Ombudsman Candidates coming to town…

41 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

• 

  George_Sands on May 19 at 7:05 a.m.

  I’ll reserve my final opinion until after some of the forums, but on the prima facie it appears we dont have much of a choice.

  “Cleared” is one thing, “accused” is another. So just what exactly was he accused and then cleared of? An “adjunct professor”? So not full time and what is he professing?

  Visalia CA is only well known for the Drive In from American Grafitti and the sounds of corn growing in the summer and substandard Walla Walla wannabee onions. I spent a summer there working at NAS Lemoore, watching corn/cotton grow is considered a cultural event. They converted the Old Jail into a restuarant. http://www.city-data.com/picfilesc/picc48617.php

  Weber’s background looks slim also.

  I guess its time to do some research and not except whats being put on the table with digging more into the menu.

  The other question is.. will/are they acceptable to the Guild who ultimately swings the big hammer?

  The City should disclose whom all the other 128 people are. After all it is Public Records.

• 

  msfreeh on May 19 at 7:30 a.m.

  to view a partial list of crimes committed by FBI agents over 1500 pages long see
  http://www.forums.signonsandiego.com/showthread.php?t=59139

  to view a partial list of FBI agents arrested for pedophilia see
  http://www.dallasnews.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3574

• 

  lewis8457 on May 19 at 7:36 a.m.

  I am unsure of any FBI officer being suspended before an investigation. I think we have found in Spokane at least the FBI is pretty much worthless (per investigation into Zehm case).

  I am also leery of having an ex police man fill the post, will he become just another good old boy? I mean since he has no investigation power (thank you police guild) do we really want another cop problem?

  I think the guild will vote for the ex cop. And since the guild holds most of the cards I think we can expect the same game play by them. They certainly do not want some one who can be impartial and has good problem solving skills.

• 

  JeanieSpokane on May 19 at 8:52 a.m.

  Without slinging arrows, etc., I also think the ombudsman should not have a police background. Weber may be the ticket for being objective. In any case - the position of ombudsman will be a very lonely one if all the choruses for justice prevail. The ombudsman can’t be a cop buddy - but he can’t be a citizen buddy either.

• 

  ChefGus/ John Olsen on May 19 at 9:19 a.m.

  It will bear some looking in to before comment here. Gonna google and snoop a bit… plan on attending all of the forums to see what they have to say in different settings…

  Interesting they are not having any forums at the South Hill community centers….Hmmm they seem to know that the folks that might have hard questions to ask, with some public speaking experience, and legal degrees may not come to East and West Central….

  The real test of the pudding will come when the first case is brought to who ever is hired. Wonder what Breean Beggs thinks of the choices?? The Center For Justice may make some comments through this process i’d guess since they are the vocal group that brought the most pressure on the City, and are still pressuring the City/Prosecutor on Otto’s demise. John

• 

  Marie on May 19 at 12:13 p.m.

  I agree with Jeanie. If there is going to be any confidence in ombudsman there can’t be any suspicion that he favors the police or the citizens. I disagree somewhat with Gus. I don’t think that the South Hill has a monopoly on articulate people who can ask hard questions. I would rather see the forums in neighborhoods that historically have had issues with the way the SPD does its job.

• 

  ChefGus/ John Olsen on May 19 at 3:04 p.m.

  Marie, i am glad you disagree with me… that was sort of tongue in cheek… you may or may not know i am in place with folks from east and west central ( as well as airway hts/geiger) every day.. and some of the Most articulate people I’ve known have been from our community…. the folks from the south hill.. and northwest side do not often “mix”with us…. and in fact are rather disdainful of us as a group….. disparate as we are… It is however very incumbent upon the “southies” to join in this critical discussion for our city.. as it will affect the future for them and for their children…. it would also be cool to have a south side forum and have many of our friends show up in the settings provided there for discussion and open comment that will be heard at all…. sorry if i did not make myself clear…. thanks for joining in here… best regards j

• 

  Diana on May 19 at 4:55 p.m.

  Yeah, that suspended with pay and “I was cleared completely” sounds so laughably familiar.

  The job pays well. Is it a full-time job? There must be a lot of ombudsman-ing to do if that’s the case.

• 

  Ron_the_Cop on May 19 at 4:57 p.m.

  ChefGus,

  Gee I should have applied my resume is better than all of the candidates:-)

  http://friendsofmarkfuhrman.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/resume-2.pdf

  Having been a POA president of a large police union I understand the tremendous challenges faced by street cops nowadays but on the other hand I have a good idea when they go over the line and need to be reigned in.

  Unfortunately not much of the City’s establishment relishes in my beating the drum in the Savage manslaughter cover-up:-) Further I’m not on the Mayor’s or for that matter Sheriff Knezovich’s or Chief Kirkpatrick’s dance card.

• 

  George_Sands on May 19 at 8:35 p.m.

  Ron_The_Cop… I had made the comment on the side to D. Laird that you would have been a great choice.

  Now I wouldn’t mind a little Latin Tango with the Mayor or the Chief, but I draw the line at Ozzie and so should you. Well on the other hand former Californians do have different standards….tongue in Cheek.

  Also you have done a great job on the RPS/Savage incident and I;m waiting for the Book to come out.

  Note to all.Torture protest on Thursday from 4 - 5 pm on Washington Street in front of Jessen and Mitchels offices. Bring your waterboards and Rendition T-Shirts.

• 

  George_Sands on May 19 at 8:40 p.m.

  Here’s the AUGUST 15, 1997 press release regarding Betz. Betz’s name appears about 1/2 into the article.

  http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/1997/August97/337crm.htm

• 

  lewis8457 on May 20 at 12:27 a.m.

  this is what i found on the Betz situation.

  As a result of the Justice Department’s OPR investigation,
  on July 11, 1995, Kahoe was placed on administrative leave with
  pay by the FBI. On August 11, 1995, Potts, Coulson, Evans and
  Anthony A. Betz, former FBI Domestic Terrorism Chief, were also
  placed on administrative leave with pay.
  As a result of the investigation, the investigative team
  submitted detailed reports recommending against prosecution of
  federal law enforcement personnel, other than E. Michael Kahoe.
  Concerning the agents placed on administrative leave with
  pay prior to this investigation, it was determined that Anthony
  Betz was not criminally implicated in this matter and thereafter
  returned to work in June of 1996.

  In my book Mr. Burns is out of the running because he is a ex cop.

  It looks like Greg Weber will be my pick he is from Spokane, and he seems to have the communities best interest at heart.

  SIGNIFICANT CAREER EXPERIENCE: - Successfully prosecuted Sexually Violent Predators - Recaptured millions of taxpayer dollars as a leader of a special Medicaid fraud control unit - Three special commendations from the Attorney General for his outstanding work.

  who wants to bet the police guild picks Mr. Burns?

• 

  JimF on May 20 at 6:28 a.m.

  Lewis,
  The mayor will make the pick-the guild doesn’t have a vote.

• 

  Ron_the_Cop on May 20 at 8:38 a.m.

  Mr. Sands,

  Thanks for the compliment. Dave, please allow me to expand my reply to Mr. Sands as I agree with his assessment regarding Sheriff Kenzovich.

  Mr. Sands I was an active supporter/worker in Sheriff Kenzovich’s campaign. Walker was a duck and ticket puncher. I don’t think Sheriff Knezovich has much experience as a criminal investigator. Nothing wrong about that to lead a law enforcement agency which requires a different skill set from those of an investigator. As a seasoned criminal investigator with what I know, Co Prosecutor Tucker buried the Savage case. There was strong and compelling probable cause to file this case and to let a jury decide whether the evidence was sufficient to convict. Tucker by his action prevented this.

  Sheriff Knezovich put too much trust in other law enforcement professionals to do their jobs. I’ve talked with him on the phone and he asked what more did I want as there was a review of this case at three different levels. I told him that the bottom line was there was no complete and thorough criminal investigation that may have found the evidence that Tucker said was lacking. Don’t ask the probative questions and you won’t get the evidence. These others are misleading and taking advantage of the Sheriff’s standing in the community to justify their inaction.

  The Sheriff’s mistake was not doing his own independent research on this case. To be fair this wasn’t really his jurisdiction and he had his hands full dealing with decades of deferred maintenance in the Sheriff’s Dept. We would call this case an A.P.E (acute political emergency - you do what you have to do no matter what). I’m hoping the Sheriff will learn from this case with whom to trust in this community. I told the Sheriff I wouldn’t trust Mr. Tucker as far as I can throw him. In fact for what’s it’s worth I filed a formal criminal complaint against him with the Governor who has yet to respond:-)

  http://friendsofmarkfuhrman.org/blog/?p=136

• 

  lewis8457 on May 20 at 9:20 a.m.

  JimF really? I thought the guild had 4 votes, and we citizens know what the guild wants the guild gets. Regardless if it is in the best interests of the taxpayers.

  Honestly with the guild having so much power and since the guild decided the ombudsman has no independent investigation powers, I feel the 94 thousand dollar ombudsman will just be another puppet run by the mayor. More wasted money while our streets crumble into ruin.

• 

  lewis8457 on May 20 at 9:21 a.m.

  and why i wonder why would someone want to move to Spokane?

• 

  Ron_the_Cop on May 20 at 9:57 a.m.

  Mr. Henderson,

  Because us former Californians enjoy your weather that has four real seasons eg., spring, summer, fall and winter vs. summer, fire, earthquakes, and riots. Your geography is unique and you have TREES. OK many of you consider pine trees as weeds. I don’t except for the pine needles. You have three major educational institutions and other small ones. Three major medical facilities. You are a regional center for the entire area with many entities. I’m from a city of $300K and we were just a blip on the horizon. Most of the news was LA/Orange County related.

  I’m sorry but being a Kaiser refugee you have no complaints about your medical care here. You have an airport you can get to in reasonable time, that is served by several airlines, and you can drive right up to the curb. Your in a null zone of natural hazards - floods, earthquakes et al. You’re not in the general migratory path of birds which is good for the propagation of bird flu. You really don’t have much traffic and the traffic reports on the radio are actually quite comical. Generally road rage incidents don’t end in shootings. The second language here is Russian and not Spanish. The folks at the drive thrus speak reasonable English and can understand your order. You actually have running water in your rivers and not some dried up dust bed until it rains. OK I can live with the phosphate load and the mine chem leaching. It’s still nice to look at. You can be in the remote sticks in less than 30 minutes. Need I say more!

  You do have potholes, can’t seem to get the snow off the road before it turns to ice, and you’re paying $2M for a parking garage you don’t own but don’t seem to care. You could finish the cross town highway to get the trucks off Division that beat the road to pieces. Your government could stand much improvement and a lot of fresh air to prevent the special deals with your tax money:-) Spokane PD tries but there is considerable room for improvement when it comes to economic crimes by the powers that be.

• 

  JeanieSpokane on May 20 at 11:03 a.m.

  I had to laugh at both of you on living in Spokane.

  I love it here. I think about it every day when I’m on the freeway going to and from work. 15 minutes tops - from Argonne to downtown. That is just way too nice. If it gets sluggish at 5:00 and it’s bumper-to-bumper, I just think to myself - if I were in LA, I’d still be in the parking garage trying to just *get* to the freeway for my two-hour little jog home.

  No smog. No earthquakes (well - we had a brief spell there). Very few drive-by crime sprees.

  And actually, with a town this small, and with all the pleasantries abounding - there is definitely room for improvement in the attitude of the PD in proportion to the crime.

• 

  Jeffrey_Grey on May 20 at 11:10 a.m.

  Ron,

  As a total aside to this otherwise serious thread:

  “You’re in a null zone of natural hazards - floods, earthquakes et al.”

  I take it from that comment that you weren’t living here several years ago when a certain mountain several counties to the west decided to blow itself to bits.

  As someone who has lived through earth-quakes (several) and hurricanes (several), I can assure you that volcanic eruption does, in fact, also constitute a ‘natural hazard’.

• 

  Ron_the_Cop on May 20 at 12:06 p.m.

  Mr. Grey,

  LOL. The freq of eruptions is very rare. Now if Yellowstone erupts this will be a serious problem for everyone but it will catch us once it circles the globe first:-)

• 

  George_Sands on May 20 at 2:00 p.m.

  The only hazards of living in Spokane are.

  1) Being snow bound when the City spins its wheels on snow plowing/removal.

  2) Death by Cop. Avoid Zip Trips, ATM machines and GAY bars.

  3) Bored to death by Council Meetings three weeks long debating benches and signing and then the Mayor just leaves them where they are.

  4) Insulted to near death by the City Council President.

  5) Parking in the Cowles parking garage (funded by the city taxpayers at the rate of $2 million a year for the next 20 years, and we dont even own it).

  6) Residing in a spontaniously combustable Trailer Home.

  I’m sure fellow readers/posters can list some more.

• 

  lewis8457 on May 20 at 3:11 p.m.

  Ron the cop thanks you for pointing out the pluses of Spokane. Those of us that have been here most of lives take much for granted, like all the ski resorts close by and all the lakes. Spokane is a beautiful place, if you can get beyond the politics. We have not had a good mayor since……? Our SPD has always had some sort of issue circling around them. As for the parking garage that was shoved down our throats by the Cowles and even though most of us did not want it. I have never parked in it, and I still don’t see a need for it. Why would I pay to park downtown when the parking is free at the North town or Valley Mall? Owning the parking garage is the same as all of us taxpayers bailing out the banks supposedly we own them but we will never get anything for it, just another con.

  The roads in this city have been going to pot for 20 years that I know of, and the snow plowing, I don’t know what happened because when I was a boy they had no problem plowing the snow and in those days they had a cool little gate they dropped down when they went by a side street or a driveway, but now days there are no gates they just plow in all the side streets and driveways. I am waiting for some guy to have a heart attack some day shoveling out his driveway and the ambulance cannot get through because the side streets are impassible.

  And we have Californians moving up here with their full wallets raising home prices beyond most spokanites income to afford one.

• 

  lewis8457 on May 20 at 3:16 p.m.

  Oh and one more thing Ron the cop be careful, with your lawsuit against Mr. Tucker, there is no justice here. Even though you have a valid point nothing will happen and if they can get involved our wonderful city government will sue you for every penny you have, why because they can, and I think they actually enjoy it.

• 

  Ron_the_Cop on May 20 at 4:26 p.m.

  Mr. Henderson,

  LOL. I agree with the “boot” thing on the graders. I got bermed in multiple times. I’m on a cul de sac and the guy just sweeps the end and leaves it in my driveway. I guess I can’t complain I did get plowed because we’re on a school bus route.

  As far as Mr. Shogun being rude I’ve been on the receiving in but hopefully I will have the last laugh:

  http://friendsofmarkfuhrman.org/blog/?p=116

  Yes, I’ll be careful but it’s very scary if you speak the truth and they’ll sue you in retaliation. Libel requires you to write something knowing it to be false with malicious intent. They tried once with Cherie Rodgers and crew and got stuffed. If they try it with me it will be a big mistake. The cross examination under oath will be very damning and will expose dark little secrets.

  Sorry Dave but this thread has wondered of course.

• 

  JimF on May 20 at 8:23 p.m.

  Lewis,
  Let’s go over this one more time. The Police Guild had ONE vote on the selection committee out of FIVE. The mayor will pick one of the three candidates selected and we will all have to live with it.
  So go listen to them, ask them questions, email the mayor. And then come back tomorrow and complain about how the Guild runs this town (a laughable proposition at best).

• 

  Cindy_H on May 20 at 8:29 p.m.

  Personally, I’m very disappointed that no one composed and “Ombudsman’s Coming to Town” song for this thread.
  Not. One. Of. You.
  Very sad.
  “Oh… you better watch out, you better not pout, better not cry I’m telling you why Ombudsman is coming to town…”

• 

  ChefGus/ John Olsen on May 20 at 8:53 p.m.

  cindy… actually I DO have a song of such import…. i’ll need to get a release from the lyricist… and if so i’ll post it tomorrow.. it is great… but it will need be “incognito”…. will that work for ya?? let me know …. it rivals Doug’s best …. john

• 

  Cindy_H on May 20 at 8:57 p.m.

  I’m in the mood for a song, John, but I guess I can wait until tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya tomorrow….
  heh :-)

• 

  ChefGus/ John Olsen on May 20 at 9:05 p.m.

  I love you too cindy… you are the best…

  it is worth the wait… hope i can get the release from the lyricist…. best… j

• 

  George_Sands on May 21 at 7:04 a.m.

  Folks, I’m just a hack here standing in Doug Clark’s Shadow…so this was put together in about 5 minutes after Dave Laird’s thread came out.
  Mea Culpa…Mea Culpa Mea Maxima Culpa

  Ombudsman’s Coming to Town…..
  (To the tune of Santa Claus is Coming to Town).

  You’d better NOT peep!
  Better not taser!
  Better not perv!
  I’m telling you why,
  Ombudsman is comin’ to town

  He’s making a list
  and checking it twice
  He’s going to find out which cop is naughty or nice.
  Ombudsman Is Comin’ To Town.

  He knows when you’ve been shooting
  He knows when you’re at a gay bar.
  He knows if you have molesters in your basement.
  So be good for the Guild’s sake!

  You’d better NOT peep!
  Better not taser!
  Better not perv!
  I’m telling you why,
  Ombudsman is comin’ to town

  With little tin hats and little toy guns,
  shooty shoot shoots, and Hot buttered rums.
  Ombudsman is comin’ to town.

  Cops that bone chicks on duty,
  and firemen that take pics of nudies.
  Ombudsman is comin’ to town.

  The Chief and Mayor will have a jubilee.
  We are bringing oversight,
  and hopefully accountability
  to the Lilac City.

  You’d better NOT peep!
  Better not taser!
  Better not perv!
  I’m telling you why,
  Ombudsman is comin’ to town

• 

  ChefGus/ John Olsen on May 21 at 9:30 a.m.

  Cindy…. there you go…. my friend was willing to post her song…. john

• 

  lewis8457 on May 21 at 10:36 a.m.

  JimF the fact the guild got to vote on what the job duties the citizen’s ombudsman would have speaks volumes. I mean his job is finding out the truth. But the guild does not want the truth exposed. And you want me to believe they don’t run this town,. Sorry I am not convinced.

  And I would love to write Mary Verner at the city hall except no one ever responds, I even had Timm Ormsby contact Verner on my behalf and I never heard a word. All they need is a form letter to send out, would give a impression of caring, even if they don’t.

• 

  lewis8457 on May 21 at 10:44 a.m.

  “Yes, I’ll be careful but it’s very scary if you speak the truth and they’ll sue you in retaliation. Libel requires you to write something knowing it to be false with malicious intent”

  Ron the cop you are from out of town aren’t you? Truth has no meaning here in Spokane many have spoke the truth only for the city to take them to court and clean their clocks because the truth the city believes in is badly tainted.

  After many of the latest issues where a citizen sued a cop or the department I have been led to believe our judges are on the cities side of the truth (made up on a whim). Justice and truth do not live in the halls of justice in Spokane. You would be better off to take the money you are going to waste fighting Mr. Tucker and buy yourself a nice fishing boat.

• 

  lewis8457 on May 21 at 10:49 a.m.

  I think the reason I am so against our wonderful city justice is the fact you or I can be put down by our wonderful SPD and nothing will be done about it. And when my son sues the city for wrongful death he will be run out of town on the poor train never to be seen or heard of again.

  The people in Spokane have NO RECOURSE, PERIOD. And now with the ombudsman they still don’t have any recourse, rather JimF sees it or not the guild runs this town, don’t like it? Move.

• 

  Dave Laird on May 21 at 12:17 p.m.

  Aw George Sands…

  You wrote in part:

  You’d better NOT peep!
  Better not taser!
  Better not perv!
  I’m telling you why,
  Ombudsman is comin’ to town

  I have been pretty badly beat up over a technical issue in the last 24 hours or so, but yes, I also received that worthy song and was going to post it. It ranks up there with some of his finest work to date. Doug Clark probably build another bus bench and we’ll put a new face on it.

  Dave

• 

  ChefGus/ John Olsen on May 21 at 12:39 p.m.

  Dave, the song’s lyrics were done by my friend George Sands… she has a great talent and sharp eye for words… my understanding is that she offered it to Mr Clark as an idea and it never did get used…. so it may have a copyright…. j

• 

  JeanieSpokane on May 21 at 1:15 p.m.

  O, George Sands, that was GREAT!!!! I can’t stop laughing. Honest! That was super wonderful and right in tune! too funny!

• 

  Cindy_H on May 21 at 1:41 p.m.

  Thank you George and John :-)

• 

  ChefGus/ John Olsen on May 21 at 5:08 p.m.

  Ain’t she great… one of my favorite female authors actually… here and elsewhere.. ( but not as favorite as you Cindy.. you actually make money writing!!.. a complex task these days.. :))) J

• 

  lewis8457 on May 22 at 8:41 a.m.

  A friend of mine showed me a sign he put on the drivers door of his car, informing a police officer that may pull him over for a traffic violation that the driver is a triple by pass recipient and that a camera is rolling. Smile!

• 

  ChefGus/ John Olsen on May 22 at 7:08 p.m.

  Merci for the Avatar “shift”… :)) j

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