In Olympia, Washington, a neighboring sheriff’s office, the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, recently hired former Tacoma police officer Christopher Burbank as a patrol deputy. Burbank, along with officers Timothy Rankine and Matthew Collins, had been cleared of criminal charges in the 2020 death of Manuel Ellis, a Black man who died during a police confrontation. Rankine was charged with manslaughter, while Collins and Burbank faced charges of manslaughter and second-degree murder. The officers’ attorneys argued that Ellis died from a combination of methamphetamine and a heart condition, not from their actions, while witnesses and video footage painted a different picture.
Ellis, who was 33 years old at the time of his death, had been walking home with doughnuts when he encountered the officers in Tacoma. The officers claimed that Ellis was aggressive when they confronted him about trying to open a car door, with Collins describing Ellis as having “superhuman strength.” However, witnesses testified that they saw no aggression from Ellis and that the officers were the aggressors in the situation. Video footage captured parts of the encounter, showing Ellis with his hands up in a surrender position as Burbank shot a Taser at his chest and Collins restrained him from behind. Ellis’s death occurred just months before the murder of George Floyd, which ignited global protests against police brutality.
The Tacoma Police Department conducted an internal investigation and found that the officers did not violate its use-of-force policy at the time, though the policy has since been updated. Despite this, the officers each received $500,000 to resign from the department. The U.S. attorney’s office in Seattle is reviewing the case, with the potential for federal civil rights violations to be prosecuted. The Ellis family settled a federal wrongful death lawsuit against Pierce County, where Tacoma is located, for $4 million. The trial was the first under a state law designed to make it easier to prosecute police officers accused of wrongful use of deadly force, highlighting the ongoing national conversation surrounding police accountability and justice.
The hiring of Burbank by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office has sparked controversy and renewed scrutiny of the events surrounding Ellis’s death. Critics argue that hiring an officer involved in a high-profile case of alleged police brutality sends the wrong message and raises questions about accountability in law enforcement. The decision to hire Burbank also raises concerns about potential disciplinary actions and how his presence in the community may impact public trust in law enforcement. It remains to be seen how the sheriff’s office will address these concerns and whether Burbank’s actions will face further legal scrutiny. The case serves as a reminder of the need for greater accountability and transparency within law enforcement agencies to address issues of police brutality and racial injustice.
Overall, the hiring of former Tacoma police officer Christopher Burbank by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office in Olympia, Washington, has reignited debate and scrutiny surrounding the 2020 death of Manuel Ellis. The officers involved in Ellis’s death were cleared of criminal charges, but questions surrounding their actions and the handling of the case persist. The hiring of Burbank has raised concerns about accountability in law enforcement and the impact on community trust. As investigations continue and legal processes unfold, the case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing need for transparency, accountability, and justice in policing, particularly in cases involving allegations of excessive force and racial bias. The actions of law enforcement officials, both during critical incidents and in their aftermath, continue to shape public perception and trust in the criminal justice system.
