Former Auburn police officer Jeffrey Nelson has been sentenced to 16 years and 8 months in prison.

The decision was handed down Thursday, after Nelson was convicted of second-degree murder and first-degree assault for the killing of 26 year old Jesse Sarey.

And this represents a milestone: Nelson is the first Washington police officer to be charged and convicted for the use of deadly force while on duty since the passage of the law enforcement reform ballot measure, Initiative 940.

Guest:
Amy Radil, KUOW reporter covering politics, government, and law enforcement

Relevant Links:
Ex-Auburn cop gets nearly 17 years in prison for 2019 murder of Jesse Sarey - KUOW
Auburn police officer’s murder trial tests new state law for police misconduct - KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Former Auburn police officer Jeffrey Nelson has been sentenced to 16 years and 8 months in prison.
The decision was handed down Thursday, after Nelson was convicted of second-degree murder and first-degree assault for the killing of 26 year old Jesse Sarey.
And this represents a milestone: Nelson is the first Washington police officer to be charged and convicted for the use of deadly force while on duty since the passage of the law enforcement reform ballot measure, Initiative 940.
Guest:
<ul>
<li>Amy Radil, KUOW reporter covering politics, government, and law enforcement</li>
</ul>
Relevant Links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/ex-auburn-cop-sentenced-to-years-in-prison-for-murder-of-jessey-sarey">Ex-Auburn cop gets nearly 17 years in prison for 2019 murder of Jesse Sarey</a> - KUOW</li>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/auburn-police-officer-s-murder-trial-tests-new-state-law-for-police-misconduct">Auburn police officer&rsquo;s murder trial tests new state law for police misconduct</a> - KUOW</li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

KUOW reporter Amy Radil explains how one Washington law made this sentencing possible.

Former Auburn cop sentenced for murder

Tactile Basketball

Costco

Cougar Gold

Grand Illusion Cinema

Credits

Christmas Eve begins our holiday break here on Soundside. We’re taking some time off to enjoy the holidays with our friends and family… or to just eat lots of good food while staying indoors.

But we’ve still got plenty of jam packed shows ready for you.

Today - we’re focusing on local businesses here in the Pacific Northwest.

RELATED LINKS:
A tech startup helping the visually impaired "watch" sports with their fingertips
Will people always love Costco?
At 75, Cougar Gold canned cheese is still a Washington state favorite
The lights go down... for now... on the Grand Illusion Cinema

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

 

Christmas Eve begins our holiday break here on Soundside. We&rsquo;re taking some time off to enjoy the holidays with our friends and family&hellip; or to just eat lots of good food while staying indoors.
But we&rsquo;ve still got plenty of jam packed shows ready for you.
Today - we&rsquo;re focusing on local businesses here in the Pacific Northwest.
RELATED LINKS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://thankyou.kuow.org/stories/a-bellevue-startup-helping-the-visually-impaired-w">A tech startup helping the visually impaired "watch" sports with their fingertips</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/will-people-always-love-costco">Will people always love Costco?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/at-75-cougar-gold-canned-cheese-is-still-a-local-favorite">At 75, Cougar Gold canned cheese is still a Washington state favorite</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/the-lights-go-down-for-now-on-the-grand-illusion-c">The lights go down... for now... on the Grand Illusion Cinema</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.
&nbsp;

Soundside's Producer Picks for this Christmas Eve look at a number of local businesses here in the Pacific Northwest !

Producer Picks: Tactile Basketball, Costco, Cougar Gold, and the Grand Illusion Cinema

A lot has changed during Sara Nelson’s time in Seattle government.

She was a centrist outlier on a progressive city council when she was first elected in 2021. But the dynamics changed: Nelson became the center of power, and ended up running the show as council president, after a moderate slate of candidates swept the 2023 election. 

She helped oversee pandemic-era recovery, worked with two different mayoral administrations and two very different presidential administrations during her time on the council. 

Now - her time in office is coming to an end.

Next month, there will be a new, more progressive representative in the citywide Position 9 seat that Nelson’s held the past four years. Nonprofit leader Dionne Foster will take Nelson’s place after winning by a wide margin of votes in November. 

Between passing a police contract, approving phase one of the city’s Comprehensive Plan, and putting forward a bill to change how consultants work with the city – Nelson has been busy during her last month in office.

And last week she spent an hour with Soundside to reflect on her tenure and the direction Seattle politics is moving.


GUESTS:
Sara Nelson, outgoing position 9 Seattle City Councilmember and City Council President

RELATED LINKS: 
Seattle passes new transparency law aimed at political consultants - Seattle Times
New Seattle Police contract includes pay boost, increased use of unarmed crisis responders - KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

A lot has changed during Sara Nelson&rsquo;s time in Seattle government.
She was a centrist outlier on a progressive city council when she was first elected in 2021. But the dynamics changed: Nelson became the center of power, and ended up running the show as council president, after a moderate slate of candidates swept the 2023 election.&nbsp;
She helped oversee pandemic-era recovery, worked with two different mayoral administrations and two very different presidential administrations during her time on the council.&nbsp;
Now - her time in office is coming to an end.
Next month, there will be a new, more progressive representative in the citywide Position 9 seat that Nelson&rsquo;s held the past four years. Nonprofit leader Dionne Foster will take Nelson&rsquo;s place after winning by a wide margin of votes in November.&nbsp;
Between passing a police contract, approving phase one of the city&rsquo;s Comprehensive Plan, and putting forward a bill to change how consultants work with the city &ndash; Nelson has been busy during her last month in office.
And last week she spent an hour with Soundside to reflect on her tenure and the direction Seattle politics is moving. 
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Sara Nelson, outgoing position 9 Seattle City Councilmember and City Council President</li>
</ul>
RELATED LINKS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/seattle-passes-new-transparency-law-aimed-at-political-consultants/">Seattle passes new transparency law aimed at political consultants - Seattle Times</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/new-seattle-police-contract-includes-pay-boost-increased-use-of-unarmed-crisis-response">New Seattle Police contract includes pay boost, increased use of unarmed crisis responders - KUOW</a><a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/amy-radil"></a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.&nbsp;

Sara Nelson reflects on her tenure, and the direction Seattle politics is moving.

"Frankly I love this town" - City Council President Sara Nelson says goodbye

Every Monday on Soundside we catch you up on the top stories that are fascinating right now – and what they say about the Pacific Northwest.

It’s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward.

GUEST: Former KIRO-FM host Dave Ross

TODAY'S TOPICS:
Flooding

Seattle Times: A damaged King County levee awaited fixes for years. Then it failed.
NBC News: Federal grants for flood mitigation work sat on hold as storms inundated Washington state
Affordability

NYTimes: How Democrats Used One Word to Turn the Tide Against Trump
NYTimes: These Young Adults Make Good Money. But Life, They Say, Is Unaffordable.
Dave Ross parody songs

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Every Monday on Soundside we catch you up on the top stories that are fascinating right now &ndash; and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. It&rsquo;s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward.
GUEST: Former KIRO-FM host Dave Ross
TODAY'S TOPICS:
<ul>
<li>Flooding
<ul>
<li>Seattle Times:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/times-watchdog/a-damaged-king-county-levee-awaited-fixes-for-years-then-it-failed/#:~:text=The%20Desimone%20levee%20has%20been,long%20after%20the%202020%20flood.">A damaged King County levee awaited fixes for years. Then it failed.</a></li>
<li>NBC News: <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/washington-state-floods-federal-grants-on-hold-rcna250132">Federal grants for flood mitigation work sat on hold as storms inundated Washington state</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Affordability
<ul>
<li>NYTimes: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/20/upshot/affordability-democrats-trump.html">How Democrats Used One Word to Turn the Tide Against Trump</a></li>
<li>NYTimes: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/20/us/politics/middle-class-us-economy-affordability.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share">These Young Adults Make Good Money. But Life, They Say, Is Unaffordable.</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="http://daveross.com/index.html">Dave Ross parody songs</a><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/nfl/philip-rivers-colts-nfl-seahawks-rcna249182"></a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Every Monday on Soundside we catch you up on the top stories that are fascinating right now – and what they say about the Pacific Northwest.

Former Auburn cop sentenced for murder

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