FEB. 2025. Blues Vol 41 No.2

WASH. OFFICER

WASH. OFFICER SENTENCEDTO 16 YEARS IN PRISON IN FA-TAL SHOOTINGBy Martha BellisleAssociated PressSEATTLE — A suburban Seattlepolice officer was sentencedThursday to over 16 years in prisonfor the 2019 shooting death ofa homeless man he was tryingto arrest for disorderly conduct,marking the first convictionunder a Washington state lawthat made it easier to prosecuteofficers for on-duty killings.A jury found Auburn policeOfficer Jeffrey Nelson guilty June27 of second-degree murder andfirst-degree assault in the deathof Jesse Sarey.King County Superior CourtJudge Nicole Gaines Phelps sentencedNelson to just over 16 1/2years for the murder convictionand 6 1/2 years for assault, to beserved concurrently.Before sentencing Nelson atthe high end of the standardrange, Phelps chastised the46-year-old officer for his violentbehavior in uniform.“Respect for the law, here, goesmore beyond you, Officer Nelson,”Phelps said. “This is the firstcase in which a police officerwas charged and it in some waysserves as a telescope for othersto view police conduct and forpolice to remember to abide bytheir training when engaging insituations so that they do not becomelethal to them or to othersthey are sworn to protect andserve.”Nelson, seated in a packedcourtroom in a red short-sleevejail uniform, his arms coveredin tattoos and his hair cut short,showed no emotion as the judgespoke. His wife and other Auburnpolice officers sat behind him inhis support, while Sarey’s friendsand family filled the other side ofthe courtroom.Prosecutors had said at trial inJune that Nelson punched Sareyseveral times before shootinghim in the abdomen. Secondslater, Nelson shot Sarey in theforehead. Nelson had claimedSarey tried to grab his gun and aknife, so he shot him in self-defense,but video showed Sareywas on his back with his headpositioned away from Nelsonafter the first shot.King County Special ProsecutorPatty Eakes, citing Nelson’s longhistory of violence and disregardfor his training, asked the judgeto sentence him at the higherend of the standard range: 18years for murder and 10 for theassault conviction.FATHER, SON SAVE NORTHCAROLINA DEPUTY AND K-9AFTER PURSUIT CRASHThe Cleveland County (NorthCarolina) Sheriff’s Office isthanking a father and son forhelping save a deputy andsheriff’s dog after a fiery crashWednesday night.Sheriff Alan Norman said DeputyRobert Taylor was pursuingfour armed robbery suspects ina high-speed chase when hispatrol car hit a tree head-on.Taylor was badly injured, and hispatrol vehicle quickly went up inflames, WBTV reports.Not far from the crash, CurtisBlanton and his 17-year-old son,Pete, were home listening to apolice scanner. They drove to thescene, and found Deputy Tayloron the ground outside his vehicle,unable to move.The Blanton’s pulled Tayloraway from the burning vehicle,and rescued K-9 Thanos, as well.Captain Justin Etters, patrolcommander with the sheriff’soffice said Deputy Taylor hadsurgery on Thursday, is in goodspirits, and in stable condition.WOUNDED RALEIGH OFFICERIDENTIFIED, REMAINS CRITICALRALEIGH, NC. – The Raleigh(North Carolina) Police Departmenthas released the identityof the officer who was criticallywounded during a shootout in aresidential area on Tuesday.Police said First Class OfficerMax Gillick is in critical con-70 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25

First Class Officer Max Gillickdition after he was shot whileresponding to a house where aperson started shooting at officers.An officer called for backupand the person continued shooting.During the gunfire exchange,Gillick was wounded and thesuspect was killed.RPD said Gillick has workedwith the department since June2022 and served in the Army as aCaptain in Field Artillery with the82nd Airborne. He was honorablydischarged from the Army beforejoining RPD, ABC11 reports.HOUSTON RECRUITS TO RE-CEIVE K STIPENDS TO HELPWITH PURCHASE OF DUTYWEAPONSHOUSTON, TX. — Beginning in2025, Houston Police Academygraduates will receive a ,000stipend to help cover the cost offirearms, a policy change aimedat easing financial burdens fornew recruits, the Houston Chroniclereported.The Houston Police Foundationis providing funding for the program,which will benefit 64 cadetsin the upcoming graduatingclass, according to the report.Doug Griffith, president of theHouston Police Officers Union,said the stipend is a significantstep forward. He noted that anew firearm typically costs between0 and 0 plus tax.Despite the stipend, cadetswill still need to purchase theirfirearms before qualifying forreimbursement upon graduation,according to the report.Currently, cadets are requiredto buy their own firearms at thestart of training, and officersreceive a ,000 annual equipmentallowance after their firstyear of service. This stipend canalso cover firearm expenses, butit is not immediately available,according to the report.Cadets entering the academyalso receive a ,000 hiringbonus, paid in installments, with,500 available upon joining,which can be used for firearmpurchases or other personal expenses.Houston’s approach to firearmacquisition differs from manyother large police departments,some of which issue weaponsdirectly or allow recruits tomake their own purchases withoutspecific requirements. InHouston, officers must buytheir own firearms and adhereto departmental guidelines onacceptable models.The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 71