Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders faces public criticism for hiring former Tacoma police officer Christopher Burbank, who was charged with manslaughter and murder in the death of Manny Ellis in 2020.
Christopher Burbank smiles at friends and family in the gallery during the trial of Tacoma Police Officer s Christopher Burbank , Matthew Collins and Timothy Rankine in the killing of Manny Ellis at Pierce County Superior Court, Tuesday, Oct.
10, 2023, in Tacoma, Wash. , Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders pledged to "slow down" regarding future hiring decisions. At a public forum in Olympia on Thursday evening, Sanders heard from members of the public regarding his decision to hire former Tacoma police officer Christopher Burbank. In December 2023, Burbank was one of theof manslaughter and murder charges in the 2020 death of Manny Ellis. Burbank was hired as a Thurston County patrol deputy on April 1 but resigned from the position only a day later "based on community response and death threats made" to his family. In the aftermath of outrage over Burbank's brief hiring, Sanders invited members of the public to share their thoughts on the matter."I will slow down, and I will think about my decisions and the impact that it has," he told crowd members. Thursday's meeting lasted for more than an hour. Dozens of people addressed Sanders directly. Several people denounced his decision to hire Burbank. "It was absolutely inexcusable," said one man. "There’s no excuse to hire an officer under those conditions."Thurston County sheriff to host public forum addressing concerns over hiring decisions Sanders said his department has lost "dozens of staff" to higher-paying agencies and has struggled to recruit qualified applicants, leaving numerous vacancies. As a result, he said that Burbank's hire initially seemed like a good idea, given the former officer's job experience. In the crowd, several people said they appreciated the sheriff's willingness to meet with the public about this controversy. “I want to applaud the sheriff for the courage to own up to it, to take accountability and responsibility for it," said one woman. “I do want to say 'thank you' for your transparency and accountability," said another member of the crowd.Yet others, including Manny Ellis' sister, said Burbank should’ve never been considered for a job within the sheriff's department. "I work as a dental assistant. There’s no way in hell I would be allowed to work if I had a DOJ investigation against me," said Monét Carter-Mixon, adding that she feared retaliation from Burbank, especially after his hiring was announced. "He’s seen my kids in court. He’s seen my mother, who comes to my house frequently. That’s scary!” Throughout it all, Sanders sat and listened.Stay Connected
Tacoma Police Officer Hiring Decision Public Backlash Manslaughter Murder Manny Ellis Thurston County Sheriff Christopher Burbank
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