Was Sheriff Troyer wrong to call 911? This lawmaker says yes, wants law against it
Are you surprised that our sheriff’s controversy would quickly become political fodder in Olympia? Neither are we.
On top of the unwanted attention he heaped on himself and his department by pursuing a newspaper carrier, Pierce County Sheriff Ed Troyer is now the poster boy for Washington Democrats who want to clamp down on unlawful police calls.
On Tuesday a South King County lawmaker invoked Troyer to illustrate why the Legislature should approve one of her bills. Sen. Mona Das, D-Kent, wants to open a path for civil legal action when law enforcement is summoned to the scene of a non-crime for no good reason.
“Recently in Tacoma there was a sheriff, Ed Troyer, who is tasked with protecting people, but wasted time and resources,” Das said while promoting her bill during a House committee hearing. She added that Troyer’s emergency call to police dispatchers did nothing but “terrify and traumatize an innocent Black man doing his job of delivering newspapers.”
“I believe this was shameful behavior,” Das said, “and unfortunately as we all know it’s not rare.”
Did Das stretch the facts while describing Troyer’s 2 a.m. emergency call on Jan. 27?
Yes. She claimed that 42 officers swarmed the scene. While that’s the reported number who were initially dispatched, most were called off after the first cops arrived.
Would her legislation apply to situations like the Troyer debacle?
Probably not. Senate Bill 5135 would establish a civil cause of action for damages against a person who knowingly summons a police response for improper purposes. The operative word there is “knowingly.”
Troyer reacted recklessly when he got in his unmarked SUV at his West End home and pursued a man he suspected was a prowler but turned out to be 24-year-old news carrier Sedrick Altheimer. After Troyer said he was threatened and called for backup, Altheimer could’ve ended up hurt or dead. Young Blacks in America know that fear all too well.
But there’s no evidence of motives other than those of an overzealous homeowner who also happens to be the county’s chief law enforcement officer.
Does Troyer even deserve to be associated with this legislation?
That’s beside the point, isn’t it? All’s fair in love, war and politics. He made this mess in his first few months as sheriff, and it will stick to him as long as he’s in office.
The plot thickened this week as the Seattle Times followed its original account of the Altheimer confrontation with reports of an earlier incident. On Nov. 11, the newly elected Troyer activated another high-priority Tacoma police response — this time, for a car break-in outside his campaign office, during which he had “a little skirmish” with two Black males wearing puffy jackets.
As new questions emerge, the Pierce County Council must be diligent about collecting information. And though Troyer is separately elected, they must use every tool available to ensure the public can trust the Sheriff’s Department leadership. Setting the stage for an independent investigation Tuesday was a good start.
Das’ bill was motivated in part by an infamous confrontation last spring in New York’s Central Park. The disagreement between a Black male birdwatcher and a white female dog walker started with him complaining about her dog being off leash and ended with her calling 911.
Then, voila, media reports of Troyer’s pursuit and standoff with Altheimer fell into Das’ lap — a shocking incident, right here at home.
SB5135, which has passed the Senate and awaits House action, would have fairly narrow applications. A person could be subject to a civil action if they contact police with ill intent, such as to harass, humiliate, discriminate or infringe on someone’s constitutional rights.
But a person couldn’t be held liable if they summoned law enforcement “in good faith.” (Note: Acting in good faith is not the same thing as making a good decision.)
It’s not the most important bill in Olympia in 2021. We’re skeptical it’s really needed, considering the Legislature just last year strengthened criminal sanctions for false reporting that results in an emergency response.
But its chances might’ve improved thanks to the long shadow of Ed Troyer, whom we suspect will be mentioned more than once before this legislative session ends.
The hole he dug for himself was already deep. It didn’t take long for politicians to grab a shovel and take a turn.