Spokane7
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October 26, 2010 in City
Family questions fatal-encounter with sheriff’s deputy
Neva Harris , mother of Quentin Dodd, who was shot and killed by a Spokane County sheriff’s deputy Sunday night, tries to make sense of the loss of her son Monday.
(Full-size photo)(All photos)
Before Quentin Donald Dodd’s fatal confrontation with a Spokane County sheriff’s deputy on Sunday, his landlord said she’d had enough.
“He was very aggressive and threatening, so I said, ‘You need to go,’ ” said Melinda Seymour. “By that time, the police had already been called.”
Dodd, 50, was holding an arrowhead-type knife when a deputy found him standing in the middle of Progress Road, about a block from the faith-based halfway house at 507 N. Sommer Road, where he’d lived for about 2 1/2 months.
The deputy requested assistance, according to police, then at some point opened fire.
Dodd was pronounced dead at the Valley Hospital and Medical Center.
Initial reports from Sunday night indicated the deputy was 20 feet away from Dodd at the time of the shooting, but Officer Jennifer DeRuwe, spokeswoman for the Spokane Police Department, said she couldn’t confirm that.
The Police Department is investigating the shooting under a critical-incident protocol designed to avoid having law enforcement agencies investigating themselves.
“It’s too early to say what happened, but I’m confident in all of our law enforcement,” DeRuwe said. “Obviously the officer was presented with some sort of threat.”
Dodd’s family is dubious.
In their home on Crown Avenue in Spokane’s Hillyard neighborhood Monday, several members of Dodd’s family, which includes seven brothers and four sisters, looked at old photographs of him in a National Guard uniform and wondered how a man already familiar with life’s difficulties could end up on the receiving end of police gunfire – the fourth such person in two months.
“I want justice,” said his sister, Reedie Dodd. “Me, I feel like it’s cold-blooded murder. … We’re all in a state of shock right now.”
The deputy has not yet been interviewed, but the back-up deputy gave a statement the night of the shooting.
DeRuwe said she expects to release more information, including the officer’s name, by Thursday, to “put this in context a little more.”
“I’m sure the family’s upset – they’re grieving,” she said. “It’s a loss of life.”
Dodd had felony convictions for methamphetamine delivery, harassment, meth possession and unlawful possession of a firearm.
He went to rehab for methamphetamine addiction before moving into the Sommer Road home, his sister said.
He had worked cannery, meat packing and other industrial jobs but was disabled and was receiving government assistance, his family said. Dodd had struggled with drugs since his divorce in the 1990s, was diabetic and had kidney problems that required medication, family said.
His mother, Neva Harris, said she last saw him a week or two ago when he stopped by to pick up his mail. He didn’t stay long.
“He was not a happy person,” said Laneva Dodd, Dodd’s oldest sister.
Seymour said she asked Dodd to leave Sunday after he threatened housemates while waving a sharp object, which deputies identified as an obsidian knife. The knives are handcrafted from volcanic rock and typically mounted onto wild game antlers.
Investigators found the weapon near Dodd’s body after he was shot on Progress Road just north of Valley Way. Dodd’s home is about a block away.
His nephew, Michael Dodd, questioned why police used lethal force instead of a Taser or baton.
“Why didn’t they take other steps before that?” said Michael Dodd, a student at Eastern Washington University. “It’s so apparent that they should have taken other steps.”
Police firearms expert Thomas Aveni, executive director of New Hampshire-based Police Policy Studies Council, said the justification of police shootings involving suspects with knives depends “on the proximity of the person with the knife, and whether there are any other bystanders that might be threatened with the knife.”
“If you’re going to use pepper spray, it means you have to be way too close to a knife,” said Aveni, who taught a three-day deadly force management course for the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office about a year and a half ago. “In less than a second, a guy can have a knife in your chest at that distance.”
Seymour said police have responded to the home, called Restoration Ministries, several times and “have been so good to us.”
She and her husband don’t live at the home but visit regularly with each resident.
Dodd had “lots of hurt” he was struggling to work through, she said.
“He just didn’t communicate very well,” she said. “It’s just hard to get to the nitty-gritty of stuff when you’re not talking.”
She described him as compassionate and caring with a “very sweet spirit.”
“But he was definitely a very lost soul,” she said. “It’s unfortunate that all hell broke loose within himself.”
Human trafficking suspects released 
ChiefsFan21 on October 26 at 12:16 a.m.
“Initial reports from Sunday night indicated the deputy was 20 feet away from Dodd at the time of the shooting”
Just under that foot to make it right under deadly force against a knife huh?What a coincidence.
misjustice on October 26 at 6:46 a.m.
“…an arrowhead-type knife..”
Wow! It sounds so dangerous. An arrowhead? From 20 feet away?
JBlim on October 26 at 6:53 a.m.
“…an arrowhead-type knife..”
That’s pretty vague. I want to see the pics.
terrymr on October 26 at 7:19 a.m.
20 feet is the distance officers are taught to shoot knife holding suspect at. My question is who closed the distance to 20 feet ?
misjustice on October 26 at 7:25 a.m.
With so many officer involved shootings, and so many cross departmental “investigations” I’m left to wonder how many cops are there to do the actual policing work?
If the rate of death by cops continues there won’t be any cops working that aren’t investigating citizens’ deaths at the hands of their comrades…
charlee on October 26 at 7:39 a.m.
Need to take back the streets….
The criminal justice system does not know how to deal with criminals or won’t.
It is almost always the same names showing on the criminal court dockets.
Invoke a three stike law or move on.
akbuddy31 on October 26 at 7:46 a.m.
Wow, people need to get over the Otto Zen thing. He was a dirt bag that did nothing good for anyone but I bet you would prefer that the police should have handed him a trophy because “he’s trying to better himself” or “just started to get his life turned around”….People get real! I love how some of you are so against the cops but if and when you need them you complain no matter what they do. If someone is threatening me or my family I would love for the Spokane Police/Valley Sheriff’s department to shoot them if they wouldn’t surrender their weapon. These people are not trying to get their lives turned around and it’s obvious because they are repeat offenders that commit worse and worse crimes. If your such a good person why would you have a weapon and not put it down when a police officer tells you to? Also why are you in a halfway house? Oh, maybe because you were a dirt bag.
misjustice on October 26 at 7:47 a.m.
“The criminal justice system does not know how to deal with criminals or won’t.”
Especially when the criminals are cops.
misjustice on October 26 at 7:48 a.m.
Otto Zehm was NOT a dirtbag.
Albert on October 26 at 7:48 a.m.
All of us are a party to these murders…we pay property taxes that provide the salaries for these storm troopers. I’m ashamed, grieved, and angered over these murders and ever-growing out of control actions by SPD and Ozzie Squads. In the end, We The People are responsible for our lack of action.
lewis8457 on October 26 at 7:50 a.m.
akbuddy31 Otto Zehm was a dirt bag? so let me guess you are Karl Thompson, he must have thought that about Otto too to beat him to death.
If you happen to get beat to death by our cops i will one of many who wont say a word.
lewis8457 on October 26 at 7:54 a.m.
akbudd31 You pigs always vent about how we are you going to need you, I don’t need you. I wont call you.there feel better. Of course if everyone stops calling you we wont need so many of you now will we.
akbuddy31 on October 26 at 8:02 a.m.
Lewis, I am not a cop I just think that you are Hypocrite, when your being threatened you will want the cops there. And when they dont show up its because of people like you! Another threat to the community gone…oh no I’m so upset.
misjustice on October 26 at 8:08 a.m.
Threats to the community will lessen when more cops get laid off!
eagleproducer on October 26 at 8:17 a.m.
akbuddy: Okay, so you aren’t a cop. I’m guessing parking security at one of the community colleges?
Scumbag, dirtbag, whatever, all people deserve to be treated with human dignity.
The landlord who tossed him onto the street is partially responsible for his death. She accepted rent from him. That forms a contract that she can’t just negate at anytime she feels. Evictions, require court orders and police officers, not a landlord simply saying “you need to go.”
SpokaneLiberal on October 26 at 8:21 a.m.
akbuddy
While some of the people shot by police officers might be able to be called scum - Otto Zehm was not one of them. He was mentally disabled, but employed, committing no crime, and doing nothing wrong when the police beat him to death. If you cannot distinguish between him and a “bad guy” then you are either blind, corrupt, or uneducated in the matter. Any way you slice it your point becomes virtually invalid because of your inability to separate bad guys from real bad guys.
monkeyman on October 26 at 8:28 a.m.
Better empty your pockets of any sharp objects before going out now.
I hope it doesn’t go on to bottled water etc…
misjustice on October 26 at 8:39 a.m.
Thanks to the Zehm murder, bottled pop and candy bars are on the listo, also, monkeyman.
disgusted on October 26 at 8:44 a.m.
They murdered him because they have the right to prejudge their victims on past history charges from 20 years or more they already know by using a past history on their computers if they are going to kill people long before confronting them this makes it premeditated
Anybody out there with any type of criminal activity during their lifetime (because in Washington old charges never roll off the computer after a long time if ever) should start carrying a gun for self-preservation even though you may have done nothing for over 15 years they manipulate this read out of your entire past to give them the right to play judge, jury, and executioner so much for due process trusting their system and playing by their rules will get you killed in Washington.
liarsinnews on October 26 at 9:16 a.m.
Its noteworthy that many newspapers though out the country are reporting the number of police shootings in Spokane.
DeCaYeD on October 26 at 9:22 a.m.
Wow lets throw a parade for a regular user and meth dealer…One less person out and about to hurt the kids in the community.
DeCaYeD on October 26 at 9:26 a.m.
“Dodd had felony convictions for methamphetamine delivery, harassment, meth possession and unlawful possession of a firearm”. Just the kind of guy I want angry at the world running around with a knife.
Itsgodswill on October 26 at 9:38 a.m.
Did you miss the part of the article stating that he went to rehab for the addiction, too? Let me tell you, addiction isn’t an easy thing to deal with and I know that from personal experience. Even if this man was still addicted, that does not mean that he should be killed. Especially by the very people that we (unwillingly) pay to provide us protection. You’re a total idiot if you think this man deserved to be killed, and if so, I hope you’re next.
de3 on October 26 at 9:38 a.m.
Does this “20 foot” rule (never heard of it before) imply that all of us should at all times strive to remain at least 20 feet away from a police officer? I carry a pocket knife and/or multi-tool all the time.
Just for fun, closing the 20 foot distance in 1 second means traveling at 13 and 1/2 mph from start to finish. Considering time to accelerate from zero, you’d probably have to hit a top speed up around 20 mph at the end of that burst.
A typical jogger (8 to 10 minute miles) runs at about 6 to 7 1/2 mph. A 5 minute miler runs at 20 mph.
I think the 20 foot/1 second rule is plausible but exaggerated for an older non athlete. But still, it is plausible that an old guy might cross that distance in a couple of seconds.
de3 on October 26 at 9:39 a.m.
Typo correction: A 5 minute miler runs at 12 mph.
trueblueidahoan on October 26 at 9:40 a.m.
Unfortunately I have seen too many stories like this in the media.Police officers should be taught to shoot to disable and not shoot to kill.
Unless a police officer is under attack, physically, I believe that they are no more or no less a murderer then anyone else who kills a person. I feel they should be tried as a felon and spend their time in prison as anyone who isn’t a police officer would have to. Though without premeditation it would probably be tried as manslaughter, either way, they shouldn’t get off scott free as they normally do now.
There are alot of people in this world with underlying tendencies to act out in ways they wouldn’t normally act, when put under pressure (mental illness)
I also think that police officers should be trained to be more compassionate towards others. They need to earn the respect of the community and not just expect that people are to bow down to them. I don’t see that happening.
There should be a data bank that is accessible by other law inforcement agencies across the nation that hold the names of officers who have been released from duty from other states for any reason. Those officers should never be allowed to work in any authoritive type job…anywhere!
They should be held to higher standards considering the position they hold. There needs to be stiff consequences in place for people in higher positions to set examples for others. Maybe that would make them think harder in any situation before acting in an inappropriate manner.
This situation would have been alot different if the man had been brandishing an automatic weapon. Even then a shot in the arm could disable them from shooting.
I believe that there should be an investigative team, consisting of every day people, like those on a jury who determine the guilt or innocence of all police officers. I don’t believe, that with police policing police, that the outcome will be anything other then the victim being the perpetrator.
bdr on October 26 at 9:46 a.m.
Well I was all for a Dodd lawsuit yesterday not knowing the facts.
But when your landlord thinks you must go coupled with prior meth bust. (your on my bad boy list).
Only recently have I met these Meth users, since 1997 Ive bumped into or known about 5 or 6 users.
Old Meth users mental system is virtually shot, they cannot control themselves emotions ,angers,compulsions,actions.
Their virtually a unpredictable wild animal.
Meth leaves behind permanent damage in the brain , paranoia and psychosis. In the 70s it was PCP that damaged humans to a point cops just had to shoot them (even if their blood was clean of drugs the damage to the brain left them unpredictable animals with superhuman strength)
Im actually scared to death working with old users of Meth because at any moment they could be set off like a Pit-bull.
(GOOD SHOT MR COP).
DeCaYeD on October 26 at 9:47 a.m.
“Itsgodswill” that he was taken out for actiong violent, making threats and having a weapon and using it to make threats. Sure great for him he was in rehab….good thing that means he didn’t relaps.
valleyman on October 26 at 9:50 a.m.
It’s the landlord’s fault for throwing him out after he was threatening residents and physically assaulting them.
It’s the police officer’s fault for showing up to a call for help.
It’s the public’s fault for not allowing drug use at will and making it a crime.
It’s the court’s fault for making him a “criminal.”
It’s always someone else’s fault in every one of these situations with so many of you folks. It’s time to take out some personal responsibility and point a bit of blame on the people themselves in these situations. After all, it does take two to tango…
DeCaYeD on October 26 at 9:53 a.m.
Valleyman-Well said. Society today is all about not taking responsibility and coming up with excuses instead of owning it.
RobertHLocksley on October 26 at 9:56 a.m.
DeCaYeD,
Has your mentality/morality decayed so much that you think there are some citizens that the Bill of Rights does not apply to? Who gets to decide that, you? The Cops? You are one slippery step away from facism. Obviously these people, dirtbags, are “subhuman”, not deserving of our concern. Go read what happened to the “subhumans” in the Warsaw ghettos (you can guess the time frame). What happened to the “subhumans” eventually happened to many of the “good folks”. If we allow the rights of anyone to be abrogated it will also abrogate our rights. Do you really want to be on the side of those who stood by and watched it happen? Who even defended it? This trend will get worse, make a choice now before you are stuck. This is not about the details of any one incident. Anyone with eyes to see can detect a disturbing trend here and it’s been growing worse for 25 years. How bad will it have to be before you choose? When it’s you or your family? We shouldn’t let it get that far.
andjusticeforall on October 26 at 9:59 a.m.
akbuddy31….when you call the police for help as a law abiding citizen & they shoot and kill you….i will laugh at your family & say they were just doing theyre job so get over it..he was a dirtbag hahahaha
fishinjay on October 26 at 10:00 a.m.
You don’t approach a cop with a weapon in your hand. Period. End of story. When a cop tells you to drop your weapon, you drop it. If you continue to hold on to the weapon, you’ve got to know how that’s going to end.
Apparently the SR’s comment section is populated by weapons specialists with ninja-like skills, capable of accurately assessing and disarming any threat. Police are not so endowed.
When there’s a guy in the street, already reported to be “aggressive and threatening” (the landlord’s words when the cops were called), weilding a knife, and refusing commands from law enforcement, I’ve got no problem with the cops taking him out.
DeCaYeD on October 26 at 10:06 a.m.
RobertHlocksley,
Trying to use the Warsaw ghettos in any relation to what is going on in Spokane is simply wrong and foolish. However to do make a good point about what has and is taking place in this city. I think many things must change but you do make a little sense.
nslopeofw on October 26 at 10:17 a.m.
I think the cops in Spokane are trigger happy, and should not be investigating each other. that said, I also think that going into a gang infested neighborhood might help to get them up on step.
Perhaps there should be cop categories. You know, ones who respond to gangs, domestic violence, etc., and the ones for everything else.
They claim to be wound tight for these tense calls. Sounds like the ones responding to “tense” calls should be super screened for their mental health, while the “run of the mill” cops could do the rest. Sort of a SWAT team that can handle the stress of doing cop work, while the rest of the ones (that originally signed up for said cop work) could handle the paperwork, vandalism calls, car theft, taking statements, etc.
This way, they can still strut around, wearing their (in this case, unloaded) guns, talking trash, all the while remain safe, while the “Super Cops” could handle the violent stuff.
crossfire on October 26 at 10:18 a.m.
When I was in the Army in basic of ‘88 we were trained to “Kill,Kill,Kill”. It was driven into our heads every day. I wonder if that’s the same training the Spokane LEO’s go through?
Serioulsy though, this is one messed up system here.
If deaths by cop keeps going at the rate it is, pretty soon we’ll need to be yelling for a federal inquiry into our system.
lewis8457 on October 26 at 10:21 a.m.
valleyman then we get to hear from the cops how tough their jobs are and they are in danger every minute although cops never get killed in Spokane only citizens. 4 citizens in the last 2 moths and 1 cop in the last 30 years.
Boo-hoo we pay big money to a bunch of sissy marys.
misjustice on October 26 at 10:31 a.m.
@ disgusted; you point to important information. The cops already know if you have a “criminal” or court record before they respond to a call. They run your name through the computer base; just like they run the tags on your vehicle prior to pulling you over.
Ron_the_Cop on October 26 at 10:34 a.m.
If folks want real change then read my comment in the S-R’s Editorial endorsement of Frank Malone in for Spokane Co Prosecutor:
Editorial: Prosecutor’s office needs new leader: Malone
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/oct/26/editorial-prosecutors-office-needs-new-leader/
The S-R Editorial Board for once has made the right decision. Steve Tucker with is management style of being largely MIA definitely needs to go. Tucker’s been MIA one to many times.
“What is crucial in our community is the collective bar needs to be raised on how “officer involved shootings” (OIS) and/or critical incidents are investigated. The County Prosecutor is one of the key leaders in the law enforcement community that can advocate for this needed change and bring public transparency/accountability in these incidents.
The public is loosing it’s trust and confidence in its law enforcement community. . .”
soccermomsusie on October 26 at 10:39 a.m.
The picture of the man on the front page of the paper makes him look much older than 50. Anyway, he looks like a gentle soul.
HEAR OUR VOICE!!!
crossfire on October 26 at 10:54 a.m.
Malone has my vote.. Tucker has let the good ‘ole boy system flourish here. Time to give someone else a chance to bring back the dignity of the office.
Bob_Knows on October 26 at 11:01 a.m.
Sheriff Killovitch promises to “Protect” the people. Read his campaign for re-election or his budget proposals to the County Council. Its all about “protecting the people” of Spokane County.
But what we see is his murderous gang of gun thugs going around MURDERING the people. Here is a hint. Murdering the people is not the same as “protecting” the people.
How many cold blooded murders do we have to suffer before We the People demand that Killovitch and his gun thugs move somewhere else? How many dead will it take until the people learn that dying on the streets is not the kind of “protection” that they promised?
lewis8457 on October 26 at 11:25 a.m.
Ron the people have already lost heir faith in the police. SR should think about interviewing gun dealers in the valley to see if their business is up.
Ron what type of hand gun would you recommend for personal protection? I have a 22 but think maybe i better get into a bigger bore.
SpokaneLiberal on October 26 at 11:30 a.m.
I was reading about serial killers today. They often kill the weak or hidden in society (drug addicts, homeless, prostitutes, undocumented persons). Then when confronted with their atrocities they point out the failed existences of their victims. The serial killer points to those that he killed and details all of the things that they did wrong. But serial killers forget one thing. No person deserves to die. Even those that are an immediate threat don’t deserve to die (but some could say they have to die to preserve the life they threaten).
CMrocks on October 26 at 11:40 a.m.
The policy of the American government is to leave their citizens free, neither restraining nor aiding them in their pursuits. - Thomas Jefferson
The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. - Thomas Jefferson
“Laws that forbid the carrying of arms…disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes… Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.” -Thomas Jefferson
I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.-Thomas Jefferson
The reasons our communities have become unsafe are because of unconstitutional laws restricting the freedoms of the people. Al Capone would not be in business if the government would mind it’s own business. The only thing left is robbery. You can’t get mugged if you’re wearing your gun as the constitution intended. Cops can’t commit attrocities if there’s no crime and no need for soviet-style paramilitary police forces who think a gun and a badge gives them the moral authority to do whatever they want. Government would not have an iron grip on the people if the free press would do it’s job. It is not the job of the free press to trumpet governmnet. The job of the free press is to protect liberty by attacking government in all it’s mainifestations.
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. - Thomas Jefferson
The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.- Thomas Jefferson
When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.- Thomas Jefferson
An elective despotism was not the government we fought for.- Thomas Jefferson
God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion. The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions, it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty…. And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to the facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural (fertilizer). - Thomas Jefferson
When wrongs are pressed because it is believed they will be borne, resistance becomes morality.- Thomas Jefferson
valleyman on October 26 at 11:49 a.m.
Lewis,
Are you a citizen by birthright alone?
Citizenship is more than just a right, it’s a responsibility, a pact between the governing and governed. It is a ceding some authority to others and holding some authority dear and personal.
There are many difficult jobs in this country. Many people put their lives on the line daily who are not police officers.
Perhaps Spokane has few police deaths because Spokane has done a good job preparing its law enforcements officers to face threats.
You seem to imply that you won’t be happy until the number of “citizens” killed equals the number of police dead.
You, me, and many others, have asked either directly or through our implied consent as the citizens to have laws and have those laws enforced. This is not always a pleasant or happy experience, but it is necessary for the general order of any civil society.
terrymr on October 26 at 12:02 p.m.
Valleyman, Nobody is saying more cops should be killed - however current practice seems to be to transfer all of the risk of being killed onto the general public.
BitofBacon on October 26 at 12:02 p.m.
Lewis, I think whatever kind of gun you buy you should coat it with butter because if you ever pull it on someone it won’t hurt so much when they shove it up where the sun don’t shine.
valleyman on October 26 at 12:15 p.m.
@Terry MR, you must be new here. Welcome.
Lewis and several others do constantly imply the playing field needs to be leveled… Simply look at Lewis stating he needs a gun with a bigger bore…
So please, don’t tell me know one is saying more cops need to die.
MrNatural on October 26 at 12:55 p.m.
Mrs. Harris
My deepest sympathies to you and your family at this difficult time.
zelda on October 26 at 1:23 p.m.
Seems like blame is a centripedal force — spinning off in every direction. I don’t think it’s any one thing that is causing this rash of police shootings. I’ve said here previously that it could be a Poisson distribution (for those who want to dig into the statistics) or an accumulation of factors beginning with the Lakewood PD murders that must have sent a collective wave of anxiety across Washington PDs.
We’ve got a volatile mix of record unemployment, a housing crash, economic fear that hasn’t been encountered in most people’s lifetimes, a meth epidemic, horrific child abuse, nervous cops, etc. When Spokane civic leaders size things up, their cognitive dissonance goes into overdrive. They will publically minimize serious problems (because that’s not “business friendly”) and crank up the Mayberry machine. Denial is easier than stopping to think about whether this rash of violence is random or something else.
Mean streets, jumpy cops, scared citizens, desperate times.
MrNatural on October 26 at 1:36 p.m.
Well said ZK.
Navydad on October 26 at 1:53 p.m.
Zelda.. How dare you bring rational discourse into this discussion. I echo Mr natural’s comment. Well said.
de3 on October 26 at 2:08 p.m.
Zelda, might be more like a Black Swan event. Otherwise, you are right on the money as to what is going on.
DeCaYeD on October 26 at 2:50 p.m.
Does anybody know if the SPD has non lethal guns..bean bag guns or pepper spray cannons?
Orange on October 26 at 3:49 p.m.
You want justice for your brother being shot because he armed with a knife confronts a policemen and is shot in the process. Hmm sounds like it’s a Hillyard thing to have no responsibility for your actions. Yes, blame everyone else.
oh look Ron the MO Cop is back. I should find someone (else) to blame.
John_Fever_Richmond on October 26 at 4:46 p.m.
How can anyone have the nerve to call someone names after their death? This was someone’s son, brother, and loved one. I highly doubt if you knew ANY of those individuals whom you’re talking s**t about. Even as disgusted as I am with you, I hope your family members and loved ones NEVER have to hear someone speak of you when you’re gone in such a manner as you have spoken of the deceased here. Grow up and have some class you insincere p**cks.
See above post by SpokaneLiberal, he speaks some common sense!!!
HEAR ME SCREAM!!!
lewis8457 on October 26 at 5:17 p.m.
valleyman how dare you imply i would need a gun to kill a cop. I might need it to protect myself when i am too scared to call a cop. I don’t hate cops i hate the fact i have to be scared of them and at the same time i am helping pay their fat wages.
Ali want is due process for everyone, is that to damn much to ask?
Pull your head out for a change.
Sadbuttrue on October 26 at 5:54 p.m.
The simplest explanation is usually the correct one:
Spokane is a big magnet for bad cops who are attracted like flies to a turd by the nonexistent oversight and obsequious ankle-grabbing prosecutors and abundance of fascist leg-humping Orange County- bred police boosters, and jobs as part-time Dildo salesmen. Cops who screwed up bad somewhere else and come here like dirty-faced migrant workers fleeing the Dust Bowl for lush fruit picking jobs in the South.
Most of them flee from California, where bad cops are just too expensive to keep around, given the severe liability issues they cause already-bankrupt governmental entities. They can safely patrol here, pretending they are Al Pacino in “Heat,” only with no racial minorities or real gangs to lose sleep over, safely acting out their lurid pre-pubescent fantasies of “Cops and Robbers.”
Simple enough?
zelda on October 26 at 6:27 p.m.
KXLY is reporting that Dodd considered “suicide by cop” in July. He had attempted suicide by lying on the RR tracks at Mission & Perry, but the conductor was able to stop in time.
He later confided to police that he had thought about “suicide by cop,” according to the report.
http://www.kxly.com/news/25527422/detail.html
D Statler on October 26 at 6:39 p.m.
Now as in the Creach shooting and all the rest of them.Spokane police and Sheriffs release info trying to paint the victims as villians.I am utterly disgusted that some of you are so deeply entrenched with these police officers that you can’t see a simple pattern that has developed.
I believe we are lucky not to have a doughnut shop experience here too. Family is a strange thing. Blood is thicker than the water running under these cops’ bridges. I don’t want to ever hear or see it,but the people left behind will eventually take justice into their own hands.Nobody else is stepping in to help them.
There are alot of quotes from the founder of our constitution being posted up that directly relate to the SPD and Sheriffs offices.This heavy handed behavior needs to stop NOW!
charlee on October 26 at 8:18 p.m.
It is sad, for the family and all involved.
But the fact remains, he was a career criminal and an accident waiting to happen. I’m just glad it wasn’t with me and my family.
By the sounds of it the landlady was lucky as well.
The street is no place for somebody in this positition and at risk.
There was no protection for the public.
These are sad stories.
lewis8457 on October 26 at 11:34 p.m.
It is a sad world where the meek are not allowed to be. instead they can be killed because they have something wrong with them. And then they need to be chastised in front of the masses so the police can feel proud for killing them. A sad world indeed.
superwoman1 on October 27 at 3:59 a.m.
2 main points here-1)Seems after the awful killing of 4 Lakewood Officers(west side), police have been more aware(or how ever you want to put it) of their safety-makes perfect sense. However, it seems to me, maybe they are a little too quick to “go for the gun” instead of other options. Then again, I am not, and have never been, nor want to ever be a cop-so I don’t know that feeling of “imminent danger” 2) Due to a big part of the continual “cuts” in Mental Health Services, and other critical areas-alot of folks that need to be in long term “lock up, or restricted environment, are cut lose. EIther because they need more room for more critical cases, or they simply have no “beds” available. This has been brought up several times, but seems the “powers at be”, as well as general public-well-Mental Health is at the bottom of their lists,as well as funding for elderly,kids with disabilities,etc. In my opinion, changes need to be made in all above areas-and soon. If not, be prepared to see more and more of these scenarios.
Ron_the_Cop on October 27 at 5:25 a.m.
As I replied to Jeff and Arlicane over at Community Comment this might be useful here:
http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/commcomm/2010/oct/25/officer-involved-shooting/#c210703
“Actually I can agree with both of your points. I too have gone through combat firearms training many a time (No I know this isn’t a war zone). Our range had moving targets at different distances with “friendlies” mixed in. At times the rangemaster would introduce something to increase the stress factor - running, timer running, firecrackers behind you, nite simulation, injured strong hand requiring weak hand shooting, dummy load to jam gun - had to clear jam rerack slide with foot if arm injured et al.
Sometimes we used simminitions (sp) and a video screen re different scenarios. Every now and then we had a training trailer that would arrive. This one had plastic bullets that would fire back at you. If you left a knee or shoulder out from cover it would leave a welt. Look we did not train to shoot for arm/leg, you shot for center mass and head. The ultimate goal was to develop critical skills to shoot the bad guys and not the friendlies.
In this latest shooting we don’t know the facts yet. What was the distance, what was the attitude/demeanor of the subject, was he charging the officer, did the officer receive information that the subject was armed - with a gun. What kind of knife was this? Could this have been mistaken as a gun?
If the subject was not presenting an immediate threat to the officer or others then of course less-than lethal should have been considered whether it be a shotgun deployed bean bag or Taser. Did they even have this other equipment available or did they have time to deploy it. Was the subject just sitting or was he running. Was there a possibility he would flee into a nearby house causing a hostage situation. These things are never as easy as others seem to think. These are the things that would be going through my mind. These are real situations that all happened at my agency at one time or another.
I do know officers at my agency that were stabbed seriously because they let someone get too close. As for guns we lost six officers during my thirty-five year career at Riverside PD, CA. We had two separate ambush type shootings where we lost two officers each. I happened to be the first responding officer to the last one with Officers Dennis Doty and Phil Trust.”
See the RPD Memorial page:
http://web.mac.com/rpdremembers/RPD_Remembers/Memorial.html
Ron_the_Cop on October 27 at 5:31 a.m.
Kath Herre,
You points are well taken. As I said earlier on in the other thread:
“Yes, unfortunately, many who encounter the police may have mental issues. The question is are they adequately trained and equipped to deal with this. Should we or can we expect more based on LE’s shrinking resources.
Look we defunded a lot of mental health resources and unfortunately LE has had to suck up the gap. I would venture to guess a significant percentage of the local jail population is comprised of people with mental issues that haven’t been identified or appropriately dealt with. LE is taking a bum rap for servicing this population when they in fact don’t have the resources to deal with it. Think homeless and our usual response re vagrancy and expect the police to deal with it.
Just saying.”
Orange on October 27 at 6:25 a.m.
Ron, shhhh. they get it.
Sadbuttrue on October 27 at 7:33 a.m.
We do not have adequate facilities and treatment for the mentally ill because we spend all of our money on bigger prisons and more cops, far more than any other country in the free world and eclipsing even some police states.
You guys have it exactly backwards. The Cops demand and get bigger and more expensive prisons so that they can lock up ever more mentally ill people. This just didn’t happen by accident.
Ron_the_Cop on October 27 at 9:31 a.m.
Sadbuttrue,
I think I’ve said I tend to agree with you on this point re a prison/industrial complex. We could definitely do things much smarter at a cheaper cost to the taxpayers while keeping the public safe.
The key is to target those 8% - 10% of the criminal population that prey upon the public and are a significant threat. These are the ones that our scarce police resources need to be targeted at.
valleyman on October 27 at 12:56 p.m.
Lewis,
The meek don’t arm themselves and confront people in the dark of night.
The meek don’t walk down Progress in the dark of night armed with knives after assaulting those they live with.
I’m sorry, but your comments don’t come off as you not hating the police.
Sadbuttrue on October 27 at 1:32 p.m.
Ron,
It just so happens that the “8 to 10” percent of the criminal population that preys on the public are one and the same ones that commit crimes that have been recognized under the law since Elizabethan times. Under the common law, there were only a handful of Felonies that everybody recognized as being beyond the pall, and merited either execution or imprisonment: Murder, burglary, larceny, rape, robbery, arson and so on, stuff that everyone since time immemorial agreed harmed other people and agreed that is what prisons were made for.
Now we have phone book-sized law on just non-violent drug crimes. And the law-enforcement/prison/industrial complex constantly lobbies for ever more activity to be criminalized. No wonder we have no money or resources left to treat the mentally ill, instead of shooting them like we do now!
Moreover, the law enforcement/”get tough on crime” lobbies have lobbied for and won the repeal or severe circumscription of classic “mental defect” defenses. Right after John Hinkley shot President Reagan, law enforcement went into a molten frenzy to imprison people instead of hospitalizing the mentally ill, since cops regarded Hinkley’s acquittal by reason of insanity as a travesty of justice. Now, convicted mentally ill people are sent to prison for a fixed term (where they will eventually be paroled with no treatment) of years instead of a potential endless lifetime of treatment in a mental hospital when they are acquitted by reason of insanity. So whenever I hear about law enforcement whine about how they are unequipped to deal with the mentally ill of society, I wonder if they are being facetious.
Hinkley is still in a secure mental hospital 30 years later. Now, he would have spent maybe 10 years in prison under the new “get tough on crime” “build ‘em and we will fill ‘em” law-enforcement-oriented regime and be wandering on the streets with untreated mentally illness
saveyourtatas on October 27 at 7:12 p.m.
You know what I heard at coffee this morning? A few people next to me were talking about how the cops deserve what is coming, as if there were some devious plan to assault the cops where they live, where they drink beer and coffee, as if FORZA was a good thing. 4 Cops killed for no good reason? (or?)
That is frightening.
But I can understand the frustration at the Police Guild. They defend cops no matter how scuzzy (Hirzel) they are with their garage full of pornographic “toys” for sale on the internet. The guild backs up cops similar to the scuzzy teachers unions that back any slimebucket that has “tenure”.
Karma?
Ron_the_Cop on October 28 at 11:51 a.m.
NO-BS,
Yes your right to some degree. If the caller has the info on the involved subject, the dispatcher MAY run a history and advise the officers enroute to the call. As you say this is not always the case.
misjustice on October 28 at 6:04 p.m.
Not always the case but it is done. I’m not saying that it is necessarily a bad thing. Cops need to know who/what they’re rolling up on whenever possible.
D Statler on October 30 at 8:43 a.m.
MR.John Barrister, A career criminal has pages of offenses,NOT 19 lines ! You are completely misinformed. The truth of what really happened on that dark corner will come out. Neighbors around the area did’t hear anything but three shots.Contrary to police story.There are alot of discrepancys in the police story that will come out later. Did I mention that this cop shooter OLSEN is family to the SHONTO PETE cop shooter OLSEN that was running wildly thru town shooting his weapon.This is looking like a pattern or family tradition. Please don’t believe all that is spoon fed to you in official releases. I hope there is still some money left in the misappropriated funds account at the SPD to offset the pending lawsuits in our future.
D Statler on October 30 at 8:44 a.m.
Where is the website for the sextoys anyways? LOL
disgusted on October 31 at 2:20 p.m.
It just doesn’t matter what the circumstances surrounding this shooting was 20ft, 8ft, 4ft, shoot me, shoot me it doesn’t matter it’s just publicity smoke to win public favor of a unjustifiable homicide in hopes to build a biased jury
I don’t think jurors this time are going to be convinced this person could possibly be a threat to anyone with his little killer assault rock
Fact is TWO of the valleys finest officers 200lb each (or about) had to shoot to kill a 100lb 50 year old in poor health with a rock!
Nope this one does not look remotely justifiable at ALL unless
due to budget short falls the sheriff’s department can only afford deputies from Mayberry or the citizen himself had 60 round clips for the rock. If not one of the two then it’s just another lawless execution in the streets of Spokane
• This is actually a scary situation all our lives depends on weather or not if we are liked by the Spokane Taliban
Elloki on November 01 at 3:08 p.m.
Just imagine, if people would put down your gun or knife when the police tell you to - you’d be home! I feel bad for the officer who has to deal with this for the rest of his life, but that was the decision made by the bad guy. It’s simple folks - drop your weapons when the police tell you, is that so hard? If your going to approach a police officer with a gun in hand or knife, expect him to respond accordingly, you’re an idiot of you don’t.