September 5, 2010 in City

Doug Clark: Ozzie out of character on this one

Doug Clark The Spokesman-Review

Tags:Brian HirzelGreenacres Baptist ChurchJoseph Mastelofficer shootingOzzie KnezovichSpokane County Sheriff’s OfficeSpokane Valley Police DepartmentWayne Scott Creach

40 comments on this story. Comments are now closed.

ChefGus/ John Olsen on September 05 at 6:23 a.m.
Doug, I too am an ardent supporter of Sheriff Ozzie… Have been and still am… but this episode of his being the “Front” on this event points more to a lack of leadership which you and I have both been critical of on the part of our Spokane Chief of Police… you know the one that called the citizens of Spokane “Weenies” at a downtown businessman’s meeting in public?
Leopards don’t change their spots… and so I am trying to be patient to get the information on this one… Sheriff Ozzie is no dummy, and he is a stand up guy… my guess is he is dotting every I and crossing every T to make sure that this case does not fall through some “union/guild” crack into the Zehm abyss… The Public Relations on this has been a nightmare of Keystone Cops proportion. John
Albert on September 05 at 7:59 a.m.
Good morning Doug, as always, you have the ability and gift to cut to the proverbial core. I appreciate the “facts” as clearly disclosed. Unfortunately I must disagree with you on the Sheriff, whom I have previously supported to include financial support of his campaign. I have come to the absolute conclusion that when the “chips are down” and a decision must me made in a massive - and fatal - error such as this case, the Sheriff “changed his spots” as the Chef noted. I would hope that Mark Sterk would come forward and begin a “write in” campaign against the current Sheriff. This deputy should have NEVER been hired based upon his track record, i.e. 2 lawsuits (as disclosed in the SR reports) and perhaps even more that were not reported. His previous employer, i.e. Cathedral City is a suburb of Palm Springs, CA - a very laid back and small town environment. The fact that he faced 2 lawsuits is a major “head’s up”. To transfer in from Idaho wherein the training and supervision is marginal, is another warning, but not a severe as the lawsuits from Calif.
The Sheriff did not take command of this disaster and allowed his employee and the respective union, to dictate what they were going to do. Not acceptable.
Doug as noted, I respect your professionalism and your opinion. I do however disagree with your support of the Sheriff - he needs to go.
lewis8457 on September 05 at 8:01 a.m.
I do not agree I was a Ozzie supporter not anymore. If he is so stand up why has he lied time and time again? First he said Hirzel will talk in 48 hours then he will talk in 72 hours then at the 164 hour mark Ozzie tells us he let Hirzel go on vacation.
In the mean time the Creach family has no idea what happened other then the fact they had to bury their father. and cops were at the funeral talk about a kick in gut.
we have not learned the lesson karl thompson taught us. have a priest on hand at all news conferences, before any statements are made the person to be interviewed must swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
and if they lie god can smack them dead, bit of advice wear a rubber helmet to all cop interviews
chefxh on September 05 at 8:08 a.m.
Raising this question: “Or was this yet another case of police excess and overreaction?” is not exactly keeping a cool head — more like stoking public opinion before the facts are known. FWIW I agree that the deputy should have had to put off his vacation.
soccermomsusie on September 05 at 8:13 a.m.
Doug, As you know I stand with you in support of Ozzie, I also find it heartening that you are willing to support him in these tough times, while others flee.
I know I have been one to talk about the wrongness of this sort of thing, especially among the Keebler Elves, but I have to admit you may be bringing me around.
Such steadfast love, one that is felt and expressed so eloquently, even if that love is not returned, is a beautiful gem on this autumnal morning. I don’t care who expresses it.
To quote, “I also think he needs to stop listening to the many voices around him and trust his own sense of what’s right and what’s wrong.
That’s the leader who won me over four years ago.”
I was moved. I’ve been there. I’ve said that and sometimes I was right. Sometimes, I was wrong. No matter - I always said it with love.
HEAR OUR VOICE!!!
D Statler on September 05 at 8:42 a.m.
I too believe Ozzie needs to listen to his heart and conscience.The so-called little voices you describe should be coming from us,the voters that voted for him. I am very disappointed in the way this last issue has been handled from the start.Then to release a statement saying his family members requested a police presence. A call to the police about stolen fire extinguishers is what any home owner/buisness owner would do.This looked like a really cheap shot at the intelligence level of Spokanites.Trying to put a cover on the real issue here.
I too,do not or have not, the ability to run the Sheriff’s office.That is why I voted for Ozzie. I can only hope he reads this and other statements from us and adjusts his future responses to these incidents at hand.I am more affraid of our police force than the criminals they protect us from.
bszottlinger on September 05 at 8:42 a.m.
ChefGus:
Isn’t Joseph Mastel the officer the Sheriff tried to fire but the officer appealed to the Civil Service Commission and they overturned the firing ordering reinstatement. The Sheriff was then forced to appeal the Civil Service Commission ruling to Superior Court and the Court ruled the Civil Service Commission was within their scope of authority to order the reinstatement.
In other words he lost that one, so I am with you, I bet he is doing a lot of dotting and crossing on this one.
Brad
de3 on September 05 at 9:07 a.m.
Keystone Cops is the only way to describe the blunders made this past week in misleading the public.
48 hour mandate? That was fiction. There is no such mandate.
Deputy Vegas was off on vacation. We misled the public on that too.
LEOs should not be interviewed for 48 to 72 hours after critical incidents to “enhance their recall”. If true, shouldn’t that apply to all other participants and witnesses?
And oh, by the way, we actually did question Deputy Vegas the night of the shooting. Sorry about misleading you on that too!
The Creach family said they knew that Deputy Hirzel was going through his own grief process and had sympathy for him … yes,Hirzel was grieving by gambling in Las Vegas.
I have no idea what happened in the parking lot and I’m not making any guesses.
But law enforcement has displayed disrespect for the family of the victim and for the public this week by their unnecessary dishonest behavior. I have no idea how they might restore some trust; they’ve lost mine.
de3 on September 05 at 9:11 a.m.
Deputy Joseph Mastel’s firing after flashing a barista was overturned.
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/apr/22/flashing-incident-prompts-commission-change/
Scoutster on September 05 at 9:26 a.m.
Sorry, Brad, but comparing indecent exposure with an un-witnessed killing is apples to oranges.
I lost confidence in Ozzie during “The Ozzie Show”, the reality show last year where a mentally ill man walked away from the county fair, and Ozzie FED the public’s worst fears instead of talking rationally about proportion and likely outcomes. And, God, how he loved the microphones!
Before that, I thought he was a stand up guy. Now, I believe it is all about self-interest. Too bad for him, events have overtaken his ability to manage them.
soccermomsusie on September 05 at 10:19 a.m.
I wish everyone would leave Ozzie and Doug Clark alone!!
Let Ozzie fire anyone he wants. Doug always tells us exactly the truth as he wants us to see it. OK? That’s called journalism today. In case you forgot, “nuances” are another word for “socialisms.”
If Doug says fire him, that should hold up in any jurisdiction. Who cares if the civil service reinstates somebody or that Doug only told one side of a story. That’s his job and Ozzie gets to look good.
DEAL WITH IT PEOPLE!!! It’s called a “relationship.” Maybe the rest of you should get one and not be so jealous of Ozzie and Doug’s. It’s 2010 OK?
Doug and Ozzie - TEA PARTY STRONG FOR TOMORROW!!
HEAR OUR VOICE!!!!
bszottlinger on September 05 at 11:09 a.m.
Scoutster:
I wasn’t trying to draw a comparison, there isn’t one. My only point is, can you imagine the stink if this investigation is screwed up, covered up, and whatever else, like the Zehm case. There is no question that the Sheriff and the Chief need lessons in victim and media management. The prosecutor doesn’t need lessons because he doesn’t talk. I will be one of the first to jump right in if this thing is screwed up. But until the facts come out there is no way of telling, so I am “lying in wait”.
I guess I’m the only one that understands why allowing the vacation MAY have been a good move. When information as to the type of interview conducted is public, I may be supportive of the vacation move and then again I may not be. There is no reason that I can think of why the spokesperson for this thing, whoever that might be, can not describe the type of interview that was conducted and some of the reasons for conducting that type of interview. There are very, very few people posting here that have a clue about how these type of incidents MUST be investigated. I have been unable to locate in the public record a copy of this so called “Critical Incident Protocol”. Wouldn’t you like to know what it says, to see if it offers any explanation as to how they are proceeding?
Right know you have a City Police Chief who looks to be in way over her head. You have a Sheriff who seems like a nice guy trying to do right, but not knowing how to handle the critical victim/media areas of major incidents. You have a prosecutor who appears not to want to take the lead in this case, like he should, because he knows he will have to take some heat, no matter what he decides, close to election. You have civic leaders who have continually refused to step forward and take control of situations they were elected to monitor and correct if necessary. You have studies that were conducted critical of the Zehm investigation, with no public explanation of the steps taken to correct the deficiencies, and now that agency, apparently is the lead investigative agency in this case. You have a media that should be sticking their nose in as far as they can, but apparently either haven’t asked or don’t care whether the Zehm Detectives are in any way involved in this case (just one example). Something a cub reporter could figure out just by seeing who responded to the scene. You apparently have a majority of the citizenry who could care less. You have the Peace and Justice League, which is apparently the only half way organized group around here, sitting on their duffs when they should be attempting to have the Governor appoint a Special Prosecutor to empanel a grand jury to investigate the mess around here. You have people who honestly believe trespass is an issue in the criminal investigation when it is not. You have people that don’t understand Garrity, Miranda, and a multitude of other cases that apply here. Do I understand the frustration expressed on this board? Damn right I do, but I’m at least willing to wait and see what the story is.
How is my perseverance doing?
Brad
Scoutster on September 05 at 11:30 a.m.
Brad,
Pour a scotch, light up a Havana (or a Humboldt), and remember we are all ignoramuses (ignorami?) on here, at one level or another.
bszottlinger on September 05 at 11:38 a.m.
Scoutster:
One of the most profound posts I’ve read. I’ll take your advice.
Brad
Bob_Knows on September 05 at 2:48 p.m.
Killer cops killing people to protect themselves is the opposite of their excuse for existence in our communities. They promise to be protecting the people, but they are protecting themselves by killing the people. That is not why they are allowed to exist. We do not need to pay taxes to hire a gang of gun thugs to kill us for their own protection. …
There is something VERY WRONG with those who say that killing the people to protect the gun thugs is “justified.” We are not so dumb that we cannot see what they are doing. If they cannot or will not protect the people instead of killing the people then we do not want them in our communities.
It should be plain to anyone that many good men would be “PROTECTED” and alive if we the people took their badges and ran them out of town. Pastor creach is only the most recent Spokane example. Who will be next?
Cheezwhiz on September 05 at 3:08 p.m.
Can anyone give me one reason that anyone involved in this would have to tell any part of the truth? What facts do you think you will get? If any Police Department tells anything that would point to their negligence, then it will be evidence for criminal charges, a civil suit, and precedence to civil suits in the future. Just what would be their motivation for telling any part of the truth, or giving any facts? As it stands, the public knows nothing and has no access to anything, so the truth will be based on the small amount of information available from Imogene and press releases. Evidence is relative at this point. It can be lost and created. All eyewitness accounts are hearsay and can be discredited. The people in control have everything to lose from evidence and facts. If I had everything to lose, and I was in control of my destiny, I’m not sure I would be honest in any way. No reason to be, other than the punishment after I die. I wonder if God will judge more harshly for murdering a preacher….
Cheezwhiz on September 05 at 3:14 p.m.
By eyewitness accounts, I mean the noises Imogene heard and what was seen after. Just so no one attacks me on that. The only evidence I would consider to be valid, would be audio and video from the dash cam, but I’m sure the camera / audio wasn’t turned on. If it was, I’m sure it is destroyed by now. They have had plenty of time to edit the audio and video as well. Well then, I guess I don’t trust anything now. How can you?
zelda on September 05 at 3:22 p.m.
Firing Mastel for exposing himself to a barista doesn’t earn Ozzie a profile in courage award. It was a no-brainer. The fact that the firing was overturned just underscores what a Byzantine process it is to terminate a union employee.
I’ve never been to Cathedral City, but from what I’ve read it sounds like it’s the town where the workers live who provide services to the wealthy residents of Palm Springs. Poor and predominently Hispanic.
This is from Wikipedia — “Since the 1970s, Cathedral City had economic and crime problems. From 1990 the murder rate has gone up to 80% from now 2010. Gangs are becoming an epidemic.”
Look, I have nothing against people wanting to get out of Riverside County, but I’ve got to wonder what being a cop in Riverside County does to a person. At the very least, I bet it would make you kind of jumpy.
lucs on September 05 at 3:36 p.m.
Eyewitnesses, plural. No way. There is one and only one witness, singular. The guy who did the shooting, the other witness is dead.
I don’t see the impetus here for an honest, fact-finding investigation.
Why isn’t the media doing a little digging on Hirzel’s employment record in Cali and Idaho?
carisa021 on September 05 at 3:50 p.m.
Ozzie needs to use this unfortunate incident to educate gun owners about their rights and responsibilities. We can rehash who saw what, and when, and how, but the bottom line is that Mr. Creach brandished his weapon, vigilante-style. This escalated the situation into kill-or-be-killed.
I’m certain this was not his intention. But since everyone’s got a gun now, citizens need a do’s and don’ts guideline. For example, don’t point a weapon at anyone outside. Even on private property. Call the police if you see a problem. However, you are within your right to use your weapon inside your home if you are faced with an intruder.
The level of misunderstanding is staggering and it is tearing apart the city. Folks need to know about basic rules of engagement so they can comprehend what happened here, so it doesn’t happen again, and to foster some goodwill for those that risk their lives to protect and serve…
zelda on September 05 at 3:50 p.m.
KXLY’s Jeff Humphrey just reported this —
Deputy drew baton before gun in fatal shooting
Posted: 3:23 pm PDT September 5, 2010
SPOKANE — A Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy who shot and killed a valley businessman last month tried using both verbal commands and a baton to diffuse the situation before drawing his own pistol and firing a single, fatal shot.
Law enforcement sources and police reports also indicate that the victim, 74-year-old Scott Creach, had a history of taking the law into his own hands.
more at http://www.kxly.com/news/24892669/detail.html
Cheezwhiz on September 05 at 4:06 p.m.
Regarding KXLY report….. Of course, the good preacher just went nuts. The cop tried everything he had available and was forced to use his pistol as a last and unfortunate resort. The preacher has been exposed as having a violent history. The lies are starting and we have to believe them, since we are at their mercy. Did I not tell you that this would happen? Didn’t several people tell you? The truth will not be true. The facts will be fabrications. The police will cover themselves. What in the world would make anyone believe that Mr. Creach would just snap like that? He didn’t, but you will accept it as truth.
Cheezwhiz on September 05 at 4:12 p.m.
What kind of truck has a trunk? Never seen one of those before.
misjustice on September 05 at 4:40 p.m.
Very convenient that the “history” of Mr. Creach “taking the law into his own hands” has become known.
How about the “history” of Deputy Vegas? Most likely, less convenient and not forthcoming.
zelda on September 05 at 4:46 p.m.
What’s next? “Diabetic delirium”?
lucs on September 05 at 4:52 p.m.
And so it begins.
I wonder if the gun incident with the bicycle guy was in the original arrest report or a bit of prodding took place after the recent event.
misjustice on September 05 at 4:58 p.m.
After the “investigation” is complete, it will be concluded that Deputy Vegas was justified in the homicide of Mr. Creach. Case closed.
I still find the timeline troubling, especially with the added information of the drawn baton and alleged verbal commands.
zelda on September 05 at 5:18 p.m.
The deputy’s story only needs to be plausible. Doesn’t necessarily mean it’s true.
We still haven’t read much if anything about the physical evidence, what he said to the other cops and first responders.
lucs on September 05 at 5:30 p.m.
Where did KXLY get this information? On a Sunday to boot.
Hirzel watched Creach approach from 30 feet with a gun in his hand. At 2 feet from his car door, he goes after an armed man with his baton. Ummm, sure thing.
This whole investigation is like those pictures–-the one’s with a cow with 5 legs floating in a purple sky–the caption underneath reads: “what is wrong with this picture?”
bszottlinger on September 05 at 5:35 p.m.
Zelda:
Right on! It sure is nice that we aren’t in Maryland…boy would folks be upset.
I wonder who Mr. Humphrey’s source is, and if it is the same source that said a polygraph was an option.
Brad
zelda on September 05 at 5:48 p.m.
Humphrey didn’t name his source(s). I’m going to watch the 6 o’clock broadcast to see if he’s updated the story or attributes the new information. I tuned in a 5 p.m., but the broadcast wan’t on. Apparently he filed the story to the website before broadcasting it first. There’s some aggressive reporting happening and evidently some motivated sources.
zelda on September 05 at 6:30 p.m.
Colleen O’Brien did the live stand-up outside the Public Safety Building at 6 p.m. She pretty much recited what was in Humphrey’s report, then referred people to the KXLY website for more info.
So do we refer to this as a leak or info coming from anonymous sources?
lucs on September 05 at 6:44 p.m.
Zelda
Call it a leak if you like. It’s more like a PR campaign. It’s not too
difficult to guess the source. KXLY is the only station with that info also.
I’d still like to know a bit more about Hirzel.
zelda on September 05 at 7:16 p.m.
It could be an orchestrated PR campaign, Lucs. When I looked up Cathedral City a few days ago on Wikipedia, I could have sworn that info. about the high crime rate wasn’t there. But when I looked again today, there it was and I kind of raised an eyebrow because if it had been there when I first looked I would have taken notice.
But then again, sometimes memory is hazy. Ask again later.
Somebody with better computer skills and ability to check cached info on search engines might be able to tell if it was added within the past few days.
misjustice on September 05 at 7:36 p.m.
Wikipedia can be edited/updated by almost anyone.
addyh on September 05 at 8:32 p.m.
We just posted a story on the baton strike. Both the sheriff and Mr. Creach’s son have confirmed that the deputy says he struck Wayne Scott Creach with a baton. Story is here: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/sep/05/deputy-says-he-struck-pastor-baton/
zelda on September 05 at 9:06 p.m.
Can a bruise could form if the baton blow was made seconds before a lethal gunshot. I’m no medical expert, but I wonder…
BTW, good work by S-R and KXLY in keeping this news at eye level and active over the Labor Day weekend.
bszottlinger on September 05 at 10:14 p.m.
Zelda:
If there were any marks or bruising the ME may be able to tell with a reasonable degree of medical certainty whether any bruising or markings were anti or post mortem. The new story indicates that there were no marks on the victims legs consistent with a baton strike which is supposedly contrary to Hirzel’s statement.
The information regarding this type of finding during the autopsy should not have been made public it hurts the investigation
Brad
D Statler on September 05 at 10:23 p.m.
COMMON OZZIE, Listen to your little voices here. Please do the right thing and tell the truth. Your orchestrated press releases make the Sheriffs office appear even more corrupt. Where are our COUNTY COMMISSIONERS and other elected officials? We elected you to make sure this kind of behavior doesn’t happen in Spokane. If you bury your heads in the sand.Nothing will ever change. The gang task force is obviously looking in the wrong place. I view the Sheriffs and SPD as a hostile force in Spokane instead of PEACE OFFICERS for the people. The inmates locked up in Spokane County Jail would be a safer bet.Probably cost us alot less and excercise better judgment.November elections are coming. I will be voting for myself for Sheriff. I will NOT be voting for STEVE TUCKER again either! :^(
addyh on September 05 at 11:52 p.m.
I am shutting down comments on this story. Thanks for reading.
Addy Hatch