We have questions about local law enforcement agencies given investigations into Tacoma Police Department conduct and Black Lives Matter protests.
We asked Tacoma criminal defense attorney Chris Van Vechten to talk with us about what he has experienced working cases involving the Tacoma Police Department and Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the changes he’s observed at the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office.
Chris raises some interesting questions about law enforcement and how we end up with mostly very poor people incarcerated, mostly men, and mostly non-white races. Is it systemic racism, including our ingrained biases and fear of those who appear “other” or inherently dangerous? Is it that the police and prosecutors view themselves and the “good guys” in white hats protecting the community from criminals? Is it that we can’t seem to stop ourselves from creating more criminal laws (“that should be against the law”) to solve even our smallest problems?
Listen to our discussion and let us know what you think.
Chris Van Vechten: 253-666-8987; chris@soundlawyering.com
Evelyn Lopez: @True_Tacoma truetacoma@gmail.com
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS