Spencer: CPD Blue Needs ‘Tude Job

48 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

• 

  MamaJD on December 15 at 1:21 p.m.

  Was Larry Spencer in the car or present at the time this happened? Is Larry offering a first hand account or no?

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  Phaedrus on December 15 at 1:23 p.m.

  No. All my interactions with the local police have been nothing but professional and courteous. In fact, the way you are treated is usually a direct reflections of how you are treating the LEO, in my case it is always yes, sir, no sir (or yes ma’am, no ma’am). If you act like a jerk, you just may be treated like a jerk.

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  Stickman on December 15 at 1:27 p.m.

  Boy, am I sure with Phaedrus on this one. Thanks.

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  Bree on December 15 at 1:27 p.m.

  I hate when one officer (or a small group) have a bad attitude, or say something inappropriate and then it’s attributed to the whole department, or officers in general.

  Everywhere you go there’s going to be an a**hole or two, it’s unfair to group everyone as bad.

• 

  nic on December 15 at 1:30 p.m.

  I’m with Phaed & Stick, all of my interactions with Cd’A blue have been a positive experience.

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  DFO on December 15 at 1:39 p.m.

  @ Bree re: “Everywhere you go there’s going to be an a**hole or two, it’s unfair to group everyone as bad.”

  Even among journalists? ;-)

• 

  LarrySpencer on December 15 at 1:46 p.m.

  I think everybody has seen me address the city council. I may debate and argue with people here, but I never raise my voice or do anything to start an arguement. He just didn’t like the fact that I hadn’t taken his ststement that the car was high centered without checking it by rocking it with my hand. It wasn’t high centered, and it moved easily. Want a picture of it?

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  Phaedrus on December 15 at 1:48 p.m.

  I hadn’t taken his ststement that…

  i knew it!

• 

  simpleton on December 15 at 1:56 p.m.

  I seem to recall reading something once that went “as you sow so shall you reap”, or something like that.

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  LarrySpencer on December 15 at 2:03 p.m.

  Simpelton, if I had recorded the conversation, Thom George would come unglued at me for being sneaky. It would prove that I was courtious and polite.

  Danged if you do, Danged if you dont.

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  LarrySpencer on December 15 at 2:10 p.m.

  As to why I wanted to drive the car instead of having it towed. She doesn’t have any extra cash to pay for a un-needed tow.. She is a single mom without enough money to pay for her son’s Christmas. This concept would likely be lost on an officer who makes the kind of income that the CDAPD employees do.

• 

  Soaf on December 15 at 2:11 p.m.

  ***It would prove that I was courtious and polite.***

  No it wouldn’t, it would re-enforce what everyone already knows that you are two faced.

• 

  Soaf on December 15 at 2:14 p.m.

  And besides, if you had a recorder, you couldn’t lie then deny it later on. This way, it cuts out the “Denial” part.

• 

  nic on December 15 at 2:20 p.m.

  Larry doesn’t need to record it… the whole incident is likely recorded in the officer’s dash mounted camera.

• 

  Sisyphus on December 15 at 2:23 p.m.

  “This concept would likely be lost on an officer who makes the kind of income that the CDAPD employees do.”—Gosh. I can’t imagine what may have put him off Larry? You telling him he’s full of it or some other flippant remark you seem to have at the ready. Perhaps your reputation preceded you to the intersection or perhaps the officer may have been present at one of these city hall arguments.

• 

  eagleeye on December 15 at 2:52 p.m.

  This is a prime example of the boy who cried wolf. Because of Spencers past claims that have been less than accurate everyone jumps on this situation as not accurate. I have had incidences where some members of CdA police have been less than professional and rude. For one of the very few times I am going to side with Spencer on this one. I wonder if this same claim came from another poster if the reactions would have been the same? I doubt it.

• 

  LarrySpencer on December 15 at 2:52 p.m.

  >Perhaps your reputation preceded you to the intersection or perhaps the officer may have been present at one of these city hall arguments.

  So if he knew who I was or didn’t like me it would be ok to be a jerk?

  And that is OK with you?

  After asking, it turns out he did know who I was. Maybe if I had supported the candidate their union was backing last month…

• 

  Joker on December 15 at 2:53 p.m.

  I don’t believe Larry’s version of events. I have a short list of people who can’t get along with the cops and Larry is on that list.

• 

  coeurgenx on December 15 at 3:03 p.m.

  I am going to take no side here, but considering the wintery conditions and the amount of drivers who are finding themselves “high centered”, my patience would be running thin too!

• 

  LarrySpencer on December 15 at 3:20 p.m.

  DFO, how about posting the picture I sent you of thow the car he wouldn’t let be driven looked when he decided not to let anybody but a tow truck touch it?

• 

  redman on December 15 at 3:21 p.m.

  Hey Larry did they serve you any papers while you were waiting?

• 

  Sisyphus on December 15 at 3:22 p.m.

  So if he knew who I was or didn’t like me it would be ok to be a jerk?

  “And that is OK with you?”—indeed. At least it would be expected and should come as no surprise to either of us.

  Actually the characterization of “jerk” is yours. As in most things I deal with there are two sides to a story. But I reckon if I was a cop whose assistance was being required by someone who thinks I’m overpaid, my exuberance for doing my job in manner he might find appealing would be diminished to a similar degree as his perception that I could ever do the job to his satisfaction.

• 

  Arpie on December 15 at 3:31 p.m.

  Perhaps the cop has a side line buusiness as a tow truck driver. Did I find a conspiracy before Larry?

• 

  DFO on December 15 at 3:34 p.m.

  @ Spencer re: “DFO, how about posting the picture I sent you of thow the car he wouldn’t let be driven looked when he decided not to let anybody but a tow truck touch it?”

  Done, and moved up the main thread.

• 

  sue on December 15 at 3:47 p.m.

  My post got left behind when DFO moved it, so I am reposting here. For a minute, I thought I had been deleted. Whew…
  So one harried police officer didn’t treat you or your family with the deference you so obviously deserve, and that means ALL CDA POLICE need an attitude adjustment. What are you going to sue them for Spence?

• 

  LarrySpencer on December 15 at 3:57 p.m.

  sue, nice way to spin it there. My point is that there was no reason not to let it be driven instead of requiring a tow. If it was not able to be moved easily under it’s own power, fine. But he got downright nasty when I asked. There was no ditch in front of it, and an easy way back onto the road where I took the picture from. I didn’t argue with him, I even asked him before I took a picture if that would be OK.

  Things got a little clearer when he told someone else who I was, but had never asked me my name.

• 

  eagleeye on December 15 at 3:57 p.m.

  I think everyone knows Larry is married but what part of this thread alludes to that and why does it matter?

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  MamaJD on December 15 at 3:59 p.m.

  Larry — If he knew who you were, he had every reason to be cautious. Officers dislike being sued over a piddly car accident. You never know what can happen in an interaction with Larry Spencer. If all you can allege is that he was rude, then perhaps he did his job. Because if he didn’t follow protocol, we all would have heard about it. Your lawsuit history is also reason why secretaries feel the need to put a tape recorder on their desk when you come in. That was rude, too, wasn’t it?

• 

  nic on December 15 at 3:59 p.m.

  “how about posting the picture I sent ”

  The qeustion here isn’t if the car was drivable, it’s whether or not the cop was a jerk. I’m sure that your opinion of him was skewed due to the fact you disagreed with his opinion bout the condition of sis-in-law’s car.

  Just because you say he’s a jerk doesn’t mean he was being rude.

• 

  nic on December 15 at 4:04 p.m.

  “was no reason not to let it be driven instead of requiring a tow.”

  Could the car have made it back to the road without towing assistance? While the care may not be high centered, the tires do look like they’re deep in heavy wet snow. Easy to get stuck like that and not be able to get traction.

• 

  ejs on December 15 at 4:06 p.m.

  eagle, thank you for the wife rebuttle. Joker was out of line,
  I’m suprised Dave let it go. Listen it’s ome thing to talk trash with someone here who posts, it’s all fare game and Spencer for better or worse can handle himself, but if one wants to bash loved ones and their relationships well that’s just bullshyte, I’ll remember and always keep that in mind.
  At least Spencer uses his name.

• 

  DFO on December 15 at 4:17 p.m.

  @ EJS re: “I’m suprised Dave let it go.”

  This might come as a surprise to you guys. But I don’t read every comment as it comes in. In fact, when I’m busy posting out front or writing my print column or doing something else, I might not check the comments for an hour or more. Sometimes, I’ll miss something altogether when I’m scanning comments to get caught up. I pulled Joker’s comment b/c, indeed, I consider family out of bounds when the joking gets rough. I appreciate the heads up re: Joker’s comment. Carry on.

• 

  ejs on December 15 at 4:27 p.m.

  Dave, your right and I think we all know you can’t read them all the time. Sometimes we post pointing some stuff out, just for the record.
  In any case I think we all agree, well almost all, on family being out of bounds,
  ThanksDave

• 

  Joker on December 15 at 4:31 p.m.

  “if I had recorded the conversation, Thom George would come unglued at me for being sneaky. It would prove that I was courtious and polite.”

  Maybe Santa will bring Larry a special Souza 3000 recorder for Christmas, so he can prove what a nice guy he is when he implies U.S. soldiers are committing voter fraud.

• 

  Lizard_People on December 15 at 5:45 p.m.

  If police officers were interested in being nice, they’d have become firefighters.

  Most police officers become police officers because they like to have that authority. They especially don’t like to have their authority questioned. If the cop says the car is high-centered, it’s high-centered darn it.

  The above is a generalization and is only intended for satire and entertainment purposes.

• 

  Cindy_H on December 15 at 6:19 p.m.

  “If police officers were interested in being nice, they’d have become firefighters.”
  Lizard People is very wise.
  Just saying.

• 

  spokelooneh on December 15 at 10:28 p.m.

  Looks to me like the car could have been pushed back onto the road with a couple of adults doing the pushing.

  And unless the car was blocking/impeding the public right of way where it sat, there’s no reason for the CPD to force an expensive tow of the vehicle.

  I’ve had cops lend me their shovel to dig my car out of a snowbank before.

  ––––––––––––––––-

  And isn’t it time to have the annual debate over studded snow tires?

• 

  nic on December 15 at 10:32 p.m.

  “isn’t it time to have the annual debate over studded snow tires?”

  I’m sure Cindy would much rather a debate about studly firefighters. Just Sayin’. Heck, that debate might even bring Digger back into the fold.

• 

  JIMMYMAC on December 15 at 10:45 p.m.

  I don’t know if it was high centered or not but I’d definitely like the option of getting my car out of being stuck myself rather than pay a tow truck 75 bones to come fix a situation I could do myself. For every car that gets temporarily stuck in December in KootCo, there is a line of people ready to help, especially if the driver is a woman. Nothing mean to be sexist, just saying people here typically come to the aid when help can be offered. As far as creating a dangerous situation, I’d bet anyone here lunch that people would gladly pull over to avoid that. I’ve been on both sides-getting stuck and pulling people out. Hell, i’ve had officers in St. Maries flag over other officer’s in St. Maries to help push me out. It’s community hospitality.

• 

  kamm on December 16 at 12:02 a.m.

  Are you always this negative?
  I think you are the one ready for an attitude adjustment.
  One episode should not condemn the whole group; maybe just this one officer needs an attitude assist.

• 

  Roger_Young on December 16 at 12:26 a.m.

  Probably was using the Spokane Police Department manual. Damn lucky they weren;t Zehm’d.

• 

  moscow_minidoka on December 16 at 7:22 a.m.

  Well, as much as it pains me to side with Spencer, I have to agree with him that the police officer should have allowed them to at least *try* to get the car back on the road without calling a tow truck. What happened to the good ol’ Idaho do-it-yourself spirit? Sheesh, I’ve had cars stuck much worse than that and still got it out with a few buddies and some back-n-forth.

  I guess the most telling thing here is that the officer did, indeed, recognize Spencer. Would the officer have allowed a non-Spencer to try to push it out? Maybe. But that’s the problem, isn’t it? When everyone in town knows you as a lawsuit-happy troublemaker, you shouldn’t be surprised when you’re not treated as a “normal person.” Your chickens are coming home to roost.

• 

  Cindy_H on December 16 at 7:57 a.m.

  “I’m sure Cindy would much rather a debate about studly firefighters. Just Sayin’. Heck, that debate might even bring Digger back into the fold.”

  Except there really isn’t anything to debate is there? Well, unless KageMann returns to yell about psychological adultery.

• 

  Phaedrus on December 16 at 8:03 a.m.

  For every car that gets temporarily stuck in December in KootCo, there is a line of people ready to help,

  Unless they see LarrySpencer standing next to it, then the probably flip him off and drive away laughing.

• 

  Phaedrus on December 16 at 8:07 a.m.

  Your chickens are coming home to roost.—MM

  Except the poor chickens are so confused they don’t know where home is! Last they heard it was Cocolala. Is that true?

• 

  Fishwife on December 16 at 11:50 a.m.

  Hate to say it, but there is a Letter to the Ed in today’s CDA P. agreeing with Spencer. it concerns the bungling by Chief Longo of the firing of a senior detective. The letter is very strongly worded and is penned by the father of the fired employee.

• 

  Phaedrus on December 16 at 1:03 p.m.

  I take it @sshat is verboten?

• 

  haydenette on December 20 at 2:37 p.m.

  I for one do not trust the police. My mother always taught me to go to the police for help, that they are the good guys. I have called the police and either they just don’t care about your situation or they show up and completely screw you over. I used to think of the police as shepherds watching over the flock; now I think they are the wolves and we are the sheep, ripe for the picking — it is not about right and wrong anymore — it’s all about MONEY. Their power to ruin your life is revolting — they are often wrong but the courts here don’t care! OMG, don’t say anything, if you do, you won’t be helped — you will be retaliated against! Well, no kidding!! I’m sick and tired of being afraid of the police and our court system here in Kootenai County!

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