William Dowsing (police officer)
William Dowsing (police officer)
William Dowsing (police officer) is an officer of the Bellevue Police Department (Washington). He was identified as the police officer involved in the choking and kneeling (on her back and neck) of a black woman over a title transfer.[1] While the incident happened in 2018, the video resurfaced and went viral, in light of a rise in protests against police brutality. [2]
Career
William Dowsing (police officer) is a police officer of the Bellevue Police Department. He has been apart of the force since 2018. He previously worked as an officer in Seattle from 2013. [4]
Viral Video
Twitter - _SJPeace post
On June 6, 2020, a video from _SJPeace was posted to Twitter with the caption, "This 200 lb white cop topped and chocked out a black woman over a title transfer. THE COP WORKS FOR BELLVUE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN WASHINGTON STATE! WHO IS HE? BLACK LIVES MATTER". The video shows Dowsing taking down a black woman (whose name has not been disclosed) and putting her into a choke hold after being stopped. While the video was posted early June of 2020, the incident actually took place around December of 2018. [2] Within a few days of the post being made, it received over 7.5 million views, 141,600 likes, and 91,700 retweets. [5] The woman was stopped over "suspicion of failing to transfer her automobile title." [6]
The public responded to this video in outrage, as this was seen as excessive force.
The video was posted during the rise in global protests over the death of George Floyd, who was killed by Minneapolis Police Department officer Derek Chauvin while being arrested outside a shop in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The Bellevue Police Department quickly responded to the video on the Bellevue Beat Blog, the police department's official blog, stating,
This particular incident was investigated through the department's Use of Force review process and the department's complaint process.
It was found to be in compliance with department policy.
Additionally, Chief of police of the Bellevue Police Department, Steve Mylett, claimed that the video was taken out of context.
The day before the video resurfaced, Mylett announced that the police department would be prohibiting the use of neck restraints by its officers, stating,
As a department, Bellevue Police are constantly reviewing our policies and procedures to better serve our diverse community.
We recognize that neck restraint techniques, while effective, are highly controversial and divisive.
Until we can have additional conversations with the Bellevue community, I have decided to stop their use until further notice, except when the officer's life is in danger.