The King County Sheriff’s Office – which provides police services for the White Center and unincorporated North Highline areas – are sharing a story about using de-escalation skills to disarm a man in White Center seen waving a large knife around:
Here is a great example of how our deputies routinely use their de-escalation skills to bring potentially dangerous situations to a peaceful conclusion:
On Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020 at 10:12 a.m., a King County deputy was flagged down by a community member reporting an agitated male waving a large knife at the intersection of SW 107th Street at 12th AVE SW in White Center. The subject with the knife was described as a white male with long, blond hair.
The deputy drove to the specific area and spotted the male walking along the northbound sidewalk on 12th Avenue SW. The deputy noted that he was holding a large survival knife in his right hand and waving it around. The subject also appeared to be very upset and yelling at no one in particular. The deputy watched him swing the knife around and also making stabbing motions with it.
Our deputy kept a safe distance, stayed in his vehicle and monitored the man as he called for additional deputies to respond to the area. After another deputy arrived, the first deputy was able to use his de-escalation training to communicate with the subject and convince him to drop the knife. The male looked back, set the knife down on the sidewalk and continued to walk eastbound on SW 106th Street.
After retrieving the knife, the deputies spoke with the man who claimed that he had been confronted by someone and was using the knife to protect himself. Deputies thanked him for setting the knife down and the subject responded, “You’re welcome!”
Deputies offered the male services and other helpful resources, but the male showed no interest. There was no probable cause to detain him.
The knife was placed into evidence at Precinct 4.
While the state requires deputies to receive only 8 hours of Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) by July of 2021, The King County Sheriff’s Office requires each deputy to have 40 hours of CIT. CIT allows commissioned personnel to develop skills to effectively deal with individuals in crisis.
Obviously wasn’t deputy Click, but why keep the deputy un-named?
This is great, this is what public safety is all about
Would they have used their de-escalation training if it had been a black man?
Well that is a good question but a even better question is the black man going to listen to police commands or try to fight with police . End up getting shot then other black people or groups say it all about the color of skin . When it really about actions of the black man that failed to listen to police commands .
is the black man going to be under influence of crack,meth,pcp or some other drug like some in media have been under the influence of when police have had to use force that has lead to death .