Investigation in good hands

Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich has a track record of community involvement and an unwavering commitment to the highest levels of professionalism for his department. He has shown leadership under fire, and Spokane is fortunate to have a man like Ozzie Knezovich as sheriff.

The process of investigation and the wheels of justice turn slowly at times. But I have strong faith that Sheriff Knezovich will ensure a thorough and transparent investigation is conducted in recent officer-involved shootings. We have already seen adjustments in long-standing policy, predating Sheriff Knezovich, regarding the length of time between an incident and the interviewing of an officer involved in a shooting.

The sheriff’s department has hundreds of deputies. Officer-involved shootings bring outcry from victims, victims’ families, community members, law enforcement unions and the press. It takes time for the facts of a case to come out.

Sheriff Knezovich has proven he will take strong disciplinary action in the case of any deputy not living up to the standards of the department. But by the same token, he will not be rushed into judgment without having all the facts. He brings a steady hand to the rudder, which is exactly what we need when tragedy strikes.

Steve Salvatori

Spokane