Spokane7
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April 20, 2011 in City
Chief says time here nearing end
Kirkpatrick sticking with five-year plan
When Anne Kirkpatrick was interviewed to be Spokane’s police chief, she was asked how long the city could expect her to stay.
Her answer was frank: about five years.
Nearly five years later, that position hasn’t changed. Kirkpatrick confirmed Tuesday that she has suggested Mayor Mary Verner start thinking about finding a replacement. Kirkpatrick, however, stressed that she hasn’t picked a departure date and would be open to serving during a transition “if I’m in the good graces of the city, the department and the community.
“We need to start looking at 2012 and beyond,” Kirkpatrick said. “I plan to run hard through the finish line, wherever it is.”
Kirkpatrick, 51, will mark her fifth year as chief in September, though she likely will serve beyond her anniversary date.
“I don’t think change agents can be 10-year veterans,” Kirkpatrick said.
The news doesn’t surprise many at City Hall. Kirkpatrick has applied for openings in Seattle and San Francisco in recent years.
“It’s not a secret, but it’s not like she’s announced it,” said Officer Jennifer DeRuwe, the department’s spokeswoman. “She has told the department and the city throughout the years, ‘I’m a five-year chief.’ ”
City Administrator Ted Danek said Kirkpatrick continues to enjoy the support of city leadership.
“The mayor and I are aware in a generic sense of her plan, but not down to the specifics. What we’re talking about is the chief’s life plans,” Danek said. “I wish she would never leave.”
Kirkpatrick said she doesn’t “have any job offers in front of me.”
After a nationwide search, then-Mayor Dennis Hession picked Kirkpatrick in 2006 as the first woman to serve as Spokane’s chief. She has enjoyed strong support from elected leaders who credit her for working to improve the credibility of the force. But the relationship between her and Spokane Police Guild leaders in recent years has gone from prickly to hostile.
“She’s definitely tried to bring more accountability to the force and to hold officers’ feet to the fire,” said Councilman Bob Apple. “She’s been a fine leader and I think it’s been tough for her because of the budget-cutting and trying to make the best out of an extremely bad budget situation.”
Guild President Ernie Wuthrich declined to comment on the possibility of Kirkpatrick leaving. Last year, the majority of guild members who cast ballots supported a no-confidence resolution against Kirkpatrick and Assistant Chief Jim Nicks. Guild leaders at first announced that a majority of its members voted for the resolution – a claim that proved to be false. Kirkpatrick denounced union leaders as purposely trying to derail her application to become Seattle’s chief.
Kirkpatrick, who holds a law degree from Seattle University, came to Spokane from Federal Way, where she was picked as chief in 2001. Before that, she was the police chief in Ellensburg.
In her first year on the job in Spokane she fired a rookie officer for violating what Kirkpatrick called her cardinal rule: “If you lie, you die.”
She’s issued several other high-profile disciplinary actions since.
She also has backed some officers accused of wrongdoing.
Kirkpatrick came to Spokane soon after the controversial in-custody death of Otto Zehm. Kirkpatrick has defended the officers involved in the incident, including Officer Karl F. Thompson Jr.
“Based on all the information and evidence I have reviewed, I have determined that Officer Karl Thompson acted consistent with the law,” she said in 2009.
Federal prosecutors, however, disagreed; later in 2009 Thompson was charged with violating the civil rights of Zehm, a mentally ill Spokane man who worked as a janitor, and for lying about the confrontation.
Closing Geiger: Wise or worrisome? 
lewis8457 on April 20 at 6:44 a.m.
good riddance
Orphan on April 20 at 7:01 a.m.
Another chance to fix the SPD, lets not blow it.
Albert on April 20 at 7:08 a.m.
PLEASE! Leave Now!!!
toliveanddieinla on April 20 at 7:19 a.m.
bye please leave now if you are not going to protect people instead of killing them ss but otto zehm was killed by police officers and they lied you back him up your a killer to so please dont try to lie to me or other spokane residents i can name other incidents that happen jay olsen , pastor getting killed on private property etc. i can go on and on clean up the corrupt police and lying and ill be happy spokane can be safe p.s. have a nice day
DickAdams on April 20 at 7:48 a.m.
Let the door hit your back side. Take the liar, Nicks with you.
D Statler on April 20 at 8:12 a.m.
Dear Chief, You can’t leave unless you take the corrupt Police Guild with you. Please let Steve Tucker drive the short bus out of Spokane for you too please. I and most others here understand if you only have lemons to work with.You will only have lemonade at best when you get done. Your efforts to bring credibility seemed to fall short. Your saying should have been: “we lie and you die”. Would have been closer to the mark. Spokane and Spokane Valley Police act above the law instead of shining examples of the law. Real change is accomplished when real changes are made.Thanks Chief for your 5 years of service.Spokane’s Police have a history of corruption and a new heavy handedness.This will take real leadership to change! Best Wishes for you and the people of Spokane!
DickAdams on April 20 at 8:27 a.m.
If the Chief had her way, she`d have been gone a few years ago. Kirkpatrick, tried to fly the coop submitting applications to other cities.
JayNW on April 20 at 8:41 a.m.
fyi, The Creech shooting was in the valley, but the county Sherrif deputy. Kirkpatrick has nothing to do with that.
Kirkpatrick did attempt to discipline Olsen, however violated union labor rules- iirc. Also He was charged by the prosecutor but the Jury aqcuitted him- something the chief has nothing to do with.
Carry on with the hatred now.
hawken on April 20 at 9:16 a.m.
I am so tired of the word “hate,” “hatred”, “hatemongers.” It is nothing more than an inflammatory term used so frequently, that it no longer has any value as a word.
Predominately, “hate” is used as an adjective, in a retort, against others whom simply disagree with the view of the user of “hate.”
The modern day usage of “hate,” in all of it’s forms, virtually always, identifies the user as one from the far left.
The chief’s welcomed departure has nothing to do with hate.
What’s amazing to me is that while the chief is so disliked by the community, based upon many good reasons, she apparently has strong support from the Mayor and Council.
I agree. Good riddance. Leave now.
eagleproducer on April 20 at 9:35 a.m.
The 17 year old running start student known as Hawken trots out his “hate” definition that alarmingly sounds a lot like his “liar” definition.
The only problem with Kirkpatrick’s departure is that the SPD won’t be able to recycle her uniforms for future use.
Unless they hire a Munchkin as a replacement! I vote for the Mayor of Munchkin City and he can drag along the Lolli Pop Guild to replace our local!
hawken on April 20 at 9:54 a.m.
Eagle:
You are correct this time. “Hate” and “Liar” both, are ubiquitous terms used by the far left. Without your attempts at “character assassination,” you on the far left, would be intellectually limited to posts that are half the size.
Example from only your most recent post:
“The 17 year old running start student known as Hawken…”
Are you in fact a teacher of our children?
Patanjali on April 20 at 11:08 a.m.
When I read Hawken”s statement that: “The modern day usage of “hate,” in all of it’s forms, virtually always, identifies the user as one from the far left.” I was prepared to respond that the left uses the word “hate” to identify those on the far right because those on the far right seemed to be controlled by their hatred to a greater degree than those on the left. If you take the time to read posts by anti-Obama fanatics there does seem to be a substantial level of “hate” in their posts, irrational and emotional in its insidious nature. Then Eagleproducer had to go and post a hatful reply confirming what Hawken declared, at least as it applies to Eagleproducer.
There is no need to refer to Hawken or anyone else in a hateful manner. Hawken and everyone else project outward who and what they are. Hawken projects hate when he posts about the liberals who he quite obviously despises. He projects the desire for conflict and he has a fundamentally unmovable ideology that blinds him to any possibility of acknowledgement that he may be mistaken about a few minor things. He also has a tendency to project onto other that which he is himself. Of course we all do this. Eagleproducer also projects hate when he refers to Hawken in the manner that he did.
Ron_the_Cop on April 20 at 11:16 a.m.
@JayNW
You are quite correct the Creach OIS involved a SCSO deputy but the OIS investigation was done by SPD that Chief Kirkpatrick had direct control over.
Readers may be interested in my report/analysis of this OIS investigation done by SPD:
UPDATE - Creach Police Shooting Investigation - Spokane, WA
http://tinyurl.com/4wz2fpc
Others are not pleased either with Chief Kirkpatrick’s tenure at SPD. See former Sheriff Tony Bamonte’s assessment regarding Chief Kirkpatrick as reported by Larry Shook:
America’s Most Dangerous Cop
http://tinyurl.com/2454jjf
sourface on April 20 at 11:33 a.m.
The last two chiefs were disgusting! But this chief! OMG!
For Mayor Dennis Hession to have ever appointed Kirkpatrick is deplorable!
hawken on April 20 at 11:36 a.m.
Patanjali
All I can say is “babble.”
Your attempt with a “middle of the road,” blame both, is not only hypocritical, based upon your body of work on this blog, it is self-contradictory by your own words in your post above.
The problem with your “self proclaimed” aristocracy is this:
sourface on April 20 at 11:39 a.m.
I agree with Albert, “LEAVE NOW!”
MrNatural on April 20 at 11:50 a.m.
I met Chief Kirkpatrick once and she was very congenial and professional. I have seen her supporting many Spokane related events and functions. Given the climate in which she’s had to operate and the incessant professional malcontents she contends with…and the reality that few would envy her position, I think she has done an admirable job and I will be sorry to see her go…
All the best Chief Kirkpatrick :)
detroitdude on April 20 at 12:05 p.m.
Hawken said: “Your attempt with a “middle of the road,” blame both, is not only hypocritical, based upon your body of work on this blog, it is self-contradictory by your own words in your post above.”
No, really all it proves is that Patanjali is a reasonable person and you are not. You make everything somehow partisan, you’ve obviously never been wrong about anything in your life either. Fact of the matter is, you derail intelligent discourse on a regular basis on this website. You criticize, point the finger, and lay blame on everyone and everything that doesn’t conform to you narrow minded viewpoint.
The other day when you and Dazzee were telling all us “radical liberals” to read “Atlas Shrugged” is a perfect example. I can’t speak for everyone, but I’ve read it, in fact a long time ago. Conversely, if I were to suggest you and her read a book, automatically, it would be some sort of “liberal left propaganda” and you wouldn’t take the time to even crack it. And therein lies the difference. Most people are reasonable, most people are willing to compromise, most people are willing to negotiate, most people become more pragmatic as they age,most people discovered long ago that you attract more bees with honey than with vinegar.
The funny thing is, out of everyone who posts on here, liberal or conservative, there are only two that when I see their nickname come up I automatically think “lies, mentally deficient, stubborn, racist, bigot” I’ll let you and others guess who those two people are :)
de3 on April 20 at 12:08 p.m.
JayNW - while the Creech shooting was in the Valley, the SPD was tasked with the investigation. In the immediate aftermath, the SPD badly messed up in its release of information. You may remember that Hirzel was going to be interviewed on the following Monday. A day or so after that it was announced that Hirzel was in Las Vegas. The SPD’s handling of the investigation was handled so poorly that Sheriff Knezovich, who was not involved in the investigation, had to call his own press conference to clear the record.
greenlibertarian on April 20 at 12:38 p.m.
Do not feed the trolls, please.
detroitdude on April 20 at 12:45 p.m.
Sorry, on topic, the article “America’s Most Dangerous Cop” is a really good read, eye opening even.
JayNW on April 20 at 12:49 p.m.
Ron and de- I know that, however I was responding to the poster whose post appeared to be linking Kirkpatrick with overseeing the deputy- not that she is chief of the agency doing the investigation. And, with that said, She is just an administrator. She hardly spent any time as a real cop. I wouldn’t give her credit for training people who do the actual investigations. Those are the people you should be mad at.
I guess my point was that I find people spew their anger in the wrong direction many times. So if you are going to be pissed off at someone, maybe be pissed at the right thing, and not just throw everything in the kitchen sink out there.
Also- I’m not defending anyone. I’m like the Swiss, trying to stay nuetral
:-)
and one last thing- I find it ironic that so many in the community hate the cops and then hate the woman who has done the most to hold those cops accountable, who in turn hate her for doing so.
JayNW on April 20 at 12:50 p.m.
de- Also in regard to Hirzel going on vacation, I believe he was told to go ahead by a SCSO Lt, not anyone within SPD. So again, that issue was a county sherrif issue, not the city pd.
bszottlinger on April 20 at 1:10 p.m.
I would never say she is not a good lady, I think she is, she was just way over her head. All the fluff in the world from the political folks will not undue what has happened, a lot of which is not her fault. But if one of your rules is “lie you die” and it is obvious one of your people has done so during a federal investigation, no matter how well liked, and no matter how much pressure is put upon you by political folks to protect financial interests, you stand by your principles and you do it smart.
Yes she hid from HER investigation of the Creach case, and she knows that it wasn’t good, but some changes were made in the aftermath and some for the better. The question is where will the leaders go from here and where will the community go from here.
bszottlinger on April 20 at 1:31 p.m.
JayNW:
You are incorrect regarding the decision to allow Hirzel to leave. According to the reports the decision was made by the “investigative team” which was made up of SPD as lead, SCSO and WSP as follow. There were SCSO investigators on the team who could have spoken up but did not, and the WSP contingent did not. The decision making process regarding OIS interviews is not spelled out in the protocol, and it should be. The biggest problem regarding the Creach case for law enforcement is the Creach family has the where-with-all to look into each and ever aspect of the investigation most families don’t, and that is why it is necessary for some kind of quality oversight.
Ron_the_Cop on April 20 at 1:36 p.m.
Mr. Natural,
You are quite correct. Chief Kirkpatrick is very congenial. I think she put too much trust in Asst. Chief Nicks to run the day to day operations while she was out doing the fence mending for the department. I believe she means well but when it comes to making disciplinary actions stick I don’t think she had the hands on experience and consequently made many missteps.
misjustice on April 20 at 2:33 p.m.
Well, Annie Get Yur Gun has been interviewing for a new job ever since she got this one. I don’t think that she was EVER committed to Spokane; she saw this position as a stepping stone to somewhere else.
So, bye bye! Best be steppin’.
; )
MrNatural on April 20 at 2:33 p.m.
Thanks for the insight and corroboration Ron…I suppose it’s a bit difficult for her to sing with the “choirboys” :)
Ron_the_Cop on April 20 at 5:25 p.m.
Justy and Mr. Natural,
Agreed. Spokane was just a stepping stone. That was part of the problem but I like BDZ think she was way in over her head. She may be a good person but couldn’t rattle the appropriate cages here that need some adjustment.
D Statler on April 20 at 5:28 p.m.
Loli Pop Guild!!! OMG that is some good stuff. When I mentioned the short bus.I meant in length,not height. You are correct and I probably shouldn’t have brought up the Valley’s buisness. We have definate problems out here with Detectives not being truthful too. I am not a hater of Police in general.I have no respect for drug task force members passing out drugs for info and misappropriating millions of dollars. The Loli Pop Guild turns my stomach too :^( Police yourselves fellas!
misjustice on April 20 at 5:41 p.m.
Ron stated, “She may be a good person but couldn’t rattle the appropriate cages here that need some adjustment.”
And I believe that is why she got the position; she’s a weak leader and the Lollipop Guild knew it, could smell it on her, knew she’d be ineffectual at making true change, which made her their perfect choice.
Ron_the_Cop on April 20 at 5:59 p.m.
Justy,
We do agree on occasion:-)
BTW I’m look for an altruistic liberal and/or conservative attorney to bring a libel case. I got fanged a little by the LE establishment for rattling their cage by probably asking probing questions regarding the Creach OIS investigation. I wasn’t going with the flow with the usual Jedi wave off - nothing here to see move on.
Know any? :-)
misjustice on April 20 at 6:25 p.m.
I’d say we agree often, Ron.
; )
I was wondering if the powers that be would try to stifle you, or worse, over your involvement in the Creach case. Sorry to hear that you were “fanged”. Care to share?
You’ll probably have to find an attorney on the other side of the state…Just sayin’. If you know what I mean; and I’m sure that you do!
bszottlinger on April 20 at 6:33 p.m.
Please let me try and understand this, we have got a wing-nut conservative and an ultra flaming liberal going in the same direction. An ex California Cop and some half-hippie that walks in parades with a Marine on her arm.
Maybe there is hope! “Lewis” any time you feel the urge I’ll buy you a beer and arm wrestle you for a pitcher.
misjustice on April 20 at 8:17 p.m.
AND an icky “lawyer” egging them on!
; )
No one likes lawyers; until they need one! Lol!
; )
Ron_the_Cop on April 20 at 9:40 p.m.
Justy,
Contact me off line and I will explain:
nar9350 [at] gmail [dot] com
arroyoribera on April 30 at 2:48 p.m.
Just another take on the Chief…
http://spokanepoliceabuses.wordpress.com/2010/07/04/just-exactly-who-is-anne-kirkpatrick