We’re not done pursuing a fix to police pursuit law
We’re not done pursuing a fix to police pursuit law
This article is republished here courtesy of Change Washington. While current state law unbelievably still does not allow police to vehicularly pursue most criminal suspects, we’re pursuing a fix to it this legislative session – and we need your help to make it happen. It’s evidently clear the 2021 law prohibiting law enforcement from going...
Proposal would give prisoners a 500% pay increase
Proposal would give prisoners a 500% pay increase
On January 30, 2023, the State of Washington sentenced four members of the group Crew 38 to over two years in prison for the violent and racially motivated assault of a black DJ at a bar in Lynwood. After the DJ asked them to move away from his music equipment, the four jumped him and...
[un]Divided: Police reform must be done carefully, collaboratively
[un]Divided: Police reform must be done carefully, collaboratively
After the police killing of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, can we avoid police reforms that sacrifice public safety? Steven Strachan, executive director of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, says we must be able to approach the issue thoughtfully. He joined Brandi Kruse on the [un]Divided Podcast.
By Brandi Kruse
Democratic lawmaker, professor debunk data used to restrict police pursuits
Democratic lawmaker, professor debunk data used to restrict police pursuits
Data being used to justify Washington state’s controversial police pursuit restrictions “should be disregarded in its entirety and should not be used to inform legislative decision-making,” concluded an independent review.
By Brandi Kruse
[un]Divided: Democrats could delay changes to pursuit law
[un]Divided: Democrats could delay changes to pursuit law
Rather than move forward with a bipartisan proposal to fix the state’s broken police pursuit policy, several Democratic lawmakers have proposed creating a 19-person commission to study the issue until 2024. Brandi Kruse urges action on the [un]Divided Podcast.
By Brandi Kruse
[un]Divided: Praise for bipartisan public safety bills
[un]Divided: Praise for bipartisan public safety bills
After passing a bill in 2021 to dramatically limit police pursuits, some Democrats have had a change of heart – joining Republican lawmakers in proposing fixes. Brandi Kruse discusses how the bipartisan bills would improve public safety.
By Brandi Kruse
Urge lawmakers to act on bipartisan pursuit bills
Urge lawmakers to act on bipartisan pursuit bills
A bipartisan group of lawmakers in Olympia are proposing common sense changes to the disastrous police pursuit policy passed in 2021. If you value public safety and the rule of law, take a few minutes today to urge legislative leaders to get onboard. This week, a handful of legislators dropped matching bills in the House...
By Brandi Kruse
[un]Divided: Community fights back over drug treatment center near Boys and Girls Club
[un]Divided: Community fights back over drug treatment center near Boys and Girls Club
Residents in Lynnwood say they were kept in the dark about an opioid treatment center opening just yards from a Boys and Girls Club. City Council President George Hurst joined Brandi Kruse on the [un]Divided Podcast to express his frustration with the state and Acadia Health.
By Brandi Kruse
5 New Year’s resolutions for Washington state lawmakers
5 New Year’s resolutions for Washington state lawmakers
As the rest of us consider our 2023 resolutions, perhaps state lawmakers would consider adopting a few of their own?
By Brandi Kruse
[un]Divided: Inslee pledges action on homelessness ten years too late
[un]Divided: Inslee pledges action on homelessness ten years too late
In a series of proposals ahead of the 2023 legislative session, Governor Jay Inslee outlined his vision to address homelessness. As Brandi Kruse explains on the [un]Divided Podcast, Inslee fails to identify the true cause of a crisis he helped to create.
By Brandi Kruse
Lawmakers cannot allow Washington’s drug crisis to continue
Lawmakers cannot allow Washington’s drug crisis to continue
Washington needs a serious drug policy. In 2016, Shannon Blake was arrested in Spokane, Washington. At the jail, officers found a small bag of methamphetamine in the pocket of her jeans. At trial, she testified that a friend had given the jeans to her two days before Blake’s arrest, that she had never used methamphetamines,...
[un]Divided: Dems want to raise wages for inmates, end qualified immunity for officers
[un]Divided: Dems want to raise wages for inmates, end qualified immunity for officers
As bills are pre-filed in Olympia, Brandi Kruse of the [un]Divided Podcast says a few Democrat-backed proposals show misplaced priorities.
By Brandi Kruse
Inslee’s failed leadership at Western State Hospital
Inslee’s failed leadership at Western State Hospital
A recent expose by The News (Tacoma) Tribune regarding Western State Hospital, the state’s largest mental hospital that is located in Lakewood, is not only perhaps one of the closest examples of the inmates literally running the asylum as you’ll ever get, but it’s also a vivid example of Governor Jay Inslee’s failed leadership on...
Be on the lookout for bad bills
Be on the lookout for bad bills
While details are still murky, here are what issues we can expect to pop up.
By Brandi Kruse