Third in a series

MARYSVILLE – The shooting of a 17-year-old girl by two Arlington police officers was a key topic of interest at the recent third session of the Marysville Police Citizens Academy.

Participants especially wanted to know why the Taser didn’t work when the pair used that first.

“It doesn’t work all the time, especially with the clothes we wear here,” Officer Nate Zaretzke said, adding its hard for the 1200 volts to have an effect in layers of clothing. He said Tasers are not as powerful as they once were. They only have a range of 25 feet, and they work best when the target is closer. Lasers help with accuracy of Tasers, but both darts have to hit the subject for their muscles to lock up. And if the target has used meth, the Taser won’t work at all.

Zaretzke said police can get hurt if they rely on it too often.

“Don’t become Taser-dependent,” he said, adding that before that invention police used pepper spray and their batons instead.

Sgt. Adam Vermeulen and Officer Brandon Lawrenson started off the session talking about Criminal Procedures. That encompassed arresting, searching, seizing of property and interrogation of suspects.

“We have more restrictions than most other states,” Vermeulen said. “Individuals have a lot of rights.”

And every person has those same rights.

“We don’t get to pick and choose who has those rights,” Lawrenson said.

They said they enforce laws of the state and federal constitutions, case law from courts, and laws passed in legislatures.

They explained what they call the “fruits of the poisonous tree,” many if they don’t go about their business properly, any evidence they find can be thrown out. They said to make an arrest they must believe at least 51 percent that the person committed a crime. In court, prosecutors have to convince a judge or jury that the person committed the crime “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

“Public safety is number one,” Lawrenson said. “We’ll make the arrest, and if it gets thrown out – so be it.”

I was surprised to learn that everyone who is arrested doesn’t have to be given their Miranda Rights (“You have the right to remain silent…”) That only has to happen if they are being taken into custody, and they will face interrogation. If police aren’t going to question the suspect, there’s no need for those rights to be read. They must be told they have a right to counsel, however.

Zaretzke talked to us about the use of force. He mentioned that criminals have a lot of rights. As examples, he mentioned how homeowners have been sued when a criminal fell through a roof and was bitten by a dog.

His slide show discussed the tools of the trade: Tasers, impact weapons, pistol, rifle, bean-bag shotguns, shields, batons and SWAT teams have diversionary devices such as flash bangs, along with gas.

Zaretzke explained that police can’t use any more force than the criminal. “Their actions dictate our actions,” he said.

As an example, police talked about Maurice Clemons, the man who killed four officers in Lakewood near Tacoma a few years ago. When he was captured, police first shot him, then used a Taser, then a shield to apprehend him, decreasing the use of force as he became more under control.

Zaretzke said police are held to a higher standard when under attack. The average person can protect himself through self-defense without concern of injuries to the suspect. Police, however, are forced to de-escalate the situation, using the least amount of force possible, taking into account the potential of injury to the suspect.

He was asked if police are being more careful now with the increase of use of social media.

“We’re always being watched,” he said. “It’s had no effect on what we do.”