Sheriff wants task force to focus on threats against police

[depakid]

Source: Seattle PI

After six police officers were slain in the Puget Sound region last year, the King County Sheriff's Office wants to create a specialized task force to investigate threats and violence against police and court officials.

The goal would be to identify people who show risky or aggressive behavior toward authorities and track them. The unit would develop strategies for officers who deal with those individuals, or even a plan for deterring them or getting them into mental health services. Sheriff Sue Rahr said Tuesday she'd like to include detectives from multiple agencies, plus mental health workers and a criminal psychologist to work with police in evaluating the danger posed by certain offenders.

Offenders would draw notice for behavior such as past violence against police or threats made to judges, prosecutors or public defenders. "We're proposing to bring this information together so everyone in the region is aware and there is planning available to decrease the risk," sheriff's Capt. Scott Strathy said during a meeting of the King County Council's Committee on Law, Justice, Health and Human Services.

"We're looking to determine who are the barkers and who are the biters."

Read more: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=102

[xchrom]

1. Good idea. Nt

[RKP5637]

2. IMO we need this across the nation if it's fair and just. n/t

[mr clean]

6. "If it's fair and just"... got that right!

[Po_d Mainiac]

3. Listening to Limpy and Beck should be enough to get flagged n/t

[pattmarty]

4. Oh shit! Here comes more "accidental shootings" in the ghetto.

:sarcasm:

[midnight]

5. If this was an inside job. No law will help.

I love this new emphasis on mental health workers. They are one of the most underfunded units we have in health care. Will they now start to be funded as a new tool for law enforcement?

[MicaelS]

7. Bad link...try this one....

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/417277_sheriff24.html