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Seattle US Attorney: no merit to officers’ lawsuit

By WTOP Staff

PHUONG LE
Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) — U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan on Thursday dismissed as “without merit” a civil-rights lawsuit filed by more than 100 Seattle police officers saying that new use-of-force policies are restricting their constitutional right to protect themselves.

“We will be moving forward. We will not be distracted by those who want to slow or stop reform,” Durkan said at a news conference, a day after officers sued U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and other city officials in federal court in Seattle.

There has been significant progress in reforming the Seattle police force, and officers deserve credit for taking on “full-bore change,” Durkan said.

The officers’ complaint says the new policies require them to use significantly less force than is being threatened against them and have resulted in cases where officers hesitated or failed to use appropriate levels of force.

Durkan said no one can say the policies are making it harder for police officers because they haven’t been fully implemented yet. The reforms will make officers safer and help restore confidence in police, she said.

The officers’ complaint seeks an injunction against the policies, as well as compensatory and punitive damages.

In the lawsuit, the officers say they can cite numerous incidents “where patrol officers have hesitated or failed to use appropriate levels of force under the circumstances, including cases where officers have frozen, or retreated from suspects who threatened the officer with death of serious physical injury.”

The lawsuit says that officers and the public were unnecessarily exposed to serious danger or death in those cases, and officers have been injured because of the new policies and practices.

The department’s new policy — negotiated between the city and the U.S. Department of Justice, and approved by a federal court judge — went into effect Jan. 1.

The policy defines force as any physical coercion by an officer, lists guidelines for every weapon used and requires the most serious uses of force to be investigated by a special team. It spells out when force is appropriate and when it’s prohibited. The policy also stresses developing and using alternatives to force and requires that officers carry at least one less-lethal tool such as a Taser.

They were developed under a settlement between Seattle police and the U.S. Justice Department, which found in 2011 that officers were too quick to use force.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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