Confusion over police reform laws grow along with calls for a special session

Calls are increasing for an emergency special session of the state legislature to deal with confusion over the new police reform laws. Police agencies say the laws are vague and difficult to interpret.

The whole situation led to nearly a hundred mental health workers walking out of the Cascade Behavioral Health Hospital and on the picket line after an incident Aug. 1 where they couldn’t handle a patient in crisis and called Tukwila Police but were told the new police reform laws prevented officers from responding.

Several workers were hurt.

“Police, because of the new regulations, they say ‘unless a body is on the ground’ according to my colleagues on Sunday (Aug. 1) when an accident happened they cannot show up ‘unless a body is on the ground,’ said Mender Misghina, mental health RN on the strike line. “So, we need police support to back us up, help us in order to de-escalate the situation.”

Misghina was asked, “Do you think the police are misinterpreting the new laws and they should show up when you have an issue?” Misghina, “Absolutely. You know we are part of the community. They have to help us in order to de-escalate the situation.”

Mental health RN Melat Mekonnen said, “I feel like we don’t have any help. If I go in this building I might die. I might be the next victim. The management is saying they’re not going to help us. The police are not going to help us and what do we do without security.”

The striking workers are demanding Cascade provide private security. Cascade says it’s hoping for a resolution with the walkout soon issuing a statement, “We are working in good faith with our nurses to reach an agreement on a new contract. We look forward to arriving at a fair resolution with our nurses and resuming normal operations.”

Tukwila Police sent this statement, “Officers cannot assist with physically restraining a patient that is in a mental health facility to receive mental health treatment that has not committed a crime. There was no probable cause established to indicate that the patient had assaulted the staff member.”

State Attorney General guidance says, “Bill 1310 does not prohibit peace officers from responding to community caretaking calls, including mental health calls.”

“We got the initial guidance that nothing we did prevents law enforcement from showing up and the further guidance we’re going to be getting will address what happens when they show up,” said Rep. Roger Goodman (D) who helped craft the legislation.

But republican leaders in the state House and Senate say this can’t wait for the next session in January and are calling for an emergency special session right away.

“We have to have a sense of urgency about fixing the problems with this legislation that was passed by the democratic majority, no republicans voted for this,” said Rep. JT Wilcox, House Republican Leader. “And they’ve admitted that fixes are necessary. So, let’s go in and get this fixed right now.”

Gov. Jay Inslee's office said, “No. We disagree with how the legislation has been characterized and interpreted by some. The state is working on outreach to law enforcement on clearing up their concerns to ensure the law is being interpreted appropriately.”