Deputy Fired Over Behavior At Protest

Thu., April 20, 2000

From Staff

A King County sheriff’s deputy has been fired for using excessive force during the World Trade Organization protests last fall, Sheriff David Reichert said Wednesday.

Deputy John Vanderwalker, who had been a patrol officer for 19 years, had been the subject of two complaints during the protests.

In the first incident, seen widely on television, Vanderwalker used pepper spray on three people in a car, Reichert said.

The second complaint was over his kicking a first-aid worker wearing a red-and-white cross.

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