Spokane7
58°
June 5, 2009 in Opinion
Editorial: Ombudsman pick should come with explanation
Spokane Mayor Mary Verner will soon name the city’s first ombudsman for the Police Department. When she does, the public deserves a detailed explanation for why she chose one candidate over the other two.
The three candidates were announced May 18, and they all seem well-qualified to sit in judgment of police work.
Greg Weber is a local attorney and former deputy director of the Washington attorney general’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Tony Betz is a retired FBI official and an instructor at Texas A&M University. Tim Burns is a neighborhood preservation officer for Visalia, Calif., and a retired police officer.
Late last week and early this week, the public had a chance to meet the candidates at community forums. The three appeared together, and it was difficult to discern how they differed on how best to carry out the task. Either the format made it uncomfortable for them to disagree, or they truly are of similar minds.
None of them criticized the ordinance they would be operating under, though the ombudsman’s lack of power to launch independent investigations has been a point of contention. They agreed that it’s best to get an office established and then see what changes would be needed. They agreed that it would be important to establish respectful relationships with police, political leaders and the public. They agreed that educational outreach would be an important part of the job, because many people do not understand criminal statutes and accepted police procedures. They agreed that getting rid of bad officers and bad practices is also important.
There’s nothing wrong with holding mutual views, but it leaves members of the public with little information to form judgments.
The backgrounds of all three candidates should allay the fears of police officers who worried that criminal justice amateurs would be reviewing their work. But because they seem to be largely in agreement on the substantive issues, it’s difficult to decide which one would be best for the job. Presumably, the mayor will have the advantage of interviewing them individually, and their real differences can be fleshed out.
The selection of the ombudsman will start an important chapter in police accountability. The death of Otto Zehm and other cases have demonstrated a critical need to bridge the gap of distrust between law enforcement and the public. Beyond naming and praising her final choice, the mayor needs to offer specifics on what she expects from the ombudsman and how her selection embodies that vision.
Don’t fudge fish standard 
George_Sands on June 05 at 10:20 a.m.
“Transparency:”
Implies openness, communication, and accountability. It is a metaphorical extension of the meaning a “transparent” object is one that can be seen through. I concur with the editorial as the reasons why Mayor Verner picks one over the other will hold the Candidate responsible for their actions/inactions. They also will know what characteristics we value.
Only the Mayor can hire, only the Mayor can fire.
I am at a bit of dissapointment with the Verner administration. I feel she has not given credibility to the small “people” that put her in office and the now almost 1 1/2 year delay in the ombudsman search. I realize its a tough job and riding herd on a lot of loose ends is not easy. I’d like to see the Mayor in public more often, but knowing that her immediate underlings are incapable of doing their job, she has to micromanage them severally and that keeps her out of the public eye.
I am concerned about some of the perceived back door deals, such as the hiring of an Efficiency Manager w/o opening the position up for public application. Or perhaps they did and I missed it.
We also did not have a review and report of the Cities performance during our winter snow storm. Even Seattle did one. I’m sure that one can only learn from the past if one studies it. All the small pieces are fine, but until they are bounded together in an integrated report, they will just remain small pieces. We are just setting ourselves up for semi-failure this on coming winter.
ChefGus/ John Olsen on June 06 at 7:09 a.m.
George, thanks for your comments… I believe that mayor verner has a remarkable skill at getting those if us at the Grunt level to feel as if “our” issues are her’s as well…. and that she thinks/feels the same as we do… and WE are important in her decision making..
That is Erroneous … she does listen i think/feel… but her decisions seem to me to be driven by the upper level political considerations you allude to.
At the last forum on Monday nite passed she did come over and inquire of me who my choice was… knowing i’d been to all three of the recent forums.. ( as poorly attended almost as your one on friday evening.).
I would be ok with any of the three…. but like or not.. my choice was made on personal gestalt… and approachability that will be an issue for our community of other that needs the access… so with that in mind the two men in bright white double starched shirts and power ties did not fill the bill for me as well as the soft ear ring wearing, pony tailed ex cop from Fresno….. he was the best one at “active listening” an interview skill critical to the success of the office.
Mostly people want to be heard, and to be validated as to their feelings about whatever critical situation they bring. I am of an opinion that if the City and the Chief had simply encouraged the officers and those responsible for Otto’s demise to accept responsibility and say “I am sorry for this tragic event” the mother would not be now suing our ass off.
Perception is what drives most of our emotional choices…. and the Ombudsman that seems/feels open, will get a better result in my view. j
jenny on June 11 at 9:41 p.m.
It really doesn’t matter who gets the job because all they will have to do is swat at the summer flies, go get coffee, scratch their head and wonder what to do. I think more needs to be done. In one city some clergy men rode along in bullet proof vests to keep the policemen honest. One thing is certain, whoever this policeman’s guild is they are making the police officers get the impression they are above the law and can get away with committing felony crimes, and lying on the witness stand in court, and lying about reality. They simply tell a false version of what happened and get away with murder, attempted murder, aggravated assaults, assaults, abusing children and driving while intoxicated…all overlooked…all these crimes and just because they are a Spokane Police officer they can get away with it. Lying is condoned and the lies are believed. This is disgraceful and now this office is just going to be paying someone for nothing…..It needs some help…that is plain as day.