WA BLM demands Sheriff Troyer be suspended, added to ‘Brady list’ of bad cops
October 27, 2021
SEATTLE—The Washington Black Lives Matter Alliance (WaBLM) today delivered a letter to Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney Mary Robnett demanding that Sheriff Ed Troyer be added to the county’s Brady list.
WaBLM additionally called for the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission to suspend Sheriff Troyer in light of the pending criminal charges against him. Earlier this week, former U.S. Attorney Brian Moran—hired to investigate Troyer by the Pierce County Council— recommended his findings be sent to the CJTC for consideration of further action.
Charges were filed against Sheriff Troyer last week for false reporting and making a false statement in January when he said newspaper deliverer Sedrick Altheimer, a Black man, was trying to kill him.
“Ed Troyer lied about his confrontation with an innocent man, and he did so because that man was Black,” WaBLM said. “Mr. Troyer was not the victim, he was the culprit. Sheriff Troyer initiated, agitated, and escalated harm, likely violating local, state, and federal Color of Law and other statutes.”
The full text of both letters follows.
October 27, 2021
To: Pierce County Prosecutor Mary Robnett
Cc: Pierce County Council
From: WA BLM Alliance
Subject: Adding Sheriff Troyer to County Brady list
Prosecutor Robnett,
Thank you for meeting with the Washington Black Lives Matter Alliance last April. Today, the WaBLM writes to you to demand Sheriff Ed Troyer be added to the Brady list for Pierce County.
Per the Moran report, page 22, section B:
“Because we have concluded that Sheriff Troyer’s versions of events are contradictory as they relate to the alleged threat to kill, we recommend that the Council provide a copy of this report to Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney Mary Robnett. Her office may want to determine if Sheriff Troyer’s conduct should be disclosed as potential impeachment evidence to defense counsel whenever he is a witness for the prosecution under the holding in Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963). We are aware the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office has very rigorous protocols for addressing “Brady” information and it seems appropriate that they do so in this matter.”
Recently the Attorney General announced in probable cause documents that criminal charges have been filed against Mr. Troyer. According to the state, Mr. Troyer filed a false report, and separately, lied.
Yesterday, Pierce County announced the findings of an investigation initiated by the county council and conducted by former U.S. Attorney Brian Moran. In short, the 47-page report has concluded that Ed Troyer acted out of racial and other biases, rather than out of reasonable fear for his life, and in doing so violated Pierce County policies.
Ed Troyer lied about his confrontation with an innocent man, and he did so because that man was Black. Mr. Troyer was not the victim, he was the culprit. Sheriff Troyer initiated, agitated, and escalated harm, likely violating local, state, and federal Color of Law and other statutes.
Mr. Troyer has proven through this incident and the subsequent investigation(s) that his integrity as a law enforcement agent should not be trusted. He is hiding behind a gun and badge to menace Black and brown people, while publicly swearing he upholds the law, and cares about racial harm. This rightfully calls into question any past or future statements made by Mr. Troyer, particularly in a court of law. The courts have upheld that individuals charged with a crime must be informed of unethical or illegal acts by sworn officers or civil servants, in order to defend against charges.
Sheriff Troyer should be added to the county’s Brady List not just for the actions he took during the January incident and after, but for his intentionally misleading public statements about the incident of focus, and his promises to support and participate in the investigation. Mr. Troyer gave the public perception he was cooperating with the investigation.
That was another lie. We now know he never did.
Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. We look forward to hearing about your office's timing and process for Brady list consideration of Sheriff Ed Troyer.
For all Black lives,
Sakara Remmu, Lead Strategist
Washington Black Lives Matter Alliance
October 27, 2021
To: Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission
Cc: Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission Staff; Pierce County Council
From: WA BLM Alliance
Subject: Immediate Suspension and Certification Review Hearing of Ed Troyer
Last spring the Washington Black Lives Matter Alliance wrote to the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission to demand the immediate suspension and a certification review hearing of Ed Troyer, Sheriff of Pierce County, Washington, pending a thorough and transparent investigation into his egregious and anti-Black racist actions in January 2021.
Today, we repeat the call for Mr. Troyer to be suspended by the CJTC, having engaged in deceitful and harmful acts, both of which are a threat to public safety.
Under RCW 43.101.155, which states:
If the Commission determines, upon investigation, that there is probable cause to believe that a peace officer's certification should be denied or revoked, the Commission will prepare and serve upon the officer a statement of charges. The statement of charges will be accompanied by a notice that to receive a hearing on the denial or revocation, the officer must request a hearing before the hearings board within sixty days of communication of the statement of charges. Failure of the officer to request a hearing within the sixty-day period constitutes a default, whereupon the commission may enter an order.
Recently the office of the Washington state Attorney General announced in probable cause documents that criminal charges have been filed against Mr. Troyer. According to the state, Mr. Troyer filed a false report, and separately, lied.
Yesterday, Pierce County announced the findings of an investigation initiated by the county council and conducted by former U.S. Attorney Brian Moran. In short, the 47-page report has concluded that Ed Troyer acted out of racial and other biases, rather than out of reasonable fear for his life, and in doing so violated Pierce County policies.
Per the report, page 23, section C:
“Ultimately, while Sheriff Troyer may be above the reach of his department’s disciplinary policies in terms of its organizational chart, he is not beyond accountability under our state’s laws and constitution. Noted above, Sheriff Troyer has been charged criminally with False Reporting and Making a False or Misleading Statement to a Public Servant.”
And, page 22, section B:
“In addition, RCW 43.101.105 provides the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) with authority to “suspend, deny, or revoke” a Washington law enforcement officer’s police commission, and with it, the ability to hold a position as police officer under certain conditions. We recommend that this report be referred to the CJTC for any action they deem appropriate.”
Mr. Troyer has proven through this incident and the subsequent investigation(s) that his integrity as a law enforcement agent should not be trusted, not just for the actions he took during the January incident and after, but for his intentionally misleading public statements about the incident of focus, and his promises to support and participate in the investigation. Mr. Troyer gave the public perception he was cooperating with the investigation. We now know he never did.
His public statements since the release of the charging documents show that Mr. Troyer is now using his role as Sheriff to mount a publicity campaign in his defense, and is using dog whistles to deflect from his actions. In doing so Mr. Troyer is intentionally driving a wedge between community and law enforcement at a time when both sides are at the table to improve and clarify much needed police accountability laws in Washington state.
Mr. Troyer is unfit to hold the position of Sheriff, and must be suspended pending a review by the Commission, and the outcome of pending criminal charges.
Thank you for your swift attention to this matter.
For all Black lives,
Sakara Remmu, Lead Strategist
Washington Black Lives Matter Alliance