WA BLM Alliance continues call for suspension of Sheriff Ed Troyer, now added to ‘Brady list’ of bad cops
October 29, 2021
SEATTLE—Today, Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office added Sheriff Ed Troyer to the county’s “Brady list” of police officials who have engaged in misconduct or given false or misleading statements. The Washington Black Lives Matter Alliance (WaBLM) released the following statement.
This is a critical step to holding Sheriff Troyer accountable. His false reporting and lies in January were, we believe, intended to cause deadly harm to an innocent Black man because of his race. Ed Troyer is a threat to public safety, and unfit to carry a badge and a gun.
For the public’s safety, we continue to demand the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission suspend Ed 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. WaBLM called for Troyer’s suspension in a letter to CJTC earlier this week, which follows.
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