The killing of a Minnesota woman by U.S. Immigration and Customs (ICE) on Jan. 7 has divided the nation, with many calling the shooter’s actions unjustified and some, including the Trump administration, claiming the ICE agent was in the right and acted in self-defense.
That clash played out locally this week, as the sheriffs of neighboring Washington counties traded barbs on social media.
An ICE agent identified as Jonathan Ross shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, 37, during a confrontation in Minneapolis on Jan. 7.
Local authorities have disputed federal officials' account of the events surrounding the shooting.
Federal officials claim that Good intentionally rammed her vehicle into ICE agents, but local authorities say the physical and video evidence of the incident does not support that narrative.
Video of the shooting from multiple angles shows Good attempting to drive away from the scene while two ICE agents approach, with one grabbing the door handle and another stepping in front of the vehicle before shooting Good multiple times.
Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank commented on the incident in an X post at about 6:41 p.m. on Jan. 7: “PSA: if law enforcement tells you to stop. STOP. You can always sue later if your rights were violated. Even if you are right, do you want to be dead right?”
Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders responded to the incident, and Swank’s take on it, in a longer Facebook post at about 8:38 p.m. on Jan. 8: “Poor tactics, poor outcomes. Like many of you, I watched some disturbing footage today where Renee Good, a mother of three, got shot in the streets of Minneapolis during an interaction with federal agents. Regardless of the circumstances, it is devastating that three kids lost their mom today over a shooting that was undeniably preventable. I find it equally disturbing that we have an elected sheriff in our state mocking Renee’s death on social media. Even when justified, people being killed by law enforcement isn’t funny. It’s not funny for the families of the deceased, it’s not funny for the family of the officer, and it’s not funny for the officers who pull the trigger. Mocking Renee’s death isn’t ‘provocative,’ it’s small and unbecoming of even the lowest standards of elected office. The reality is it doesn’t matter if Renee Good made contact with a federal agent with her car, because every respectable, modern law enforcement agency in the country has training and policy that, if adhered to, would result in Renee still being alive today: police cannot, and should not, induce our own jeopardy and create an unnecessary deadly force scenario. Per TCSO policy and training, we do not shoot at moving cars unless the car is being intentionally used as a deadly weapon AND we cannot physically get out of the way. We don’t hang on to the doors of fleeing cars. We don’t stand in front of cars with non compliant drivers behind the wheel. When criminals run, we get back into our cars, set up for a grappler, and handle business. Law enforcement is one of the most challenging professions on the planet. Long shifts, deep trauma, high demand, and constantly changing landscapes weigh heavy on officers across the country. None of this can be an excuse to never adapt our tactics for safer outcomes, even when the people we are trying to arrest don’t follow commands. The question we must answer in law enforcement when making a critical decision isn’t whether we can; it’s whether we should. I’ll be going to bed tonight thinking of Renee’s loved ones and hoping every law enforcement officer in the country knows how much we need them, and how much safer the outcomes are for police and citizens when we utilize the principles of time, distance, and cover. Policing must evolve or risk extinction.”
At about 9:43 p.m., Sanders added a response to the comments section of his post, which had, like most of the sheriff’s posts, been shared hundreds of times:
“Listen, most of the time I would agree with those of you saying that we should ‘wait for the investigation’ to play out. You’re entirely right. However, right after watching the footage and thinking that, I saw an update from the VP announcing the agent has ‘absolute immunity.’ While that’s not how that process works, I think it’s a clear indication that the investigation has already been decided, and even if a jury were to make an adverse finding, a presidential pardon will be coming down. These are major red flags and not consistent with any legitimate officer involved shooting process I’ve seen to date.”
Swank, who was not named in Sanders’ post, got into the comments of Sanders’ Facebook post at about 10:15 p.m.: “I did not mock her death. I wrote a post to tell people not to resist police at the risk of getting hurt or killed. We can fix it all later in court. I find your post rich coming from the sheriff who allowed his deputies to pursue people over minor crimes which resulted in the deaths and permanent maiming of several people. Which you bragged about and may bankrupt your county. I also remember the video of you using unnecessary force on the ‘DUI’ suspect that you tased and allowed a K9 to bite. I hope the families of the innocent dead people and the one (that we know about) person you used excessive force on ask me to testify on their behalf. You are an ‘altruistic’ narcissist who likes attention so you go out and commit bad law enforcement yourself trying to show off. For a guy who likes to have a tough guy image (posing all the time) you sure are a coward. Afraid to call the sheriff out by name. How very brave of you. I stand by everything I say on social media, in the press, and on this post.”
Swank was referring to dashcam footage that Sanders posted to his social media page from an Aug. 2 DUI arrest in Lacey.
Sanders responded to Swank’s comment at 11:12 p.m.: “The last time you did anything remotely relevant to police work, you were looking for a pay phone to call dispatch on so you could write down the address for your next coffee break. Maybe your private attorney can help you get sized for a vest that fits right so you can hit the road and show us all how modern police work is really done. Don’t forget, you can’t profile and hit people with a stick for having different colored skin anymore. We anxiously await your body cam footage!”
Swank replied at 5:52 a.m.:
“Sheriff Sanders this is exactly why the citizens of Thurston county should elect someone else next year, and I will help that person. You are the head of a large agency. You are the final decision maker. You should not be out on the street arresting people. But since you are so arrogant you can’t see that. I saw the video where you assaulted the POC man with a taser and a K9. You should be charged with a crime and removed from office. You are a punk.”
Swank is known for his divisive online presence. As of September 2025, he was the subject of three ongoing certification cases from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission. At least one of those complaints was related to his social media activity, according to reporting by various news outlets.
He was elected Pierce County sheriff in November 2024 following a 33-year career with the Seattle Police Department.
Sanders was elected Thurston County sheriff in 2022, beating incumbent John Snaza.
