Shooting probe suspect

This is not a speculation on what happened the night the deputy killed the preacher but a concern over the investigation procedure.

As reported, since a Spokane County law enforcement officer was involved, the city of Spokane police will investigate. Of course, if next week a Spokane policeman is involved in a shooting, Spokane County will investigate. This seems a little too buddy-buddy to me. This reciprocal investigation procedure does cast some doubt as to its credibility.

The protocol (union agreement) of not interviewing the officer for at least 48 hours has had some to suggest that this is a union-negotiated rule to allow the officer and his superiors to review the incident and devise the best possible explanation to go along with the evidence from the scene – the scene that they controlled. That time period would also be very valuable to get the story straight and rehearsed so that when the officer is finally interviewed he has had ample time to prepare.

I am not suggesting this is what is happening here. I am just saying the whole process is suspect and I would think has limited credibility with the voters.

Ronald Garrett

Spokane