DOJ opens investigation of Seattle police after Native man's death

Tuesday, January 25, 2011  

The Department of Justice has opened a preliminary investigation of the police department in Seattle, Washington, in response to a series of high-profile incidents, including the fatal shooting of John T. Williams, a traditional woodcarver.

U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan has met with law enforcement officials and community groups that pushed for the investigation. The probe will be handled by DOJ's Civil Rights Division.

Williams, who was a member of the Dididaht First Nation of British Columbia, was fatally shot by an officer on August 30, 2010. An inquest returned a mixed verdict but half of the jurors said Williams did not pose a threat at the time of the shooting.

Get the Story:
Justice Department begins preliminary review of Seattle police (The Seattle Times 1/25)

Related Stories:
Gyasi Ross: Native perspective on inquest of Native man's death (1/21)
Inquest split over fatal shooting of Native man by a police officer (1/21)
Police officer questioned over fatal shooting of Native woodcarver (1/13)
Inquest begins into officer's fatal shooting of Native wood carver (1/11)
Judge tells police to release video from Native man's shooting (12/17)
Officer waited four seconds before shooting Native wood carver (11/16)
Knife carried by Native wood carver was found in closed position (11/10)
Reports: Fatal shooting of Native woodcarver ruled not justified (10/15)
County orders inquest of fatal shooting of Native woodcarver (10/12)
Autopsy: Native carver was shot four times in his side by officer (10/6)
Board in Washington opens probe into shooting of Native man (10/4)
Justice Department monitors probe into shooting of Native man (9/21)
Mayor in Seattle calls officer shooting of Native man an 'injustice' (9/17)
Police department makes changes after First Nations man's death (9/16)
Editorial: Officer shooting of Native man threatens public's trust (9/10)
Police promise better outreach after fatal shooting of Native man (9/9)
Native leaders seek inquiry of police shooting of traditional carver (9/8)
Gyasi Ross: What are we doing about the shooting of Native man? (9/3)
First Nations in mourning after fatal shooting of traditional carver (9/3)
First Nations man shot and killed by officer was deaf in one ear (9/2)
First Nations man shot and killed by police officer in Washington (9/1)