Phil J. Davis, Bremerton

Kitsap Sun June 25, 2020

I am proud of my 15 years teaching with North Kitsap Schools, especially for our outreach to troubled youth. But the police killing of Stonechild Chiefstick on July 3, 2019, makes me sick to my stomach. I have nothing against Poulsbo business owners, but now I don’t like visiting their city center.

How can justice be done and healing begin?

Washington state just approved Initiative 940. It mandates de-escalation training and calming approaches that address mental health issues. Police violence is a very last resort. Thousands of Kitsap County protesters now make similar demands.

The City of Poulsbo can support Initiative 940 by disciplining Officer Craig Keller. Stonechild’s children lost their dad forever. Officer Keller can at least lose his job. No man who panicked like he did last July 3 should be wearing a police uniform and packing a gun.

When we NK teachers had a troubled teenager, our very best interventionist was volunteer Steven Old Coyote. He used humor, songs and stories to help white, brown and Black teenagers who were angry, grieving or had substance issues. Steven knew how to de-escalate conflict and communicate, using the same Cree spiritual tradition as the Chiefstick family.

What should have happened when Stonechild was getting a little crazy, waving a screwdriver? Poulsbo, please find a better answer than shooting him among families picnicking with little children. Try to make me proud of North Kitsap again. Please take a knee with the protesters and get to work developing better approaches.

Phil J. Davis, Bremerton