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June 25, 2009 in City
Doug Clark: As city bungles Zehm incident, Apple shows some polish
Before telling you how you can still get an Otto button, I want to compliment a city official.
I know. An unrigged Iranian election is easier to find than kind words about city officials in a Clark column.
Still, Bob Apple deserves praise.
Apple caught my attention when he spoke out about the city’s crass attempt to smear Otto Zehm, who died in 2006 not long after being bashed by Spokane cops.
The councilman took a dim view of the blame-the- dead-victim tactic the city’s legal weasels are using to derail a lawsuit filed by Otto’s mother, Ann.
Apple characterized this disgraceful scheme as an “attitude of basically, ‘We’re not responsible and this life isn’t worth anything.’ ”
Nice, Bob.
Apple has been a column comedy donor over the years.
He is, after all, the same guy who stopped stocking toilet paper in his Hillyard saloon to thwart paper-pilfering patrons.
But Apple’s sensitivity is spot on regarding the assault on a mentally ill janitor in a Spokane convenience store.
Tarred wrongfully as a thief in a 911 call, Otto was repeatedly clubbed and shocked with a stun gun by Officer Karl F. Thompson Jr. and other cops who arrived later.
Three long and frustrating years passed with no charges and no justice.
Then, on Monday, Thompson was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of violating Otto’s civil rights and later lying to investigators about the confrontation.
You’d think these federal indictments would serve as a City Hall wake-up call.
And you’d be wrong.
Spokane Mayor Mary Verner and other leaders could pass for honorary members of the Police Guild.
Meanwhile, the region still simmers with anger and indignation over what happened to Otto Zehm.
“They have done a great job of trying Otto,” former Spokane County Prosecutor Don Brockett wrote in an e-mail to me about the city’s victim trashing.
“Now it is our turn, through our peers, to try the actions of the officer. At least some agency had the guts to bring this to court. Finally!”
Or how about this e-mail from a city employee. I won’t identify the writer for obvious and potentially job-endangering reasons.
“I am embarrassed and ashamed by the way the officers dealt with Otto and the terrible tragedy that resulted from it,” wrote the worker.
“I hope the truth finally comes to light for everyone to see and that this sort of horrific injustice never is allowed to happen again.”
One way we can do that is to keep Otto’s name alive.
That’s where the Otto buttons come in.
If you recall, I gave away 1,000-plus Otto buttons in March.
Last week, I ordered another 300.
Here’s the deal. I won’t go through the mass-mailing nightmare again.
But at noon Friday, I’ll be giving buttons away at Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave.
Come on down. Say hello.
And remember Otto.
Doug Clark is a columnist for The Spokesman-Review. He can be reached at (509) 459-5432 or by e-mail at dougc@spokesman.com.
Recent stories by Doug Clark
Doug Clark: Roskelley’s candidacy is all downhill from here May 27, 2012 15- Clark: No clear inspiration for ‘Spokane Motel Blues’ May 24, 2012 6
- Professor’s ‘Motel’ mystery needs you to solve it May 22, 2012
- Clark: City ordinance shows lack of sound thinking May 20, 2012 21
- Doug Clark: Many wrongs, one big right in Zehm case May 17, 2012 24
ChefGus/ John Olsen on June 25 at 5:18 a.m.
Doug, thank you for your efforts in this travesty. I hope you need all 300 of your buttons and then some…. I wonder if it will be considered a “political” campaign by Council President Joe and we won’t be allowed to wear them at Open Forum time. John
DocTom on June 25 at 8:28 a.m.
Mr. Clark, I would like to sincerely thank you for what you have done in this entire matter. Your service to this community pertaining to Otto is nothing less than outstanding. Thank you for what you have done to defend a man who was deprived of his civil rights and killed without conscience. There is no excuse for these actions - period. Your efforts and dedication will now rise to see justice done. I have absolutely no doubt that your personal safety and civil rights have been threatened as well. Despite these walls, you continue to bring out the truth. Thank you.
lewis8457 on June 25 at 9:58 a.m.
Doug if it wasn’t for you sticking to your guns, this issue would have been buried in the crap that is city hall. Thank you!
At this point in time i have never seen anyone wearing a Otto button.
Bob_Knows on June 25 at 10:55 a.m.
The main job of the gun thug gang in blue colors is to rob, control, destroy, and terrorize the people to enforce the power of the corruption in City Hall. These violent street gangs were only hired about a century ago to turn free men into obedient slaves of a corrupt politicians. They are the antithesis of a free nation. The police state corruption will continue as long as the people allow ourselves to be owned and controlled by the hired gun thug gang.
Not so long ago armed highwaymen were caught and hung. Now they work for the government.
Keep telling it like it is, Doug. We are continually lied to by broadcast media who never met a jackboot they didn’t want to bow down and kiss. We THE PEOPLE will never be free again until we can shake off the evil of police state corruption.
Ron_the_Cop on June 25 at 11:47 a.m.
To All and Doug:
As a retired So Cal cop/det with over 35 years experience, yes there are things very wrong surrounding the death of Otto Zehm. However things may not always be as they first appear to be.
Doug you are commended for keeping this case in the public spotlight.
If you’re interested in my words of wisdom you can read more here:
Federal Civil Rights Indictment Returned in Otto Zehm Case - Spokane, WA
http://friendsofmarkfuhrman.org/blog/?p=144
Bob_Knows on June 25 at 12:06 p.m.
Where is the indictment of the other 6 gun thugs who participated in the murder of Mr. Zehm to death?
Are all these murderers still out on the street terrorizing and beating up the people of Spokane?
torawduck on July 15 at 12:05 a.m.
Doug,
Nice call. As an Army connected mentally disabled citizen my wife called 911 when I was acting strangely. 3 pigs arrived and would not listen to me about a new antidepressant (Prozac) I was taking. I was handcuffed in my home and taken to Sacred Fart Hosp. rather than the VA and held incognito from my wife and my VA doctors & meds for 72 hours.
I trust the Spokane Pig Dept. as far as I can toss the collective lot. I guess gays and minorities are off limits now so Ubberfurer Annie has given the okay to nut baiting.
They can’t fight the pen!