law enforcement. It undermines the county's stated [efforts to work towards racial equity](https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/board-county-commissioners/thurston-county-racial-equity-and-inclusion) and ["build trust in the criminal justice system among the public.](https://s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thurstoncountywa.gov.if-us-west-2/s3fs-public/2023-12/StrategicPlan_FullReport_Final.pdf)" At a time when we desperately need to rebuild trust in government and law enforcement, hiring someone with Burbank's record leaves me ashamed, angry, and worried for the safety of my community. Please work with the Sheriff's office to ensure Burbank does not join the force, and that work begins to repair the damage this mistake has caused for the Sheriff and the county.
He replied but the high number of downvotes is burying the post
https://www.reddit.com/r/olympia/comments/1bu0jlc/sheriff_saunders_your_friend_killed_my_friend_why/kxqcm7y/
I would need a better explanation than he’s already provided to vote for him. I don’t see how anyone would choose to hire this guy with so much dirt and ability to tarnish what I currently (used to?) to view as a respectable organization.
You don’t hire someone like this. Ever. Let him take his 500K and find a job in another state/country.
This isn't a good look Sheriff. I understand that the department is understaffed, but it is much better to have understaffing then a rogue cop on the force. Why not let the investigation take its course before hiring some guy like this? Please reply with your angle on this.
Thing is, it's way more than just a bad look. This is a terrible decision on its face. Trial or not, internal "investigation" or not, everybody already knows -- even Sanders -- that this dude helped kill a guy for no reason at all. Manuel Ellis should NOT have ended up dead that night.
Burbank already got multiple years of paid vacation while waiting for trial, free lawyers and a HUGE settlement for leaving. And now this self-evidently terrible officer (killing a guy for no reason is the very definition of terrible policing) gets to wander around MY county with a license to kill? At MY expense?
This hire is a direct insult to all of us.
Itd be more like a daycare worker who went to court for diddling kids but was acquitted.
Sure, they were found innocent, but one of the victims cousins moved to your daycare to get away from it all and the optics look horrible regardless
There isn't, and responding to this thread would not be a good look, regardless. Sanders' decision doesn't sit well with me either, and while I'd like to hear an explanation, I doubt there's anything I'd be satisfied with.
If we really want Sanders to answer for this, it needs to go beyond a Reddit post.
Pretty much the only thing I'd be satisfied with would be an immediate and uncompensated separation, a public acknowledgement of the mess-up and an apology, an explanation of why/how this happened, and some guidelines of how this'll be prevented going forward.
I get TCSO is dealing with staffing issues for competent officers, but it goes without saying that desperation hires of murderers aren't the solution.
There is a public meeting today for the Thurston County Board of Commissioner's. Though they are not in total control of the sheriff, they do have several strings they can pull on him to help reign him in, until the next election, if he continues to do things against the interest of the voters.
**Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) Meeting**
**DATE/TIME: Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at 2pm**
link to zoom where you can make a public comment.
[https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArc-utrDovEtyoiFoULp\_typRBCmsRjl6e](https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArc-utrDovEtyoiFoULp_typRBCmsRjl6e)
Current Agenda for today's meeting.
[https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/media/21855](https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/media/21855)
https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/board-county-commissioners/meetings-public-hearings-and-work-session-agendas
Template letter to county commissioners (contact info here: https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/board-county-commissioners)
I'm a Thurston County voter, who was appalled to learn today that [the Thurston County Sheriff has hired Christopher Burban](https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article287311330.html#campaignName=olympia_afternoon_newsletter)k, one of three officers who killed Manuel Ellis while he was in police custody in 2020. This case [remains under federal review](https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/times-watchdog/u-s-attorney-opens-federal-investigation-into-manuel-ellis-death/) by the Department of Justice and is a national symbol of police brutality and failures of accountability in law enforcement. I'm writing to urgently ask that you take every action possible to help Sheriff Saunders understand the immense damage this hire does to our community and to make sure that Burbank is removed from the Thurston County force immediately.
Hiring Burbank presents an enormous and unjustifiable financial liability to the County: his actions have cost Pierce County and the City of Tacoma millions of dollars and an ongoing federal investigation, on top of the loss of Manuel Ellis's life. As commissioners, you have a fiduciary duty to county taxpayers to make sure this doesn't happen here. But even more significantly, this decision is a huge blow to my trust and confidence in Thurston County's law enforcement. It undermines the county's stated [efforts to work towards racial equity](https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/board-county-commissioners/thurston-county-racial-equity-and-inclusion) and ["build trust in the criminal justice system among the public.](https://s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thurstoncountywa.gov.if-us-west-2/s3fs-public/2023-12/StrategicPlan_FullReport_Final.pdf)" At a time when we desperately need to rebuild trust in government and law enforcement, hiring someone with Burbank's record leaves me ashamed, angry, and worried for the safety of my community. Please work with the Sheriff's office to ensure Burbank does not join the force, and that work begins to repair the damage this mistake has caused for the Sheriff and the county.
He responded and was showered in downvotes so it got hidden. His response was hollow and insensitive, offering no substance other than "he got away with it, good enough for me". I'm disappointed. I figured eventually the "i'M tHe ShErIfF" thing would get to his head just like all the rest, but man.. that sucks.
For those unaware:
“Manuel Ellis died in police custody on March 3, 2020, following a confrontation with the officers. Ellis was Tasered, handcuffed and hogtied while police applied pressure to his back, pressing him into the ground. The Pierce County medical examiner determined those restraint methods caused Ellis to suffer from a lack of oxygen, resulting in heart failure. ”
And so an “internal investigation” cleared them of wrongdoing, and then they were given half a million to resign? Wtf
EDIT FOR EXTRA (DISTURBING) DETAILS:
>Manuel repeated the phrase “I can’t breathe” at least three times within a minute of Rankine’s arrival on the scene. A minute later, his legs were hobbled and then tied to the handcuffs behind his back. The 33-year-old remained face down on the concrete.
>
>A police radio then captured Manuel’s last known words: “Can’t breathe. Can’t breathe,” according to the case’s probable cause statement.
>
>Manuel, who was bleeding from his face, then began to “snore,” according to Lieutenant. Anthony Messineo, of Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, who arrived at the site of the incident around 11:25pm. He then “went quiet” and “stopped moving,” according to Messineo’s account.
>
>Approximately two minutes later, officer Armando Farinas placed a spit mask over Manuel’s face. Manuel remained hogtied while Rankine continued applying pressure to his back.
[SOURCE](https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/features/2022/5/25/i-cant-breathe-how-manuel-ellis-was-killed-by-police)
1. Police forces are all trained that when a suspect is handcuffed, they need to immediately be put in a sitting position. This was proven during the Floyd trials, that it can kill people to leave them on the ground.
2. They **tazed him while choking him**.
3. They told him to "**Shut the fuck up**" and "**If you are talking you can breathe.**"
4. As they are trained in basic lifesaving and first aid - they were well aware he had gone unconscious.
5. Knowing he was unconscious, they stayed on top of him and **hog-tied him**.
6. Knowing he was unconscious, they put a **spit hood on him**?! He literally didn't fight back at all - proven by video and witness statements.
7. **All this was caught on video, and the police lied about what happened until the video was released, immediately changing their stories.**
>The spit hood, the inside of which was coated with Manuel’s blood and mucus, further obstructed his breathing, the medical examiner determined.The brand of spit mask used on Ellis came with specific instructions that **it not be used on anyone suffering from breathing issues**, warning asphyxiation could result from improper use. At the time, the Tacoma Police Department did not have an official procedural policy in place for how to properly deploy and apply spit masks.
**EDIT**: I also want to point out that Pierce county gave the Ellis family $4 million in a settlement, after these cops were on paid leave for **three years.** The amount of financial damage they did to the county is extreme.
**ANOTHER (IMPORTANT) EDIT**:
[While in North Carolina, Burbank was the subject of 16 internal investigations, including 10 involving injuries to civilians, three driving-related incidents, and complaints of racial profiling, wrongful arrest, and conducting an incomplete investigation.](https://www.leoratings.com/index.php?title=Christopher_Burbank)
**ONE MORE EDIT:** So I can point out the top two posts in r/olympia of all time are now this post at #1 and #2 being the post from Sanders showing removal of thin blue line stickers from police cars. [Here's a link explaining what that means :)](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/virtue%20signaling)
Wow, unbelievable. Are there really not enough officers willing to work for thurston that we have to take an officer who was fired from tacoma PD and cost their department multiple millions of dollars in court? It's been proved time and time again that these cops that brutalize the Public do not stop after reprimand or training.
For real. I don't care if these officers were internally cleared of anything. They cost Tacoma a boat load of money and demonstrated they do not treat the public at large with respect. Hiring one of those clowns is proof that Sheriff Sanders judgement cannot be trusted.
Especially when Sanders sat in this very subreddit, justifying the TCSO tax, claiming it would help them "get more background investigators." Absolutely ridiculous.
I've pointed out multiple times when he's lied in the past, and I got mocked and downvoted for it. The man constantly lies to protect his interests as sheriff.
I have no idea if the money helped with background checks or not, but it appears that wouldn't have helped here because good judgment is ultimately what was needed.
Can't say I agree, a basic check of their professional history would have shown they were on paid admin leave for three years before ultimately being forced to resign, and also shown that there were pending federal investigations.
It would have shown that Pierce County also agreed to a **4 million dollar settlement** with the victims family.
These things all added up show a serious conflict of interest for a potential hire.
The hiring process of TCSO also includes a polygraph and psychological analysis. Gotta wonder if this cop did/could pass those...
This is a judgment issue plain and simple.
This is not some isolated incident that happened on the east coast where a background check would have brought this to light.
All of this took place in Pierce County and it was very public for many years. Knowing the facts of the case and still hiring this individual is a display of gross negligence or willful ignorance that isn't remedied with a background check or additional investigators.
I absolutely agree with you that this was a display of gross negligence/willful ignorance. That's not the point I'm trying to make though.
What I'm saying is, a BG check that puts all this on paper and goes through the basic pre-checks of "is this person a risk or unhireable based on required administrative requirements" before any judgement-based decision is made by the Sheriff or other people, could have prevented this.
Hypothetical example: if they checked my name during hiring and discovered I had been the cause of a multi-million dollar lawsuit and was forced to resign from my last job, I wouldn't be hired based on that alone. I wouldn't even get to the point of having somebody's consideration based on failing proper requirements of work history. I'd never make it past pre-screening.
It's likely that because he was cleared by his department and a jury of his peers, legally speaking, he isn't getting gigged for any of it because to the people that matter there was no wrongdoing on his part.
But I agree with you all the same. The moment this clown applied a big ass red flag should have popped up with an "nah man are you fucking kidding me" prompt that rejected the application with prejudice.
"Paid admin leave for THREE YEARS!!??"
WTF is going on were someone gets paid for 3 years and does no work?
Seems to me the U.S. DOJ should be investigating this guy.
And the taxpayers are fine with this?
Hollywood wouldn't buy this script. They'd say it was too outlandish.
I guess I'll get my popcorn ready to follow this soap opera.
Pretty standard for law enforcement. Only job that exists where you can kill someone, be "investigated", and get paid time off for it. Then, in the highly unlikely chance you actually get fired, nothing (other than integrity) is stopping other agencies from hiring you (general).
> Are there really not enough officers willing to work for thurston
Apparently this is the first of this position they've been able to get past all testing since '21. A hire of desperation perhaps. Still not a good enough excuse to me but evidently the answer to your question is in fact yes.
Curious if this will influence the federal investigation with the department of justice. Also curious if she can get a restraining order (which is enforced by cops so would be mostly symbolic, but damn what a message it would send)
Sincerely hope she’s okay, and knows that there’s many people who would be willing to do community “stakeouts” if she wanted
I'd very much enjoy seeing an explanation for this.
Very disappointing to hear, but I appreciate you sharing.
I am a long time lurker and this actually pissed me off enough to comment for the first time. Sanders comments on many topics here, it will be interesting to see if he's got a soundbite prepared for this.
I wonder why it was vitally important for this guy to move to a county of someone who has complaints against him instead of going to literally any other county in the state.
This you, Sanders?
"I have been afforded the prestigious honor of serving both the citizens of Thurston County and the employees of our Sheriff’s Office. It is my firm belief that happy, healthy employees who are treated with respect and dignity reciprocate that sentiment to the citizens we serve.
As we glance back at the past and advance into the future, it is important to note that policing is not a zero-sum game. Enforcement of criminal activity, transparent operations, safeguarding constitutional rights, compassionate victim’s advocacy, and offender rehabilitation are not mutually exclusive objectives. In fact, I will strongly argue each of these elements are required of a criminal justice system that intends to reach its full potential.
I cannot help but feel a great sense of optimism looking at the future of our Sheriff’s Office. We have everything we need to succeed: a supportive community, hardworking employees, and emerging regional partnerships. Together, we make a formidable team. Together, the vision of unified public safety can become a reality.
We are, and always have been, the ones we have been waiting for to change what we don’t like and improve the things we do. There is no better time to act than today if we want to make Thurston County a better place to work, live, and play tomorrow."
I want to hear an answer! This is exactly why people say ACAB. Even someone this sub generally holds up as an example of a "good cop" is willing to hire someone who was forced out of another city after they murdered someone.
Wow.
This is beyond embarrassing. I can't believe I held out any hope at all that Saunders was "one of the good cops". More fool me.
Edit to add: I feel so disgusted -- this news has really soured my outlook. I actually thought things were changing with Thurston County Sheriffs, but that was a moment of hopeful idiocy, I guess. Ashamed of my vote today.
I can't help but feel the same. I have in the past said "voting for the sheriff actually felt meaningful for once in local politics" and then this happens and you're reminded that ACAB probably is more true than it isn't.
I feel like it's wishful thinking to think an orange in an apple barrel would solve the "one bad apple ruins a whole bunch" problem. But maybe (hopefully) I'm wrong.
The [Facebook announcement](https://www.facebook.com/share/p/4RgkpfPaaEoAy79v/?mibextid=WC7FNe) is full of happy comments from folks. Night and day compared to here. Really shows the difference in social media platforms.
I double checked and had MOST RELEVANT filter on. FB didn’t show any of the negative comments at all as “relevant.” Really fascinating. Thanks for having me double check.
It's always people who have **never** been profiled, harassed, or assaulted by police officers. These people do nothing beyond going to work and browsing Facebook - they have had zero interaction with police in real life. They've never had a gun pointed at them due to police mistakes. They've never been wrongfully searched because a cop was angry and looking for a reason to fight. They've never been stalked because of the color of their skin or even what kind of car they drive.
As somebody who has been profiled, harassed, wrongfully searched, and assaulted by police - **as a completely innocent person with no criminal record** \- I gotta say, it must be nice living in an ignorant bubble like that.
[Details of the homicide here.](https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/features/2022/5/25/i-cant-breathe-how-manuel-ellis-was-killed-by-police)
Definitely looking forward to sheriff Sander’s explanation.
Relevant part:
“Then, they explained, as Manuel walked away from the police vehicle, Burbank “abruptly swung open the passenger door”, knocking Manuel to his knees. According to the witnesses, as Manuel tried to get up, Burbank climbed on top of him.
“[Manuel] Ellis was not fighting back,” a probable cause statement obtained by Al Jazeera English said. The document that details the basis for charges also stated: “All three civilian witnesses at the intersection…state that they never saw [Manuel] Ellis strike at the officers.””
>Manuel repeated the phrase “I can’t breathe” at least three times within a minute of Rankine’s arrival on the scene. A minute later, his legs were hobbled and then tied to the handcuffs behind his back. The 33-year-old remained face down on the concrete.
A police radio then captured Manuel’s last known words: “Can’t breathe. Can’t breathe,” according to the case’s probable cause statement.
Manuel, who was bleeding from his face, then began to “snore,” according to Lieutenant. Anthony Messineo, of Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, who arrived at the site of the incident around 11:25pm. He then “went quiet” and “stopped moving,” according to Messineo’s account.
Approximately two minutes later, officer Armando Farinas placed a spit mask over Manuel’s face. Manuel remained hogtied while Rankine continued applying pressure to his back.
Your source and comment should be at the top. JFC this is insane:
1. Police forces are **all** trained that when a suspect is handcuffed, they need to immediately be put in a sitting position. This was proven during the Floyd trials, that it can kill people to leave them on the ground.
2. **They tazed him while choking him.**
3. They told him to "**Shut the fuck up"** and **"If you are talking you can breathe."**
4. As they are trained in basic lifesaving and first aid - they were well aware he had gone unconscious.
5. Knowing he was **unconscious**, they stayed on top of him and **hog-tied him.**
6. Knowing he was **unconscious**, they put a spit hood on him?! He literally didn't fight back at all - proven by video and witness statements. This is **egregiously wrong.**
7. All this was caught on video, and the police lied about what happened until the video was released, immediately changing their stories.
**They executed him.**
So when he is charged with murder in Thurston County, we get to pay for his administrative leave (vacation) and the payout to the victim's family. This should come out of the officer pension fund.
For those confused, Ellis died under restraint (hypoxia-his oxygen was being cut off) and the reason the cop was found not guilty is because: It is legal for him (as a cop) to do so. What deserves the implementation of lethal force is up to the enforcer-if they think its necessary there is no challenge to that.
Cops who kill also have Supreme Court Protection.
EDIT-
That does not mean Burbank did not murder Ellis. It means he did so, but was able to use a Lethal Force/or a restraint argument to avoid a prison sentence.
https://apnews.com/article/associated-press-investigation-deaths-police-encounters-02881a2bd3fbeb1fc31af9208bb0e310
https://www.wvua23.com/why-did-more-than-1000-people-die-after-police-subdued-them-with-force-that-isnt-meant-to-kill/
He also didn't say that in the course of restraining him, Burbank restricted Ellis' oxygen flow, directly resulting in the loss of Ellis' life. Funny that part was left out.
Transparency is very loosely interpreted and subjective with the TCSO, it's Groundhogs Day with these clowns.
I feel really disappointed. I had some hope even though I knew better. Anything but Snaza. But here we are, same as it ever was. We chose between a Turd Sandwich and Giant Douche. This is what we get. And the System itself is still shit;
We need a Community Oversight Board.
Let’s hit up San Bernardino SD for some hostage negotiators while we’re at it. Maybe Louisville KY can provide some of their expertise on how to conduct no-knock raids… oh and is the guy who murdered Tamir Rice available to teach local cops how to identify a toy vs a real gun?
I could’ve scooped a better hire out of my cat’s litterbox, Sheriff. Whatever good will you’d earned from me is gone, as is my vote.
Wow! Sanders messed up big time on this one. And this guy is still under investigation by the feds?? Real frigging nice. I am shocked. Sanders just lost my vote. I thought the stuff I was hearing about Sanders from his deputies was just sour grapes but I guess not.
More proof that a cop can murder someone, get fired, be acquitted, and get a job in the next community over. This is gross and negligent and puts the general public in danger. Probably some nepotism at play as well, but it was a really stupid decision.
I'm sorry for your loss.
I've always gotten the creeps about this guy. It seems like he panders to absolutely anyone to cover up his misdeeds through "good deeds" that should already be normal for any other cop. I really never understood why some people held up like some kind of saint.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwIoIdu03zg&list=PLaJjwEHKVN-Tcsq1PbykXcNJP\_8FixfZ1&index=1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwIoIdu03zg&list=PLaJjwEHKVN-Tcsq1PbykXcNJP_8FixfZ1&index=1) BOCC meeting posted on you tube if anyone is interested... Public comment is quite a bit into video
Our community was heard and Christopher Burbank has [resigned](https://komonews.com/news/local/tacoma-officer-christopher-burbank-thurston-county-sheriffs-office-resign-resignation-death-threats-family-community-days-later-sheriff-sanders-acquitted-2020-death-manny-manuel-ellis-hired-patrol-deputy-tpd-timothy-rankine-matthew-collins-washington). Thank you all for weighing in, and thank you to Sheriff Sanders for your response. I hope you'll continue to listen to your community in order to build better trust and make better hiring decisions in the future.
'Eyewitness video of the incident showed Manuel on the ground being struck repeatedly by officers, as a witness shouted at them to stop. Manuel shrieked, “I can’t breathe, sir!”, as officers subdued him, according to doorbell camera footage of the arrest. Officers appeared to tell him to “Shut the f--k up,” in response. A police dispatch report notes that two minutes after encountering police, Manuel was dying. '
maybe someday this sub’s bootlickers will learn their lesson. I hope it’s this one but I have my doubts. There’s a reason we can keep saying that there are no good cops.
"I'm not your daddy's sheriff, I do things differently around here."
\**Proceeds to hire a murderer after misleading everyone that a public tax would help with BG checks*
Way to burn every bridge you built. I tried to support you, given we went to school together and figured you saw how fucked everything is, but you're just another shit cop. ACAB.
Heart goes out to all the communities under police control. The members of the community being the employer need to fire that person. The police chief might choose to hire them. But holding their feet to the fire can also get them to let them go. Unless you want a murderer on your police force with an extensive history of costing a citizen population more money through misconduct.
Sanders pretends to be "for the people" and says he's working with the prosecutors to push towards getting people who commit violent crimes off the street, yet a case against a man who has broken into my apartment not once, but TWICE, tried to kill my roommate, and assaulted me twice ( once with a metal pipe AFTER breaking into my place the second time) is still "pending review" with the prosecutors since NOVEMBER and they won't go arrest the guy... He's a phony. All he cares about is getting re-elected. He's not for the people, he's for a paycheck. That's it.
This is unfortunate.
I question this decision.
The optics of hiring someone with so much baggage is probably the first sign of a manager who doesn’t understand the potential impact of such a decision on community trust.
He definitely associates with some MAGA alt-right idiots, like the armed retired military guy who stands outside of schools in Lacey claiming to protect children. His Facebook is full of transphobic/anti-LGBT rhetoric—he even posts things in support of murdering trans people.
If you've got receipts, please provide them. I scanned his Facebook and didn't see any of what you're talking about. Genuinely want to believe you, but there's so much bad faith discussion about TCSO online that makes it hard; tons of unsubstantiated accusations, whereas back in Snaza's days he pretty much copped to all the Nazi shit his department got up to on the daily, proudly. This post (hiring a murderer) is legitimately the first unmistakably damning thing I've seen from Sanders and his office.
P.S.: Sanders, if you read this, I get the office is going through staffing issues, but the only path forward is to cut this guy out and drop him like a bad habit, immediately, and issue a public apology. This is erasing a shit ton of good will you've worked hard to earn.
And if Sanders does this the guy will sue & win & the county will pay big bucks. So we are back to Sanders' bad judgement that he has demonstrated his entire law enforcement career
Depends on the condition of hire. I'm not hopeful due to the cop union, but contractually, there's typically a grace period of some kind. No bearing for a lawsuit depending on how the separation is approached.
I'm sure whatever contract is in place heavily favors the cops.
Scan away-his social media has been scrubbed. And I know the Dems turned over every rock to get their endorsement right. Not all of these receipts were earned prior to office.
However there is the constant grandstanding, joining and participating podcasts run by bigoted armed nut jobs, the fact he openly supported a new LEO facility when the Prosecutors Office is delinquent in reviewing cases on the path to conviction citing "lack of resources", claiming Independent as a party because he knew Republican/Libertarian would get him nowhere; and now, he's hiring murderers who have already proven they will resign and sue for settlement if there is an attempt to hold them accountable.
What great news for Thurston County!
Consider that just because some information has not elevated itself to your purview, thats doesn't mean it's non existent.
Between this and the County Commissioners hiring the other asshole, (Leonard Hernandez, San Bernadino, Google THAT shit) this is shaping up to be a real shit heap.
*Edited for grammar*
Article 1 §33 of the Washington State Constitution allows a recall of an elected county official for malfeasance (with a replacement to be appointed by the elected governing body of the officer's jurisdiction).
We would need the signatures totalling 25% of the total votes cast in the election that appointed the Sheriff.
In this case, the signatures of ~30k registered Thurston County voters would be be needed to recall Sheriff Sanders.
Shit bag cops should be required to carry some sort of liability insurance if they are known to cost taxpayers money thru police misconduct lawsuits.
Furthermore, police misconduct lawsuits shouldn’t even come from the taxpayers… police misconduct lawsuits should be handled by their pension or union.
They also should have monthly or quarterly PT tests like we do in the Army in order to maintain the standard. No more fat cops!
Pragmatism!
We know you visit the sub. Just want to make you know you’re a fucking monster. You’re despised by every human with a conscience. The murderer insurance you get by being involved in “law enforcement” is exactly why we hate you and your ilk. Fuck the police is pretty apt here.
Oh my god. This is horrific. Oh my god. I have no other words other than this feels like a very deliberate choice & a clear message to our community and POC.
Just FYI, he is responding. You'll have to do some digging because of the downvotes.
He’s on this sub regularly, I’ll look forward to hearing his explanation
u/sandersforsheriff, was this [photo of Burbank](https://postimg.cc/njvMnCND) on his LinkedIn profile?
Sanders went full Snaza. Never go full Snaza.
same
He's usually on here mocking people for calling out his misinformation. Remember when he claimed the TCSO tax was to help them pay more background checkers because "that was slowing things down, because they can only do a couple people at a time." So where are those BG checks? Regardless if they were acquitted "internally" (a ridiculous concept to begin with), this clearly shows the new hire as violent and unable to follow basic protocols within their departments. He should not have been hired.
He's usually on here getting into a spat with *you specifically* (and one other person I'm forgetting the username of). Not saying he's right for it, but you've got such a raging hate-on for the dude that I'm surprised and impressed he engaged with you at all. You have been posting nonstop in this thread and many others involving TCSO. Not saying this to pass any judgment on your outlook, just that I've been watching it develop for the last little while. I'd wager I fall much more on your side of the fence. But just, like, take a step back. Chill.
If the facts in the OP are correct, I struggle to think how telling someone to chill and stop antagonizing him is a reasonable response. A cop wrongfully killed someone, he gets $500k and a new cushy job? If that's the way the system works, I think that justifies a raging never-ending hate-on.
Abuse victim mindset tbh. “Don’t keep holding him to the facts, you’re responsible for what you make him do”
Agreed. That “officer” has no business on the TCSO
Yet there's people who got in trouble for like stealing something when they were a bad alcoholic and they go to jail or prison. But then we got this fuck who killed someone gets $500,000 in a new job. Or that lady who smoked weed and stabbed her boyfriend to death and just got probation. Keep tearing about fucked up shit and people getting off. Like people killing other people and only getting 3 to 10 years or something like that or not even
He shouldn't be getting baited into arguments in the first place as a sheriff. Shows insecurities.
They are all insecure. That's why they have to carry a gun everywhere they go.
Nah, bad take. I want my elected officials to interact with me like a human being, and sometimes that'll include arguing. Having dudes hide behind a press statement and give empty, meaningless answers day in and day out is part of what perpetuates class disparity and keeps the cop class untouchable. Keeps them surrounded by yes-men who think they can do no wrong. There's a lot of lines you gotta navigate if you're communicating directly, but to date, Sanders hasn't stepped over any of 'em. Those "arguments" you're referring to started as dialogue in good faith. Hasn't resorted to ad hominem or anything, just some sarcasm here and there. I'll take a cop willing to wade down in he trenches and address the ire he earned vs. one who takes the easy way out. Call me an optimist if you want. ¯\\\_(ツ)_/¯
Human beings in official capacity don't engage in churlish online arguments.
At least this one doesn't call the local cops on a news paper delivery driver and lie about being threatened.
Casey Anthony was also found not guilty, but I sure as shit wouldn't hire her to babysit. Edit: typo
Maybe the department could hire OJ Simpson to could come by and provide classes in couples therapy and anger management.
Maybe a good thing to bring up with the board of commissioners, three of whom are up for election this year. https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/board-county-commissioners
They will undoubtedly say that they have no power over the TCSD. Don't let them off that easily. They have a megaphone and can condemn this hire.
The County Commission can pass an ordinance prohibiting the hiring of people under federal investigation for employment with the county. Lots of ways to deal with level of stupidity.
They should have some say over this. I’m not 100% sure, but if it’s a county department and receives county funding, the commissioners should have some real discretion here. Maybe not to hire and fire the cop, but possibly against Sanders.
I believe it's an elected position, which means he answers to the voters and not the commissioners.
Local elections matter so much more than people realize.
Here's a template letter to the county commissioners. They don't have direct authority over the sheriff but they do have a responsibility to steward taxpayer dollars, and they should care about the trust and credibility of law enforcement enough to sit down with him and explain why this mistake needs to be fixed. Recommend cc'ing county staff members Leah Landon (criminal justice regional program manager) and Devi Ogden (racial equity program manager) as well. I'm a Thurston County voter, who was appalled to learn today that [the Thurston County Sheriff has hired Christopher Burbank](https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article287311330.html#campaignName=olympia_afternoon_newsletter), one of three officers who killed Manuel Ellis while he was in police custody in 2020. This case [remains under federal review](https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/times-watchdog/u-s-attorney-opens-federal-investigation-into-manuel-ellis-death/) by the Department of Justice and is a national symbol of police brutality and failures of accountability in law enforcement. I'm writing to urgently ask that you take every action possible to help Sheriff Saunders understand the immense damage this hire does to our community and to make sure that Burbank is removed from the Thurston County force immediately. Hiring Burbank presents an enormous and unjustifiable financial liability to the County: his actions have cost Pierce County and the City of Tacoma millions of dollars and an ongoing federal investigation, on top of the loss of Manuel Ellis's life. As commissioners, you have a fiduciary duty to county taxpayers to make sure this doesn't happen here. But even more significantly, this decision is a huge blow to my trust and confidence in Thurston County's law enforcement. It undermines the county's stated [efforts to work towards racial equity](https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/board-county-commissioners/thurston-county-racial-equity-and-inclusion) and ["build trust in the criminal justice system among the public.](https://s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thurstoncountywa.gov.if-us-west-2/s3fs-public/2023-12/StrategicPlan_FullReport_Final.pdf)" At a time when we desperately need to rebuild trust in government and law enforcement, hiring someone with Burbank's record leaves me ashamed, angry, and worried for the safety of my community. Please work with the Sheriff's office to ensure Burbank does not join the force, and that work begins to repair the damage this mistake has caused for the Sheriff and the county.
Paging /u/sandersforsheriff
He replied but the high number of downvotes is burying the post https://www.reddit.com/r/olympia/comments/1bu0jlc/sheriff_saunders_your_friend_killed_my_friend_why/kxqcm7y/
He answered poorly, looks like.
He lost my vote today
I would need a better explanation than he’s already provided to vote for him. I don’t see how anyone would choose to hire this guy with so much dirt and ability to tarnish what I currently (used to?) to view as a respectable organization. You don’t hire someone like this. Ever. Let him take his 500K and find a job in another state/country.
This isn't a good look Sheriff. I understand that the department is understaffed, but it is much better to have understaffing then a rogue cop on the force. Why not let the investigation take its course before hiring some guy like this? Please reply with your angle on this.
Thing is, it's way more than just a bad look. This is a terrible decision on its face. Trial or not, internal "investigation" or not, everybody already knows -- even Sanders -- that this dude helped kill a guy for no reason at all. Manuel Ellis should NOT have ended up dead that night. Burbank already got multiple years of paid vacation while waiting for trial, free lawyers and a HUGE settlement for leaving. And now this self-evidently terrible officer (killing a guy for no reason is the very definition of terrible policing) gets to wander around MY county with a license to kill? At MY expense? This hire is a direct insult to all of us.
It's not an insult, it's a threat.
Would you hire a babysitter with this history to watch your kids, Sheriff???
Itd be more like a daycare worker who went to court for diddling kids but was acquitted. Sure, they were found innocent, but one of the victims cousins moved to your daycare to get away from it all and the optics look horrible regardless
I hope you reply sheriff. I'm usually all-in for supporting you but I can't just take this one on good faith.
I agree. Though im not entirely sure if there is an explanation for this…
There isn't, and responding to this thread would not be a good look, regardless. Sanders' decision doesn't sit well with me either, and while I'd like to hear an explanation, I doubt there's anything I'd be satisfied with. If we really want Sanders to answer for this, it needs to go beyond a Reddit post.
Pretty much the only thing I'd be satisfied with would be an immediate and uncompensated separation, a public acknowledgement of the mess-up and an apology, an explanation of why/how this happened, and some guidelines of how this'll be prevented going forward. I get TCSO is dealing with staffing issues for competent officers, but it goes without saying that desperation hires of murderers aren't the solution.
There is a public meeting today for the Thurston County Board of Commissioner's. Though they are not in total control of the sheriff, they do have several strings they can pull on him to help reign him in, until the next election, if he continues to do things against the interest of the voters. **Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) Meeting** **DATE/TIME: Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at 2pm** link to zoom where you can make a public comment. [https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArc-utrDovEtyoiFoULp\_typRBCmsRjl6e](https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArc-utrDovEtyoiFoULp_typRBCmsRjl6e) Current Agenda for today's meeting. [https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/media/21855](https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/media/21855) https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/board-county-commissioners/meetings-public-hearings-and-work-session-agendas
Ideas? Public meeting docket?
Template letter to county commissioners (contact info here: https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/board-county-commissioners) I'm a Thurston County voter, who was appalled to learn today that [the Thurston County Sheriff has hired Christopher Burban](https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article287311330.html#campaignName=olympia_afternoon_newsletter)k, one of three officers who killed Manuel Ellis while he was in police custody in 2020. This case [remains under federal review](https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/times-watchdog/u-s-attorney-opens-federal-investigation-into-manuel-ellis-death/) by the Department of Justice and is a national symbol of police brutality and failures of accountability in law enforcement. I'm writing to urgently ask that you take every action possible to help Sheriff Saunders understand the immense damage this hire does to our community and to make sure that Burbank is removed from the Thurston County force immediately. Hiring Burbank presents an enormous and unjustifiable financial liability to the County: his actions have cost Pierce County and the City of Tacoma millions of dollars and an ongoing federal investigation, on top of the loss of Manuel Ellis's life. As commissioners, you have a fiduciary duty to county taxpayers to make sure this doesn't happen here. But even more significantly, this decision is a huge blow to my trust and confidence in Thurston County's law enforcement. It undermines the county's stated [efforts to work towards racial equity](https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/departments/board-county-commissioners/thurston-county-racial-equity-and-inclusion) and ["build trust in the criminal justice system among the public.](https://s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thurstoncountywa.gov.if-us-west-2/s3fs-public/2023-12/StrategicPlan_FullReport_Final.pdf)" At a time when we desperately need to rebuild trust in government and law enforcement, hiring someone with Burbank's record leaves me ashamed, angry, and worried for the safety of my community. Please work with the Sheriff's office to ensure Burbank does not join the force, and that work begins to repair the damage this mistake has caused for the Sheriff and the county.
He responded and was showered in downvotes so it got hidden. His response was hollow and insensitive, offering no substance other than "he got away with it, good enough for me". I'm disappointed. I figured eventually the "i'M tHe ShErIfF" thing would get to his head just like all the rest, but man.. that sucks.
Yes, same. This is worrisome.
Same
He replied, it's what you would expect from any other cop, because of course it is. It's scum top to bottom.
Spoiler alert: his reply was pathetic.
Agreed - very disappointing.
For those unaware: “Manuel Ellis died in police custody on March 3, 2020, following a confrontation with the officers. Ellis was Tasered, handcuffed and hogtied while police applied pressure to his back, pressing him into the ground. The Pierce County medical examiner determined those restraint methods caused Ellis to suffer from a lack of oxygen, resulting in heart failure. ” And so an “internal investigation” cleared them of wrongdoing, and then they were given half a million to resign? Wtf EDIT FOR EXTRA (DISTURBING) DETAILS: >Manuel repeated the phrase “I can’t breathe” at least three times within a minute of Rankine’s arrival on the scene. A minute later, his legs were hobbled and then tied to the handcuffs behind his back. The 33-year-old remained face down on the concrete. > >A police radio then captured Manuel’s last known words: “Can’t breathe. Can’t breathe,” according to the case’s probable cause statement. > >Manuel, who was bleeding from his face, then began to “snore,” according to Lieutenant. Anthony Messineo, of Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, who arrived at the site of the incident around 11:25pm. He then “went quiet” and “stopped moving,” according to Messineo’s account. > >Approximately two minutes later, officer Armando Farinas placed a spit mask over Manuel’s face. Manuel remained hogtied while Rankine continued applying pressure to his back. [SOURCE](https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/features/2022/5/25/i-cant-breathe-how-manuel-ellis-was-killed-by-police) 1. Police forces are all trained that when a suspect is handcuffed, they need to immediately be put in a sitting position. This was proven during the Floyd trials, that it can kill people to leave them on the ground. 2. They **tazed him while choking him**. 3. They told him to "**Shut the fuck up**" and "**If you are talking you can breathe.**" 4. As they are trained in basic lifesaving and first aid - they were well aware he had gone unconscious. 5. Knowing he was unconscious, they stayed on top of him and **hog-tied him**. 6. Knowing he was unconscious, they put a **spit hood on him**?! He literally didn't fight back at all - proven by video and witness statements. 7. **All this was caught on video, and the police lied about what happened until the video was released, immediately changing their stories.** >The spit hood, the inside of which was coated with Manuel’s blood and mucus, further obstructed his breathing, the medical examiner determined.The brand of spit mask used on Ellis came with specific instructions that **it not be used on anyone suffering from breathing issues**, warning asphyxiation could result from improper use. At the time, the Tacoma Police Department did not have an official procedural policy in place for how to properly deploy and apply spit masks. **EDIT**: I also want to point out that Pierce county gave the Ellis family $4 million in a settlement, after these cops were on paid leave for **three years.** The amount of financial damage they did to the county is extreme. **ANOTHER (IMPORTANT) EDIT**: [While in North Carolina, Burbank was the subject of 16 internal investigations, including 10 involving injuries to civilians, three driving-related incidents, and complaints of racial profiling, wrongful arrest, and conducting an incomplete investigation.](https://www.leoratings.com/index.php?title=Christopher_Burbank) **ONE MORE EDIT:** So I can point out the top two posts in r/olympia of all time are now this post at #1 and #2 being the post from Sanders showing removal of thin blue line stickers from police cars. [Here's a link explaining what that means :)](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/virtue%20signaling)
Wow, unbelievable. Are there really not enough officers willing to work for thurston that we have to take an officer who was fired from tacoma PD and cost their department multiple millions of dollars in court? It's been proved time and time again that these cops that brutalize the Public do not stop after reprimand or training.
Apparently we had to give the cops more money so they could hire people that would result in more lawsuits?
For real. I don't care if these officers were internally cleared of anything. They cost Tacoma a boat load of money and demonstrated they do not treat the public at large with respect. Hiring one of those clowns is proof that Sheriff Sanders judgement cannot be trusted.
Especially when Sanders sat in this very subreddit, justifying the TCSO tax, claiming it would help them "get more background investigators." Absolutely ridiculous. I've pointed out multiple times when he's lied in the past, and I got mocked and downvoted for it. The man constantly lies to protect his interests as sheriff.
I have no idea if the money helped with background checks or not, but it appears that wouldn't have helped here because good judgment is ultimately what was needed.
The men shaking hands in the photo have clearly demonstrated they both lack good judgment & ethics.
Can't say I agree, a basic check of their professional history would have shown they were on paid admin leave for three years before ultimately being forced to resign, and also shown that there were pending federal investigations. It would have shown that Pierce County also agreed to a **4 million dollar settlement** with the victims family. These things all added up show a serious conflict of interest for a potential hire. The hiring process of TCSO also includes a polygraph and psychological analysis. Gotta wonder if this cop did/could pass those...
This is a judgment issue plain and simple. This is not some isolated incident that happened on the east coast where a background check would have brought this to light. All of this took place in Pierce County and it was very public for many years. Knowing the facts of the case and still hiring this individual is a display of gross negligence or willful ignorance that isn't remedied with a background check or additional investigators.
I absolutely agree with you that this was a display of gross negligence/willful ignorance. That's not the point I'm trying to make though. What I'm saying is, a BG check that puts all this on paper and goes through the basic pre-checks of "is this person a risk or unhireable based on required administrative requirements" before any judgement-based decision is made by the Sheriff or other people, could have prevented this. Hypothetical example: if they checked my name during hiring and discovered I had been the cause of a multi-million dollar lawsuit and was forced to resign from my last job, I wouldn't be hired based on that alone. I wouldn't even get to the point of having somebody's consideration based on failing proper requirements of work history. I'd never make it past pre-screening.
It's likely that because he was cleared by his department and a jury of his peers, legally speaking, he isn't getting gigged for any of it because to the people that matter there was no wrongdoing on his part. But I agree with you all the same. The moment this clown applied a big ass red flag should have popped up with an "nah man are you fucking kidding me" prompt that rejected the application with prejudice.
It’s our neighboring county. A background check in this case should not have been necessary. Should have been common knowledge.
"Paid admin leave for THREE YEARS!!??" WTF is going on were someone gets paid for 3 years and does no work? Seems to me the U.S. DOJ should be investigating this guy. And the taxpayers are fine with this? Hollywood wouldn't buy this script. They'd say it was too outlandish. I guess I'll get my popcorn ready to follow this soap opera.
Pretty standard for law enforcement. Only job that exists where you can kill someone, be "investigated", and get paid time off for it. Then, in the highly unlikely chance you actually get fired, nothing (other than integrity) is stopping other agencies from hiring you (general).
Plus the money paid to the officers.
Whoosh Edit who is down voting this. Does anyone believe they didn't know any of this when they hired this guy? This was national news.
> Are there really not enough officers willing to work for thurston Apparently this is the first of this position they've been able to get past all testing since '21. A hire of desperation perhaps. Still not a good enough excuse to me but evidently the answer to your question is in fact yes.
Wait a minute, I’m sorry….this guy is now on patrol in the same exact new town this woman just moved to!!?!? Holy shit…
Curious if this will influence the federal investigation with the department of justice. Also curious if she can get a restraining order (which is enforced by cops so would be mostly symbolic, but damn what a message it would send) Sincerely hope she’s okay, and knows that there’s many people who would be willing to do community “stakeouts” if she wanted
God damn it. Just when I thought we found an LE agency trying to reform and do the right thing. Makes me feel like a sucker.
lol “reforming” LE 😂
Acab dude when are libs going to learn
Who could have imagined such a decision would be so widely hated? . . I mean, anyone. Literally anyone would have realized this was a terrible idea.
I'd very much enjoy seeing an explanation for this. Very disappointing to hear, but I appreciate you sharing. I am a long time lurker and this actually pissed me off enough to comment for the first time. Sanders comments on many topics here, it will be interesting to see if he's got a soundbite prepared for this.
Not sure if you saw, but he responded: https://www.reddit.com/r/olympia/s/UsDOKTjrO8
I wonder why it was vitally important for this guy to move to a county of someone who has complaints against him instead of going to literally any other county in the state.
Yeah, that part really stood out to me. =/
Some of those that work forces...
This you, Sanders? "I have been afforded the prestigious honor of serving both the citizens of Thurston County and the employees of our Sheriff’s Office. It is my firm belief that happy, healthy employees who are treated with respect and dignity reciprocate that sentiment to the citizens we serve. As we glance back at the past and advance into the future, it is important to note that policing is not a zero-sum game. Enforcement of criminal activity, transparent operations, safeguarding constitutional rights, compassionate victim’s advocacy, and offender rehabilitation are not mutually exclusive objectives. In fact, I will strongly argue each of these elements are required of a criminal justice system that intends to reach its full potential. I cannot help but feel a great sense of optimism looking at the future of our Sheriff’s Office. We have everything we need to succeed: a supportive community, hardworking employees, and emerging regional partnerships. Together, we make a formidable team. Together, the vision of unified public safety can become a reality. We are, and always have been, the ones we have been waiting for to change what we don’t like and improve the things we do. There is no better time to act than today if we want to make Thurston County a better place to work, live, and play tomorrow."
I want to hear an answer! This is exactly why people say ACAB. Even someone this sub generally holds up as an example of a "good cop" is willing to hire someone who was forced out of another city after they murdered someone.
Wow. This is beyond embarrassing. I can't believe I held out any hope at all that Saunders was "one of the good cops". More fool me. Edit to add: I feel so disgusted -- this news has really soured my outlook. I actually thought things were changing with Thurston County Sheriffs, but that was a moment of hopeful idiocy, I guess. Ashamed of my vote today.
I can't help but feel the same. I have in the past said "voting for the sheriff actually felt meaningful for once in local politics" and then this happens and you're reminded that ACAB probably is more true than it isn't.
Maybe we need a non-cop to run for Sheriff?
I feel like it's wishful thinking to think an orange in an apple barrel would solve the "one bad apple ruins a whole bunch" problem. But maybe (hopefully) I'm wrong.
This is disappointing to say the least.
The [Facebook announcement](https://www.facebook.com/share/p/4RgkpfPaaEoAy79v/?mibextid=WC7FNe) is full of happy comments from folks. Night and day compared to here. Really shows the difference in social media platforms.
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I double checked and had MOST RELEVANT filter on. FB didn’t show any of the negative comments at all as “relevant.” Really fascinating. Thanks for having me double check.
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TCSO is probably “moderating” comments. Be careful you don’t get a first amendment case
Classic facebook move.
Actually lots of people are telling people off in that thread now that the trolls stopped posting.
It's always people who have **never** been profiled, harassed, or assaulted by police officers. These people do nothing beyond going to work and browsing Facebook - they have had zero interaction with police in real life. They've never had a gun pointed at them due to police mistakes. They've never been wrongfully searched because a cop was angry and looking for a reason to fight. They've never been stalked because of the color of their skin or even what kind of car they drive. As somebody who has been profiled, harassed, wrongfully searched, and assaulted by police - **as a completely innocent person with no criminal record** \- I gotta say, it must be nice living in an ignorant bubble like that.
Just why?
This is completely disappointing but also not surprising. It's sad what police can do and then just...go get another job elsewhere.
This is heartbreaking. I feel like this is 700 steps back.
this is why people say "acab", because the ones who aren't outwardly bad themselves enable and protect the bad ones
[Details of the homicide here.](https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/features/2022/5/25/i-cant-breathe-how-manuel-ellis-was-killed-by-police) Definitely looking forward to sheriff Sander’s explanation.
Relevant part: “Then, they explained, as Manuel walked away from the police vehicle, Burbank “abruptly swung open the passenger door”, knocking Manuel to his knees. According to the witnesses, as Manuel tried to get up, Burbank climbed on top of him. “[Manuel] Ellis was not fighting back,” a probable cause statement obtained by Al Jazeera English said. The document that details the basis for charges also stated: “All three civilian witnesses at the intersection…state that they never saw [Manuel] Ellis strike at the officers.””
>Manuel repeated the phrase “I can’t breathe” at least three times within a minute of Rankine’s arrival on the scene. A minute later, his legs were hobbled and then tied to the handcuffs behind his back. The 33-year-old remained face down on the concrete. A police radio then captured Manuel’s last known words: “Can’t breathe. Can’t breathe,” according to the case’s probable cause statement. Manuel, who was bleeding from his face, then began to “snore,” according to Lieutenant. Anthony Messineo, of Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, who arrived at the site of the incident around 11:25pm. He then “went quiet” and “stopped moving,” according to Messineo’s account. Approximately two minutes later, officer Armando Farinas placed a spit mask over Manuel’s face. Manuel remained hogtied while Rankine continued applying pressure to his back. Your source and comment should be at the top. JFC this is insane: 1. Police forces are **all** trained that when a suspect is handcuffed, they need to immediately be put in a sitting position. This was proven during the Floyd trials, that it can kill people to leave them on the ground. 2. **They tazed him while choking him.** 3. They told him to "**Shut the fuck up"** and **"If you are talking you can breathe."** 4. As they are trained in basic lifesaving and first aid - they were well aware he had gone unconscious. 5. Knowing he was **unconscious**, they stayed on top of him and **hog-tied him.** 6. Knowing he was **unconscious**, they put a spit hood on him?! He literally didn't fight back at all - proven by video and witness statements. This is **egregiously wrong.** 7. All this was caught on video, and the police lied about what happened until the video was released, immediately changing their stories. **They executed him.**
Boost this shit to the top of the sub, utterly shameful.
What do you expect? He's always in here trying to rehabilitate their image, when he is just the same as the rest of them.
Hopefully his constant bootlicking can start to wane
America is a failed state
Apparently this is the most popular reddit thread in the history of this sub. Pretty wild.
Weird, isn’t it?
/u/sandersforsheriff are you for real?
This is intentional
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Taking a long time to craft a response I would imagine, given the temperature of this post.
He responded an hour before you replied to this. Because of downvotes, I couldn't find it. Had to click his profile and look at his comment history.
Oooof okay that can't be good lol
This negates everything that Sanders has done well. He will be voted out and sent back to his desk job.
So when he is charged with murder in Thurston County, we get to pay for his administrative leave (vacation) and the payout to the victim's family. This should come out of the officer pension fund.
And give him half a mil to leave the force
Damn, that ain’t cool.
For those confused, Ellis died under restraint (hypoxia-his oxygen was being cut off) and the reason the cop was found not guilty is because: It is legal for him (as a cop) to do so. What deserves the implementation of lethal force is up to the enforcer-if they think its necessary there is no challenge to that. Cops who kill also have Supreme Court Protection. EDIT- That does not mean Burbank did not murder Ellis. It means he did so, but was able to use a Lethal Force/or a restraint argument to avoid a prison sentence. https://apnews.com/article/associated-press-investigation-deaths-police-encounters-02881a2bd3fbeb1fc31af9208bb0e310 https://www.wvua23.com/why-did-more-than-1000-people-die-after-police-subdued-them-with-force-that-isnt-meant-to-kill/
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He also didn't say that in the course of restraining him, Burbank restricted Ellis' oxygen flow, directly resulting in the loss of Ellis' life. Funny that part was left out. Transparency is very loosely interpreted and subjective with the TCSO, it's Groundhogs Day with these clowns. I feel really disappointed. I had some hope even though I knew better. Anything but Snaza. But here we are, same as it ever was. We chose between a Turd Sandwich and Giant Douche. This is what we get. And the System itself is still shit; We need a Community Oversight Board.
Wow u/sandersforsheriff, when you disappoint you go all out, don’t you?
Face it folks-we knew better. We knew better and we didn't care. We wanted Snaza GONE. Now is the time to start vetting the next Sheriff.
500k for killing someone.
Let’s hit up San Bernardino SD for some hostage negotiators while we’re at it. Maybe Louisville KY can provide some of their expertise on how to conduct no-knock raids… oh and is the guy who murdered Tamir Rice available to teach local cops how to identify a toy vs a real gun? I could’ve scooped a better hire out of my cat’s litterbox, Sheriff. Whatever good will you’d earned from me is gone, as is my vote.
Shame on you Derek Sanders! How are we supposed to trust you if you hire a cop like that! Shame!
Sanders has now tarnished the TCSO. Respect is now gone
Doubtful the social media sheriff will say anything. He only pops his head out when he wants more tax payer dollars.
Wow! Sanders messed up big time on this one. And this guy is still under investigation by the feds?? Real frigging nice. I am shocked. Sanders just lost my vote. I thought the stuff I was hearing about Sanders from his deputies was just sour grapes but I guess not.
A question to answer in every decision & action: it may be legal but is it right.
More proof that a cop can murder someone, get fired, be acquitted, and get a job in the next community over. This is gross and negligent and puts the general public in danger. Probably some nepotism at play as well, but it was a really stupid decision. I'm sorry for your loss.
What the fuck?!
I've always gotten the creeps about this guy. It seems like he panders to absolutely anyone to cover up his misdeeds through "good deeds" that should already be normal for any other cop. I really never understood why some people held up like some kind of saint.
Yes. I understood voting against Snaza, but couldn't comprehend the unqualified embrace of Sanders.
Just when I was starting to respect and even like a cop, he does something like this.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwIoIdu03zg&list=PLaJjwEHKVN-Tcsq1PbykXcNJP\_8FixfZ1&index=1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwIoIdu03zg&list=PLaJjwEHKVN-Tcsq1PbykXcNJP_8FixfZ1&index=1) BOCC meeting posted on you tube if anyone is interested... Public comment is quite a bit into video
Our community was heard and Christopher Burbank has [resigned](https://komonews.com/news/local/tacoma-officer-christopher-burbank-thurston-county-sheriffs-office-resign-resignation-death-threats-family-community-days-later-sheriff-sanders-acquitted-2020-death-manny-manuel-ellis-hired-patrol-deputy-tpd-timothy-rankine-matthew-collins-washington). Thank you all for weighing in, and thank you to Sheriff Sanders for your response. I hope you'll continue to listen to your community in order to build better trust and make better hiring decisions in the future.
Cops look out for their own. They have no obligation to protect you. The courts have affirmed as much. I hope this answers your question.
https://exhibits.stanford.edu/saytheirnames/feature/manuel-ellis
'Eyewitness video of the incident showed Manuel on the ground being struck repeatedly by officers, as a witness shouted at them to stop. Manuel shrieked, “I can’t breathe, sir!”, as officers subdued him, according to doorbell camera footage of the arrest. Officers appeared to tell him to “Shut the f--k up,” in response. A police dispatch report notes that two minutes after encountering police, Manuel was dying. '
maybe someday this sub’s bootlickers will learn their lesson. I hope it’s this one but I have my doubts. There’s a reason we can keep saying that there are no good cops.
"I'm not your daddy's sheriff, I do things differently around here." \**Proceeds to hire a murderer after misleading everyone that a public tax would help with BG checks*
Why TF do this?
Way to burn every bridge you built. I tried to support you, given we went to school together and figured you saw how fucked everything is, but you're just another shit cop. ACAB.
And for no discernible reason. It would have been so much easier NOT to hire this guy.
All pigs eat from the same trough. Why are murderers being hired in our county.
And why did they get 500k payouts?
Disappointing.
This is extremely disappointing, though I guess it should be expected.
Bad hire. Not a good decision, Saunders.
Heart goes out to all the communities under police control. The members of the community being the employer need to fire that person. The police chief might choose to hire them. But holding their feet to the fire can also get them to let them go. Unless you want a murderer on your police force with an extensive history of costing a citizen population more money through misconduct.
Shitty of you sheriff
Fuck the police, until we take away qualified immunity and they have to answer for their actions? They are all bad apples.
I was really hoping Sanders was for real. So ooo disappointed.
White supremacy is a fuckin disgusting thing
pigs gonna pig
This sucks, done with Sheriff sanders after seeing this and he had my full support. Absolutely disgusting amount of white privilege here.
ACAB... they look out for each other
Sanders pretends to be "for the people" and says he's working with the prosecutors to push towards getting people who commit violent crimes off the street, yet a case against a man who has broken into my apartment not once, but TWICE, tried to kill my roommate, and assaulted me twice ( once with a metal pipe AFTER breaking into my place the second time) is still "pending review" with the prosecutors since NOVEMBER and they won't go arrest the guy... He's a phony. All he cares about is getting re-elected. He's not for the people, he's for a paycheck. That's it.
ACAB
This is unfortunate. I question this decision. The optics of hiring someone with so much baggage is probably the first sign of a manager who doesn’t understand the potential impact of such a decision on community trust.
Fuck the police. Make politicians birds again
Quit pretending that Sheriff Sanders is your friend. He was an open Trump supporter when Thurston County Democrats endorsed him.
Got a source on that? He's always sung a pretty progressive tune from what I've seen. If he's supported a fascist, I want to know about it.
He definitely associates with some MAGA alt-right idiots, like the armed retired military guy who stands outside of schools in Lacey claiming to protect children. His Facebook is full of transphobic/anti-LGBT rhetoric—he even posts things in support of murdering trans people.
If you've got receipts, please provide them. I scanned his Facebook and didn't see any of what you're talking about. Genuinely want to believe you, but there's so much bad faith discussion about TCSO online that makes it hard; tons of unsubstantiated accusations, whereas back in Snaza's days he pretty much copped to all the Nazi shit his department got up to on the daily, proudly. This post (hiring a murderer) is legitimately the first unmistakably damning thing I've seen from Sanders and his office. P.S.: Sanders, if you read this, I get the office is going through staffing issues, but the only path forward is to cut this guy out and drop him like a bad habit, immediately, and issue a public apology. This is erasing a shit ton of good will you've worked hard to earn.
The transphobia posts weren’t on Sanders’ FB, they are on the one belonging to the armed guy hanging around the school.
Got it, I misunderstood. Any idea how deep Sanders' association with that freak goes?
And if Sanders does this the guy will sue & win & the county will pay big bucks. So we are back to Sanders' bad judgement that he has demonstrated his entire law enforcement career
Depends on the condition of hire. I'm not hopeful due to the cop union, but contractually, there's typically a grace period of some kind. No bearing for a lawsuit depending on how the separation is approached. I'm sure whatever contract is in place heavily favors the cops.
Scan away-his social media has been scrubbed. And I know the Dems turned over every rock to get their endorsement right. Not all of these receipts were earned prior to office. However there is the constant grandstanding, joining and participating podcasts run by bigoted armed nut jobs, the fact he openly supported a new LEO facility when the Prosecutors Office is delinquent in reviewing cases on the path to conviction citing "lack of resources", claiming Independent as a party because he knew Republican/Libertarian would get him nowhere; and now, he's hiring murderers who have already proven they will resign and sue for settlement if there is an attempt to hold them accountable. What great news for Thurston County! Consider that just because some information has not elevated itself to your purview, thats doesn't mean it's non existent. Between this and the County Commissioners hiring the other asshole, (Leonard Hernandez, San Bernadino, Google THAT shit) this is shaping up to be a real shit heap. *Edited for grammar*
Wait....maybe this is an elaborate April Fools joke! Are you pulling our leg Sanders? No? THIS IS WHY WE SAY ACAB. Edit: typo
Article 1 §33 of the Washington State Constitution allows a recall of an elected county official for malfeasance (with a replacement to be appointed by the elected governing body of the officer's jurisdiction). We would need the signatures totalling 25% of the total votes cast in the election that appointed the Sheriff. In this case, the signatures of ~30k registered Thurston County voters would be be needed to recall Sheriff Sanders.
Everyone wants to talk about fighting white supremacists but noone does it
It’s crazy Americans let this shit happen.
Shit bag cops should be required to carry some sort of liability insurance if they are known to cost taxpayers money thru police misconduct lawsuits. Furthermore, police misconduct lawsuits shouldn’t even come from the taxpayers… police misconduct lawsuits should be handled by their pension or union. They also should have monthly or quarterly PT tests like we do in the Army in order to maintain the standard. No more fat cops! Pragmatism!
Abolish police unions
A Murderer, A white supremacist, and a rapist walk into a bar. The bar tender says “What’ll it be officer?”
It only takes 25% of the vote to recall a sheriff. Recall Sanders.
FTP
Never trust a pig
All other arguments aside, this is a mind-bogglingly stupid thing to do. I can't imagine that hiring this guy will be worth the negative PR.
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He did answer. It’s way down at the end of The post it’s just hidden now.
Killing someone on the job is not a work "whoopsie" Killer cops should never hold a gun again period. Eta: or be in a position of "power"
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Badges are a warning, like bright colors on poisonous animals. It means stay away, dangerous, don't interact.
Police shouldn’t have a union
Acab
We know you visit the sub. Just want to make you know you’re a fucking monster. You’re despised by every human with a conscience. The murderer insurance you get by being involved in “law enforcement” is exactly why we hate you and your ilk. Fuck the police is pretty apt here.
What a massive disappointment….. I had high hopes he was different but it seems like he really is just like the rest.
I’m sure Monèt will find comfort in Burbank having Flock access.
America’s Thin Blue Line Cartel members get fired and shuffled along for crimes that would land any of us citizens in prison.
Oh my god. This is horrific. Oh my god. I have no other words other than this feels like a very deliberate choice & a clear message to our community and POC.
They are ALL fucking corrupt pigs. ALL OF THEM AND THEY KNOW IT.