TACOMA-, Wash. -- A convicted cop killer is free tonight and the victim's family, along with police, are angry that they were never notified.
Michael Trott attacked and killed a Seattle police officer in 1984, and the officer's family said they've been suffering ever since.
Jerry Davis can't believe the man who killed his father less than two decades ago is out on the streets.
"It's pretty much been the worst thing you can even think about having to go through," he said. "I would prefer this guy spend the rest of his life sitting in a cell where he can't get out and do anything to anybody else."
Officer Nick Davis was on patrol in 1984 when he was shot and killed by Trott. Trott served 19 years of a 27-year sentence.
Trott was also diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic and committed to Western State Hospital and later moved to transition housing.
Due to budget problems at the state and county level that program was dissolved. Twenty-five offenders were released, including Trott, who is now living in Pierce County.
Davis' family and police are outraged that they weren't notified of Trott's release.
"This isn't just somebody who has a felony conviction," said Pierce County Sheriff Detective Ed Troyer. "This is somebody who killed a police officer, who was deemed mentally incompetent. He's violent, he's assaulted police officers in the past, he has a whole lot of felony background."
Western State's CEO said the hospital followed all legal notifications and requirements.
Davis said he was told because of patient privacy laws that he would never be told when Trott was back on the streets. He said that's not good enough for a son who lost his father.
"My worst fear is that he's going to end up coming in contact with another officer and do the same thing."
Davis said he has sent several letters to lawmakers asking that the rules about notifying victim's families are changed.
Gov. Christine Gregoire today said she also wants some answers as to why police and the Davis family were not notified about Trott's release.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
