John T Williams, 50

Seattle, Washington
August 30, 2010

Agencies: Seattle Police Department Washington

Cause of death: Not Yet Known


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Overview

On August 30 of last year John T. Williams, who was deaf in one ear and ill at the time, was shot to death by a Seattle police officer. Williams, a Native American carver who made a living selling his traditional carvings at Seattle's Pike Place market, was killed because he reportedly refused to drop a knife and piece of wood he was carrying. On Wednesday afternoon Seattle police officer Ian Birk resigned hours after the Seattle Police Department's Firearms Review Board called the shooting unjustified, Seattle's KIROTV reported.

Community and Family Efforts

#NativeLivesMatter

October 2017

Statement of Subject: Initiative Measure No. 940 concerns law enforcement.

This measure would require law enforcement to receive violence de-escalation, mental-health, and first-aid training, and provide first-aid; and change standards for use of deadly force, adding a “good faith” standard and independent investigation.

Should this measure be enacted into law? Yes or No

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