By Hannah Saunders
The Washington Coalition of Police Accountability has written a letter demanding that the Federal Way Police Department (FWPD) undergo some serious changes and accountability measures for two reports involving Black men. This comes after FWPD officers killed 27-year-old Leon Davis while in a hospital, and shot 19-year-old Caution Mann while he was experiencing a mental health crisis.
Mann called 911 to assist him on June 24, as he was contemplating suicide. His grandmother was present, and pleaded that officers do not harm Mann.
“Police shot Mann several times, and he remains in the hospital in critical condition,” according to the letter.
On March 12, Davis was experiencing alcohol withdrawal syndrome and checked himself into a local hospital. Several days later he claimed he would jump from a window while confused and delirious, and hospital staff called police. The coalition’s letter stated that FWPD officers put a spit hood on Davis.
“Many police departments include spit hoods in their use of force policies and consider them restraints. But other police chiefs and law enforcement leaders have characterized spit socks as sanitary devices. The hoods keep people from spitting on officers and save them from potential health risks from contact with saliva. In fact, healthcare workers also use the nets to keep patients from spitting on them in places like hospitals, ambulances and nursing homes,” according to The Marshall Project. “People who have tried to breathe in spit masks during police encounters describe it as a scary experience.”
After placing the split hood on Davis, officers allegedly slammed his head into the ground and restrained him with his face down on the ground.
“He had a heart attack and died,” according to the Coalition.
Davis’s niece launched a GoFundMe, which has helped cover funeral expenses, although funds are needed to support them during the legal process as they seek justice.
“My uncle was a kind and sweet soul who touched the lives of everyone around him,” Jahniyah Perkins wrote. “He didn’t deserve what happened to him.”
Body camera footage of both incidents has not been released. The Washington Coalition of Police Accountability is demanding that the FWPD release footage and hold the officers involved in Davis’ death and Mann’s shooting accountable. The Coalition is also asking for a racial bias inquiry to be launched, and is also requesting the Attorney General’s Office lead another, separate racial bias inquiry at the department.
Organizations and individuals are asked to sign-on to the letter here.
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