Tacoma is stuck between agitation and peace. Manny Ellis’ death must push us forward | Opinion
Our city is at a crossroads. Deeply rooted racial, political and economic divides that have fostered hate and harm in our community for generations can no longer be kept at bay. We must either engage in hard conversations about community safety or watch as our fractures undermine the bright dreams we have for Tacoma.
Our conversations about community safety need to start with policing. The death of Manuel Ellis, along with the countless traumatic encounters between marginalized community members and police officers that have been happening for decades, demand our attention.
Police officers are a key part of our city’s safety plan. It is critical that our residents remain safe when they engage with the police and feel comfortable calling on the police for help. It is also of the utmost importance that officers have safe encounters with residents so that they can provide the highest level of support and service. We can only achieve these twin goals by working together to understand the root causes of crime and societal issues that have all too often fueled tensions.
Our community has not received justice for the lives that have been lost and forever impacted by police violence. Yet, we are not empty-handed, nor are we powerless.
The courtroom and the Tacoma Police Department are not the only places where change can and must occur. We can come together as a community to create our own path to healing — one that is not punitive, but restorative.
As a City Council member, I am exploring ways to create space for our community members to authentically share how they have been impacted by their relationship with the police department. We must hear how police officers are impacted as well. If we can allow people to share their story, create a record of the truth of our city and allow those experiences to humanize and guide us, I know we will begin healing our divides.
Coming together to understand our experiences, share our goals and articulate our values is vital for our ability to build durable peace in Tacoma.
I am also committed to ensuring that we continue to advance city policies that build community trust in our police department. We are already making progress by ensuring officers have body cameras, advancing work on a Community Safety Action Strategy and standing up alternative response models specifically designed to support Tacoma, including the Holistic Outreach Promoting Engagement (HOPE), Homeless Engagement Alternatives Liaison (HEAL) team and Community Service Officers.
A brighter day is coming in Tacoma. Healing the tumultuous relationship between policing systems and Black, Brown and similarly marginalized communities is not something we’ve failed at yet. We only fail if we refuse to see it through.
It is because we have not taken on these issues in earnest, as an entire community, that we continue to linger in the liminal space between what we have been and what we could be; between agitation and peace.
Having been born and raised in Tacoma, I have seen us continually choose to do the hard work it takes to push through adversity and come out better on the other end. When at a crossroads, it can be appealing to take the well-paved road, but easy isn’t always better.
As we face what feels like a daunting path, I am motivated by my community — known for its work ethic and grit — and our spirit of never backing down from a challenge.