*For anyone interested, police reform stuff is after first three paragraphs*

  As most Washingtonians know, there have been loads of cases of police brutality in Seattle during peaceful protests as a result of the unnecessary militarization of Washington's police force, which is enabled by the amount of money that they receive. I don't have the exact numbers right now, sadly, but that doesn't matter; what matters is that law enforcement cannot continue to have the power to go and abuse peaceful protesters, and then lie about it to cover them and their violent, racist behaviors.

  I know that the unnecessary militarization and the brutalization isn't just in Washington state, but if we get Governor Inslee to defund law enforcement in our state, other governors will follow, and eventually, the federal funding that is put into law enforcement will be cut and invested into other areas that the US needs it to be in. Examples of this include, renewable energy, affordable housing, or even affordable healthcare.

  Help tell Governor Inslee to set a good example and help get America headed in what many of us feel is the right direction.

  My ideas for police reform :

• There needs to be a law enforcement license, kind of like the bar or medical license; this will help make sure that the applicant is trained well enough and understands everything. Also, all applications should be subject to a mandatory mental health check. 
• Police officers should not be able to cover their names and/or badge numbers while on-duty, and they shouldn't be allowed to turn off bodycams while patrolling either. Ever. So please do something about that.
• Cut police department budgets to prevent them from purchasing tear gas, flashbangs, and pepper spray; those things only exist to terrorize. In my opinion, they should be allowed riot armor and shields for protection, along with batons to defend themselves. I know that the surplus army supplies aren't that expensive, but still...whatever keeps the police departments from purchasing it to terrorize peaceful protesters and civilians.
• If a police department has multiple officers that abuse their power and weapons, the department shall be disbanded. A community-based public safety organization will be put in place, with only trusted community members.
• Restructure police unions, they are only meant to protect officers from taking responsibility for their actions. That is not okay. Why should law enforcement be exempt from the very laws that they uphold? Exactly, there is no reason, no excuse for that. And so, they need to be reformed too, so that they cannot provide extra help to veer from holding officers accountable.
• When answering domestic violence and disturbance calls, police shouldn't be the ones answering those calls. Instead, a counselor or other mental health professional should go, with a law enforcement officer accompanying them for their protection.