Signatures turned in on police deadly force initiative

Supporters of a measure that would lower the bar for prosecuting police who use deadly force turned in signatures to the secretary of state’s office in their effort to qualify the initiative to the Legislature.

The campaign for Initiative 940 says it turned in 360,000 signatures Thursday, The Seattle Times reports .

Current law states an officer can’t be charged if he or she acted in good faith and without malice, or “evil intent,” when using deadly force. I-940 would change the law to consider what a “reasonable officer” might have done under the circumstances, and would also take into account an officer’s intentions to determine if she or he acted in good faith.

If state lawmakers don’t approve the measure during the upcoming legislative session, it will go before voters in November. If lawmakers approve an amended version of the initiative, both proposals would go to the ballot.