After an ICE agent shot Renee Nicole Good to death in Minneapolis on Wednesday, two south Puget Sound sheriffs weighed in on social media. Their comments went in very different directions, to say the least.
First, Sheriff Keith Swank of Pierce County posted a short message on X, chiding anyone who would flee police encounters. The other, Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders, posted a longer comment on Facebook. He criticized Swank for his tone, and reflected on the need to train law enforcement not to stand in front of the cars of people they’re trying to arrest.
They traded words, and insults flew. I don’t think that part of this story is very admirable. But Sanders’ original comment, to me, had the right of it. Treating the situation as a tragedy, and emphasizing what law enforcement officers must do to avoid further tragedies, even when faced with heightened stress, is the decent thing to do…