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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Police Chief Will Rule On Appeal Of Neva-Wood Cops Volunteer

Police chief Terry Mangan will rule on the appeal of of Neva-Wood COPS volunteer Deb Wittwer’s suspension this week at a meeting with Nevada-Lidgerwood residents.

Mangan plans to speak at a Neva-Wood COPS meeting Nov. 14 at Franklin Park Mall, where officers will be elected. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.

Wittwer, who had run the Neva-Wood COPS shop out of her home for three years, was suspended eight weeks ago.

Police said she was suspended for not completing background checks on volunteers, not filing proper paperwork and criticizing the department.

Wittwer said she has already been informed of Mangan’s decision, but was told not to talk about it until after Mangan meets with COPS volunteers.

“I didn’t deserve to be suspended,” said Wittwer. “I didn’t deserve anything. I was doing what was right.”

Neighborhood council president Al French protested Wittwer’s suspension, saying police were managing neighborhood business.

A letter faxed to him last month inflamed that complaint. In the letter, Mangan said the neighborhood COPS station under construction at Wellseley and Addison is police property.

The COPS shop is being built with Community Development funds, which the neighborhood dispersed. French says Mangan has no authority to claim the building.

“This would put everything under his control,” said French. “Not today, not tomorrow, not the second coming of Christ will that happen.”

French says the neighborhood wants resolution on the conflict, but adds there is anger about the police department’s handling of Wittwer’s suspension.

“I have a lot of questions for the man,” said French, who said he plans to attend the Nov. 14 meeting.

, DataTimes