Tacoma city manager stops short of saying she’ll fire police involved in Manuel Ellis’ death
After Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards directed the city manager on Thursday to fire four police officers involved in a fatal encounter with Manuel Ellis, City Manager Elizabeth Pauli said Friday she would “act quickly” in reviewing information in the case.
“I will act quickly in reviewing any and all information provided and in making decisions necessary to hold individuals accountable for their actions,” Pauli said in a statement.
Ellis, a 33-year-old black man, died in March after being restrained by police while being arrested.
A video of part of the encounter surfaced Thursday. Woodards said during a live broadcast that evening that she was “even more enraged and angered and disappointed” after watching the video and called for the prosecution and firing of the officers.
Pauli stopped short in her statement of saying she would fire Christopher Burbank, 34; Matthew Collins, 37; Masyih Ford, 28; and Timothy Rankine, 31. Burbank and Collins are white. Ford is black. Rankine is Asian.
“I am proud of the passion our Mayor has for our community and for the depth of empathy and support she has always shown for the oppressed and persecuted in our community, especially our Black brothers and sisters,” Pauli said in her statement Friday.
She added that she loves the mayor and the community.
“I heard, felt and support the Mayor’s endorsement of the Ellis family’s demand for more information and for action,” Pauli said. “The Mayor is doing her job.”
Pauli said she looked forward to receiving additional information from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, which is investigating the case.
Tacoma City Council approved a letter to Gov. Jay Inslee on Friday afternoon, asking for an independent investigation into the death of Manuel Ellis after requests from the family.
Woodards said the Council will also look into creating an independent review policy for all officer-involved deaths in Washington state.
“I will also work closely with our City Council and the community to identify and implement the reform necessary for meaningful change,” Pauli said in her statement.
This story was originally published June 5, 2020 at 2:05 PM.
