Washington state officers acquitted in Manuel Ellis' death to receive $500K to leave police department
Three Washington state police officers cleared of criminal charges in the 2020 death of Manuel Ellis — a Black man who was shocked, beaten and restrained facedown on a sidewalk as he pleaded for breath — will each receive $500,000 to leave the Tacoma Police Department, according to documents released Tuesday.
SEATTLE — Three Washington state police officers who were cleared of criminal charges in the 2020 death of Manuel Ellis — a Black man who was shocked, beaten and restrained facedown on a sidewalk as he pleaded for breath — will each receive $500,000 to leave the Tacoma Police Department, according to documents released Tuesday.
“This says to the public that these are excellent officers, and it’s a shame Tacoma is losing them,” said Anne Bremner, an attorney for one of the officers, Timothy Rankine.
A jury acquitted Rankine, 34, and co-defendants Matthew Collins, 40, and Christopher Burbank, 38, in December following a trial that lasted more than two months. Rankine was charged with manslaughter, while Collins and Burbank were charged with manslaughter and second-degree murder.
A memorial for Manuel "Manny" Ellis in Tacoma, Wash., in 2021. Ted S. Warren / AP file The city released copies of the “voluntary separation” agreements with the officers Tuesday as police Chief Avery Moore announced findings that none violated the use-of-force policy in effect on March 3, 2020. Collins was found to have violated a policy concerning courtesy.
Tacoma Police Officer Matthew Collins during his trial alongside co-defendants Christopher Burbank and Timothy Rankine in Tacoma, Wash., in September.Brian Hayes / The News Tribune via APThe use-of-force policy has since been updated. The old one “failed to serve the best interests of the police department or the community,” Moore said.
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