The city of Olympia, Washington, has agreed to pay $600,000 to the family of Timothy Green, a Black man who was fatally shot by the police. The settlement also includes a provision that prohibits officers from personalizing their work equipment with symbols like the thin blue line, which is associated with the Blue Lives Matter movement. This decision follows a wrongful death tort claim filed by Green’s family after his death in 2022.
As part of the settlement, the Olympia Police Department must update its policy within a year to prevent officers from decorating their equipment with any symbols. Additionally, the police chief, deputy chief, assistant chiefs, and the four officers involved in Green’s death are required to undergo state training on the historical relationship between race and policing. The city has also agreed to provide more crisis intervention training to all Olympia police officers.
The family’s attorneys, Leslie Cushman and Gabe Galanda, negotiated the settlement, which aimed to address issues related to the use of force, crisis intervention, and police culture within the Olympia Police Department. The family expressed their belief that Green did not deserve to die the way he did and emphasized their desire to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Despite a 24% decrease in overall use of force by Olympia police officers since 2022, data from the department’s auditor revealed that 83% of incidents involved individuals in crisis. The family, represented by Cushman and Galanda, is also urging the Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office to reopen a criminal investigation into Green’s shooting after it was deemed justified and lawful in 2023.
Reports obtained by the family indicate that Olympia police had prior knowledge of Green’s mental health conditions and had responded to calls about his erratic behavior before the fatal encounter. During the incident that led to Green’s death, officers attempted to apprehend him after he displayed concerning behavior at a Starbucks, ultimately resulting in the use of force that led to his death.
The family has filed complaints with the Criminal Justice Training Commission against the four officers involved in the shooting, with the goal of having their law enforcement certifications revoked. The family’s push for accountability and policy changes within the Olympia Police Department highlights the ongoing efforts to address issues of police violence and improve law enforcement practices.
