Former Tacoma police officer, Christopher Burbank, resigned from his new position as a sheriff’s deputy in Thurston County after facing strong community objections due to his involvement in the violent arrest of Manuel Ellis in 2020. Ellis, an unarmed Black man, died after being shocked, beaten, and hog-tied facedown on a sidewalk by Burbank and two other officers. Although the officers were cleared of criminal charges by a Pierce County jury, the U.S. attorney’s office in Seattle is still investigating potential federal civil rights violations. A wrongful death lawsuit against Tacoma is also pending.
Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders admitted that he failed to anticipate the community’s response to hiring Deputy Burbank, which included death threats towards his family. Sanders acknowledged the harm caused to marginalized communities and expressed regret over his decision to hire Burbank based on staffing needs rather than community impact. The hiring decision faced criticism from various quarters, including Ellis’ family lawyer, Matthew Ericksen, who noted video evidence of Burbank using his Taser on Ellis multiple times during the arrest. The family was relieved by Burbank’s resignation and feels that Ellis’ memory is not being forgotten.
The hiring of Burbank was aimed at addressing the understaffing issues faced by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, with the announcement mentioning that Burbank would provide immediate relief in the patrol division. Sanders defended the background check procedures and emphasized the agency’s efforts to improve crisis response through the use of mental health co-responders and body-worn cameras for transparency. Despite these measures, the backlash against Burbank’s hiring continued, ultimately leading to his resignation.
The fatal arrest of Manuel Ellis took place in March 2020 in Tacoma, when officers claimed they saw Ellis trying to open a car door at an intersection and became aggressive when questioned. Witnesses disputed the officers’ accounts of Ellis exhibiting superhuman strength, with video footage showing him in a surrender position when Burbank shot a Taser at his chest. Ellis’ death, which occurred months before George Floyd’s murder, sparked outrage and renewed calls for police accountability. The officers involved were paid to resign by the Tacoma Police Department and a settlement was reached with Pierce County in a federal wrongful death lawsuit brought by Ellis’ family.
The hiring and subsequent resignation of Christopher Burbank as a sheriff’s deputy has reignited discussions around police accountability and the need for transparent hiring practices. The ongoing investigations and legal proceedings in the case of Manuel Ellis underscore the challenges faced in holding law enforcement officers accountable for their actions. The community response to Burbank’s hiring highlights the deep-seated concerns regarding police conduct and the importance of rebuilding trust between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. It remains to be seen how these events will impact future hiring decisions and efforts to address systemic issues within law enforcement agencies.
