A wrongful-death lawsuit has been filed against the Tacoma Police Department following the tragic murder of Gaylee Valente-Curcio, a victim of domestic violence. In November 2021, she was brutally stabbed 45 times by her ex-boyfriend Tony Rico Sanders, who had violated a court-issued protective order. Valente-Curcio's father claims that police ignored her calls for assistance and failed to enforce the no-contact order, leaving her vulnerable to the fatal attack. Sanders was later sentenced to life in prison for the murder and for injuring a bystander during the incident. The lawsuit emphasizes the urgent need for law enforcement to take domestic violence allegations seriously and to act decisively when protective orders are breached.

Attorney Samuel Daheim expressed that Valente-Curcio had exhausted all options to seek help, highlighting systemic failures in the protective measures meant to safeguard her. The suit seeks unspecified damages, aiming to hold the Tacoma Police accountable for their inaction. This case underscores the critical importance of effective police response in domestic violence situations.