Manuel Ellis’ death proved it: ‘Excited delirium’ is on over-used cop-out | Opinion

Excited delirium

The death of Manuel Ellis in 2020 highlighted the misuse of “excited delirium” as an explanation for deaths in police custody. Despite not being recognized by any American medical associations, “excited delirium” is still recognized by law enforcement.

In 2023, California and Colorado banned its use in official law enforcement reports, police training and as an official cause of death. I advocate for banning excited delirium from use by Pierce County’s Medical Examiner’s office, law enforcement training and all first responder reporting.

This is vital for accountability and justice.

Pierce County can lead the way to ensure every life is treated with dignity and respect.

Melanie Cole, University Place

Library access

I am dismayed to learn that despite the recommendations of the Tacoma Public Library Eastside and Hilltop Feasibility Study and the Facility Advisory Committee there will be no attempt to fund library branch restoration to the historically underserved and long-neglected Hilltop or Eastside neighborhoods. This will only continue to increase the educational, socio-economic and informational resource divide between Tacoma communities.

Since library branches nearest Tacoma’s Hilltop and Tacoma’s Eastside neighborhoods were closed in 2011, Tacoma has disinvested in library services for less-affluent and more-diverse communities like Hilltop and the Eastside.

In the Hilltop, 20% of households live in poverty, compared to Tacoma’s overall average of 14% and Pierce County’s 10%. This long-standing social justice issue in Tacoma is unacceptable.

On April 30 a joint study session of the Tacoma City Council and the Library Board of Trustees was scheduled. No public comment is allowed at study sessions.

Contact your City Council representative and ask them how they plan to meet the library service needs of these long-neglected Hilltop and Eastside neighborhoods.

Debbie Ranniger, Tacoma

NWIPC

I was shocked to read the headline claiming that the NWIPC, commonly known as the NWDC, is “safe, secure and humane.” Then I read the biography of the author of the recent op-ed, Bruce Scott, who is the facility administrator at the detention center.

I would like to revise the second paragraph of Scott’s opinion piece to express my disappointment in The News Tribune for publishing his piece: “Relying on the claims of GEO administrators creates an unfair, skewed and just plain false depiction of the NWIPC.”

It’s difficult to know where to start countering Scott’s claims since so many of them are untrue.

“Three high-quality daily meals?” Detainees say they’ve been served rotten food containing maggots.

“Around-the-clock access to medical care?” Detainees report medical neglect, including denied care and lack of protection from COVID-19.

You can find evidence of all this in reports by the UW Center for Human Rights.

Scott also claims that the GEO Group, which runs the center for ICE, “plays no role in...advocating for...immigration policies.” This is not true. GEO’s own reports state that they spent almost $3.6 million in lobbying expenses in 2023.

Research shows that growth in detention beds mirrors the growth in lobbying expenditures by private prisons.

Nancyrose Houston, Seattle

Inflation

The picture on the front page of the Sunday, May 5 edition of The News Tribune of Uwe Cook at a mobile food bank with half empty shelves is a snapshot of President Biden’s failed presidency. Earth shattering food prices have hit all Americans except the wealthy.

Restaurants, fast food chains and grocery stores can’t absorb the increases and, in turn, have raised prices. All have had to adjust to massive inflation caused by the overspending of the Biden Administration.

Biden apologists tell us inflation is a “global” phenomenon. Who cares when you’re faced with food insecurity and gas prices approaching $5 per gallon? Additionally, Biden is ignoring the Supreme Court and using taxpayer dollars to pay for the student debts of spoiled, self-entitled college students.

Voters need to wake up. “Blue collar” Joe is a myth.

Only former President Trump can bring our country back to peace and prosperity.

Craig Chilton, Bonney Lake