Agencies combine to investigate deadly-force cases

Garth Meyer, Whitman County Gazette | Aug 13, 20200

COLFAX – The Colfax city council last week chose to join a mutual aid/joint police agreement with a list of area agencies for the aftermath in the event of a deadly-force major incident.

The group will make it so the department involved does not investigate itself.

“It’s essentially formalizing something we always did,” said Bruce Blood, Colfax police chief. “We want to be impartial, and this makes it much easier to gather resources.”

Under the agreeement – for Garfield, Asotin and Whitman counties – once a deadly-force investigation is complete, Whitman County Prosecutor Denis Tracy would make a final determination on whether charges are filed.

There is no cost to each entity to participate in the program, other than the costs to a local department to protect the scene if an incident does occur.

The Colfax police department signed and faxed it’s documents Aug. 7 to be part of the program. It will take effect once each organization has signed and sent in their documents.

“We’re able to pull in people with more experience and get a better investigation,” said Colfax Mayor Jim Retzer, who is also a Washington State patrolmen. “In this time and age, we gotta be transparent to the public.”

Pullman Police Chief Gary Jenkin will be the head of the program, which does not preclude local organizations from conducting their own parallel investigation.

Participating agencies include Asotin County Sheriff’s Department, Asotin Police Department, Clarkston Police Department, Colfax Police Department, Garfield County Sheriff’s Department, Palouse Police Department, Pullman Police Department, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington State Patrol (within the three counties), WSU Police and the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office.