The two officers have been placed on administrative leave and face a criminal investigation into possible child abuse by the Washington State Patrol.
TACOMA — Two Tacoma police officers are accused of watching a 54-year-old woman hit her 9-year-old grandson with a belt after telling her to beat him.
The News Tribune reported Friday that the officers face a criminal investigation into possible child abuse. the Washington State Patrol will conduct that investigation.
The woman says the officers told her on June 5 that she needed to beat the boy. She says they “made” her do it.
One of the officers’ original police report had no mention to the incident. But a detective requested a more in-depth report, which included detail and called the incident “lawful discipline.”
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Police spokeswoman Loretta Cool says the officers have been placed on administrative leave.
The woman called the officers’ guidance “prehistoric.”
Police had gone to the woman’s home after a visitor there had called 911 to report that the child, who has a history of developmental problems, had gone into a rage, broken windows and armed himself with knives.