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August 11, 2011 in City
Doug Clark: Nicks’ exit is past due
Doug Clark
(Full-size photo)
“ Give (Jim Nicks) the benefit of the doubt. Maybe the acting chief hadn’t bothered to carefully examine the evidence before running his mouth and handing Spokane a bill of goods.
“In that case Nicks is no liar – he’s just incompetent. Either way, the guy should go.”
– Clark column, July 16, 2006
Well, I finally have my answer to the above “A or B” choice on Nicks that I offered readers five years ago.
Nicks wasn’t inept when he tried to protect the thugs in blue who clubbed, shocked and hogtied Otto Zehm inside a Spokane quickie mart. The innocent and mentally ill janitor died two days after his violent encounter with Spokane police.
It was as I always suspected.
Nicks was fibbing more than that wayward chick in the old “Lyin’ Eyes” Eagles song.
The Otto Zehm case was a pure CYA deal from day one.
But that was then. The Spokane Police Department’s now-Assistant Chief Nicks is today crooning a different tune.
Zehm no longer was the malefactor who used his plastic diet soda bottle like a sword against poor Officer Karl Thompson Jr., states Nicks in newly filed court documents.
Furthermore, adds Nicks, Zehm was in full retreat mode when Thompson got in his face and went to work. The officer had been summoned to the convenience store after two young women wrongly reported Zehm as a possible thief.
And Thompson?
New and improved Nicks says Thompson had no good reason to beat down Zehm like a dog. Thompson’s use of his club violated the department’s “use of force policies.”
Will wonders never cease?
This is the most dramatic change of heart since St. Paul’s conversion on the Road to Damascus.
OK. I’m not a complete cynic. I believe there really are cases where people suddenly “see the light” and change for the better.
Trust me, folks. This ain’t one of them.
This flip-flop is all about the upcoming federal trial against Thompson for what he did to Zehm.
Nicks will likely be called to the stand for the prosecution.
Dude better tell things the right way.
Hell, if the feds will go after baseball pitching ace Roger Clemens for perjury, they won’t blink twice about nailing ol’ Nicks to the wall.
What happened to Zehm inside a Division Zip Trip on March 18, 2006, is one of the most disgraceful episodes in our community’s history.
I realize I’ve banged the bongos hard on this, handing out some 5,000 Otto buttons and singing songs about his death.
The point has always been simple:
Don’t forget.
There was a real danger of that happening back in the early days, when the local law and our city honchos were trying to sweep this travesty under the rug.
That won’t happen now, what with the trial and the Nicks memory reversal.
But citizens also need to remember how poorly some of our leaders responded in the wake of this man’s death.
Spokane County Prosecutor Steve Tucker lived up to his reputation as a complete do-nothing.
Mayor Mary Verner made perhaps her biggest blunder by automatically siding with the “see no evil” version of events.
“In my personal opinion,” said the mayor, “… I just don’t think that the behavior of the officer rose to criminal behavior.”
Really, Mary?
Really?
As long as the assistant chief is coming clean, perhaps he’ll take the advice I gave him in that aforementioned column five summers ago.
And that is to resign and never “darken our Public Safety Building again.”
Hey, I can dream, can’t I?
Doug Clark is a columnist for The Spokesman-Review. He can be reached at (509) 459-5432 or by email at dougc@spokesman.com.
Recent stories by Doug Clark
Doug Clark: Roskelley’s candidacy is all downhill from here May 27, 2012 15- Clark: No clear inspiration for ‘Spokane Motel Blues’ May 24, 2012 6
- Professor’s ‘Motel’ mystery needs you to solve it May 22, 2012
- Clark: City ordinance shows lack of sound thinking May 20, 2012 21
- Doug Clark: Many wrongs, one big right in Zehm case May 17, 2012 24
Scoutster on August 11 at 6:12 a.m.
What does Nicks have on everybody that they keep him around?
Justsayin' on August 11 at 6:29 a.m.
Right on Doug! There were many, many of us who were never gonna forget this and how it makes Spokane officials look. I have written letters suggesting that when good people, other officers, mayor, whom-ever, support a bad officer, it taints the whole police force and the city. For some reason, this does not get through to the people that should be considering it.
Keep up the good work.
gary garrison
ChefGus/ John Olsen on August 11 at 6:41 a.m.
I am supposing that this sudden change of heart/head is driven by a plea bargain on Asst Chief Nick’s part to avoid being Officer
Thompson’ s room mate. Mayor Verner has NO excuse for saying what she did if she even bothered to look at the Video of the event. If Candidate Condon makes a promise to bring in the Feds to take over the police force he would get elected in a land slide.
Frank Malone for Prosecutor…:))
John
Albert on August 11 at 7:13 a.m.
Good morning Doug - and again thank you! I’m a recipient of one of your “Otto” buttons and wear it “to remember”. It is profound that you had the right call from the beginning. Perhaps you could think about sponsoring a recall movement against Tucker? You are in the right place at the right time to do this. Folks will give your efforts a second thought and I, for one, will volunteer to sit at a recall table in front of Wally’s to obtain the necessary signatures. I’m serious about this!!! Al
brianrbreen on August 11 at 7:23 a.m.
To answer your question Doug, I recently read an email (regarding the Creach case) sent by Chief Kirkpatrick to Chief Nicks in which Kirkpatrick basically tells Nicks how wonderful he is and how she didn’t know what she would do without him.
If you have any influence down there (aside from the bad one) how about having the gumshoe kids look into how the all important entire Zip Trip video finally came to light. I can tell you this it wasn’t from the city. You could give them this link and they could start by talking to Terri Sloyer and John Sklut.
http://autoreviewonline.com/sections/zehm/documents/071206_justicecenter.pdf
lewis8457 on August 11 at 7:33 a.m.
I will never forget Otto, and what our high paid SPD did to him and our city.
Nicks stays on because of the union they do not see a problem with their officers killing disabled folks. Look at all the killing last year it was a shooting gallery out there. And then Ernie the union president came on the SR and said he saw no issues and as far as he knew the Spokane citizens loved the police.
I don’t believe judge Van Sicky cares about our issues in Spokane with the SPD if he did he would stop throwing wrenches into the gears of justice. hahaha i wrote the word justice in Spokane.
I will not be surprised in the least if the trial is postponed again and Karl Thompson gets another years worth of wages from the folks of Spokane. I have so little faith in a cop getting sent to jail i don’t even believe the trial will happen at all. It has been 5 years! How long did it take the feds to trump a charge on the MLK bomber? 2 weeks? But a cop who kills people gets to stay on job for 5 years? And the fed judge could care less.
garmiester on August 11 at 8:03 a.m.
Dear Doug, obviously Asst. Chief Nicks has a agenda to his madness. Do you think that his ambitions are that of being the chief of police, or has the city of Spokane has striked a deal with Nicks, giving him something else.
The Otto Zehm case was investigated by both the Spokane City and Spokane County major crimes unit due to an officer involved fatality.
Will Ozzie the great, jump on his white horse and run Nicks to the ground.
Obviously the city transit buses must have a good ground clearance. This is due to all the officers both city and county that Nicks has thrown under these buses.
If I was Nicks, I would retire and find a job that you can throw manure for a living, because it stinks and he use to it that by now.
DickAdams on August 11 at 8:30 a.m.
Thanks again for my OTTO pin, Doug. I`ve been wearing it for a long time now and will continue to wear it as 1) a reminder of our leader Mayor Verner who with Nicks, should be sent packing, and 2) my OTTO pin stays on until the “case is closed” and justice is served.
SpokyDaBear on August 11 at 8:33 a.m.
If Otto Zehm had been wearing his bicycle helmet, his life would have been saved…
Always wear your bicycle helmet and help save lives..
If Otto Zehm had been a pastor on his own property, the SPD would have just shot him..
de3 on August 11 at 8:37 a.m.
The SPD building should be renamed “The Otto Zehm Memorial building” to remind them of their corruption and lies, every day of the week.
tomnsahl on August 11 at 8:50 a.m.
Thanks (old mentor) Brian for information attached in your letter that most certainly will be part of the defense.
Public trust has been damaged. It involves the actions of Thompson as portrayed in the video; the investigation and apparent cover up; SPD/City officials and their portrayals of what occurred that just plain do not jive with common sense, and which now, 5 years later are changing to CYA.
The outcome of this long delayed trial should bring some truth & justice - something we all deserve - and which may help restore confidence in the vast majority of those who protect and serve, with honor.
PlanB on August 11 at 8:52 a.m.
I’m not so sure Nicks should go - he’s the only person in the bureaucracy that so far as I know has publicly admitted to what has been glaringly obvious for over five years. That kinda makes him the best we’ve got.
gb333 on August 11 at 9:01 a.m.
A friend of mine got pulled over. There was never a reason why given.
The officer called him an idiot, and other names. For no reason. My friend never disrespected the officer.
My friend pulled over into a emergency vehicle only zone. He is a quiet guy and wasn’t really thinking I guess. He just wanted to immediately pull over when the officer flashed his lights.
My friend was given a $1000 ticket for being in an emergency vehicle only zone.
He went to a lawyer and was told that unless he had proof of the name calling that there was nothing that could be done.(which I would think that you could request the tape from police). He is going to try and fight the ticket though.
Still, the police work for us. They should be mandated to use “Yes sir.” and “no mam.” when talking to us. At least when pulling someone over. I am talking about hard working, tax paying, non-criminal citizens.
Also the rhetoric about them standing in harms way to protect us is largely BS. Being a police officer is less dangerous than most construction jobs and doesn’t make it on a top ten list. And you don’t need to have a college degree to make 60-90k a year or more for doing a job that most of the time means you are doing nothing. Driving around.
I respect the police. I teach my kids to respect them, but a lot of the things I am seeing just piss me off.
Also, I installed a hidden audio-video surveillance in my car. Just in case.
The_Seer on August 11 at 9:04 a.m.
breen: Wow. Great stuff in that letter. It looks like Treppiedi will once again cost the citizens millions of dollars because of his flawed legal analysis.
I am producing a film about this event. If you choose, please contact me here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/In-One-Eye-and-Out-the-Other-Productions/162457740455974?sk=wall
TheRoyLarsen on August 11 at 9:19 a.m.
Let me get this straight. A commissioned officer (you can call him an assistant chief) changes his story five years later and the federal government thinks he’ll be a good witness?
In every blog I’ve read here on this site….all of the experts, you know…it’s been said that an officer who changes his story is a liar and is not credible.
You guys are singing a different tune now. Don’t worry. The cops are learning their lesson too. They used to call expert witnesses for the defense “whores” and “prostitutes.” Now, expert witnesses on the use of force aren’t so bad.
You’re in good company, fellas.
Slightlyworried on August 11 at 9:28 a.m.
In all fairness to Steve “The Cops Never Mistakes” Tucker, he did observe a moment of silence for Otto on the 7th fairway at Qualchan on the day of the funeral.
93bird on August 11 at 9:30 a.m.
Where’s the thin blue line to defend itself? Cops murdered Otto and Chief Nicks agrees. What’s the SPD’s story now? This is the United States of America, not Syria. The police and elected officials serve the people, and must be held accountable for their actions. Keep the burner on boil Doug!
monarch on August 11 at 9:46 a.m.
We’re having an election. I’m curious if any of the candidates have made any definitive proposals on police oversight or is it just the usual generalizations?
brianrbreen on August 11 at 9:46 a.m.
Tom,
Yes old friend I’m out front as always. Hope you are there to back we up when you think I’m right. I remember years ago a cop came to me and said I’m glad you got this one, that meant a lot. The problem now is these kids aren’t sure where they hell things will go and you can’t blame them.
brianrbreen on August 11 at 10:00 a.m.
Tom,
Sorry, that should be where THE hell things will go and you can’t blame them
Roy,
Buddy I’ve forgotten more about this business you will ever know, and you sure don’t help the good cops with your remarks, but have at it if you want people to think all the guys you work with occasionally have the same attitude.
DickAdams on August 11 at 10:15 a.m.
brianbreen: Thanks including the attachment per your post to today’s SR story. Re, the city letter by Treppiedi; If Rocco Treppiedi`s opine on behalf of the City of Spokane, and city attorney at the time, James Craven is beyond belief. Its been my experience that a letter of this nature, was approved by both Mr. Craven and Mayor Mary Verner before being sent out (so much hinging on it). Even if it wasn`t though, after the fact, the officials had a chance to correct Treppiedi and his outlandish letter. I personally know Mr. Craven, and I`m shocked that he concurred but not shocked by our Mayor Verner et al.
wheels on August 11 at 11:07 a.m.
Spokand citizens, does’nt your heart ache for Otto?Are you proud of your leaders?It’s past time for a cleansing from the top down and more in all departments.Do someting for Otto,yourselves and prevent the next victim from SPD abuse.(there will be one if you don’t act)They all have to go.Show Otto you care.
Spokane_Citizen on August 11 at 11:10 a.m.
Amazing…nobody is even picking up on the simple fact that Verner was not even mayor when that letter was written….Hession was mayor.
Dazzeetrader11 on August 11 at 11:25 a.m.
No…but does anyone seriously doubt Verner knew during her 3 plus years in office? She HAD to have known. 3.5 years as Mayor and you think she didn’t know?
There are lies of omission and lies of commission. All along she’s know and has done nothing except say she shouldn’t comment.
If a lawyer ( she is..sorta) hides an injustice(or doesn’t tell the truth) when she knows, well guess what the bar says about this?
When a Mayor knows and doesn’t fess up (until she’s caught in the web), she doesn’t deserve her job and should be sent away with the police people who lied. Can’t blame Hession for Verner’s actions. She knows now and she knew then. Nicks reports to the Chief and the Chief reports to Verner. Afterall Verner’s job is to know what her Chief is up to. No way out of this one.
SpokyDaBear on August 11 at 12:14 p.m.
Maybe if Nicks had been wearing a bicycle helmet when he first spoke about the case, he would have told the real truth….
Everyone knows bicycle helmets save lives…
If Otto had worn a bicycle helmet he would have survived his police beating.. Bicycle helmets save lives…
Nicks needs to be careful.. because if he ever decides to become a pastor and is on his own property,, the SPD would shoot him..
TheRoyLarsen on August 11 at 12:21 p.m.
The helmet is not necessary. There is nothing to protect.
valleyman on August 11 at 12:26 p.m.
Clark has it right: If you want to clean up SPD, start at the top and work backwards… Nicks needs to go.
MrNatural on August 11 at 12:27 p.m.
Nothing kicks off a summer weekend like commiserate moral outrage against local law enforcement…
I suggest we place stocks in Riverfront Park and bring in a fresh load of manure and rotten tomatoes…better yet appoint Doug to personally flay the hide off of the officer(s) in question…and don’t forget to bring the children.
The death of Mr. Zehm was very tragic and hopefully justice will be served properly…in a court of law… it would be disheartening to see mob theatrics and schoolyard retribution diminish this somber incident…
SpokyDaBear on August 11 at 12:29 p.m.
Officer MrNatural needs to wear his bicycle helmet. Everyone knows helmets save lives… maybe even if you are a pastor on your own property with the SPD shooting at you…
Spokane_Citizen on August 11 at 12:32 p.m.
But Dazzee, that means that your favorite council president candidate, former Mayor Hession….approved and is responsible for this entire entire coverup, since it occurred very early in his term as Mayor. You can’t have it both ways…though I suspect one as logic challenged as yourself has no problem being blind to their own glaring cognitive dissonance.
lewis8457 on August 11 at 2:37 p.m.
Spokane-citizen many of us wont forget when our new mayor went on TV with Kirkpatrick and said Otto caused his own death. and his death was justified, sure she was not mayor at time but she only threw fuel on the fire with the statement she made that day.
while she had her lips on the police guilds rear end.
Ron_the_Cop on August 11 at 3:39 p.m.
Doug,
Good column. Keep it up.
I won’t rehash my points here. See the other threads below. The citizens of Spokane should educate themselves on this very important community issue. There are many fine men and woman doing a difficult job day in and day out at SPD and SCSO. Having said that in my opinion there are serious issues with the command staff of SPD and the City Attorney’s Office that are borderline criminal. Chief Nicks is only the tip of the iceberg. I would check the other threads regarding the possible involvement of retired Deputy Chief Oldenthal in the cover up of Otto Zehm dealth.
As I said many moons ago from the information reported by the S-R, this was clearly a wrongful death case. The City should have acknowledged that mistakes were made, said it was sorry and paid a fair settlement to the heirs. Further SPD should have determined where and if mistakes were made and in turn changed police policy, procedure, tactics and training.
Instead there was a concerted effort to cover up this case by certain City officials and then dug in it heels. In the end this will end cost the taxpayers more money than if they settled this case quickly.
Here’s the links to the other discussion threads:
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/aug/09/xxxx/
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/aug/10/city-reconsiders-zehm-strategy/
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/aug/10/shawn-vestal-truth-about-zehm-sure-took-a-while/
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/aug/10/key-players-and-contradictions/
misjustice on August 11 at 6:11 p.m.
Thanks for the link to your film, Seer. I had watched it before but like the new additions…very powerful.
Spokane_Citizen on August 11 at 6:26 p.m.
Ron, please name the ‘certain city officials’ who attempted to subvert justice….personally, I don’t believe the list will include Mayors Verner or Hession….they are both exceedlingly decent people, who were very likely never given the full story by subordinates.
Ron_the_Cop on August 11 at 8:49 p.m.
Spokane Citizen,
Click on Brian Breen’s name above to find his link to Asst. City Attorney Rocky Treppiedi’s letter apparently sent with the approval of the then City Atty Craven to the CFJ. Mr. Adams has personal knowledge of the interaction/dynamics between Mayor Verner and City Atty Craven. Mr. Adams believes this letter would not have gone out without the Mayor’s approval. This comes from the Mayor’s refusal to release Atty O. Yale Lewis from his atty/client priviledge to speak freely on the RPS Bond frauds after she and Craven met with Lewis. These frauds will cost the taxpayers minimally $87M.
While Mayor Verner may have been naive and or misled by her subordinates, if so I fault her for her lack of judgment. At the time of Zehm’s death it may have not been apparent that there was a cover up underway. However when the video surfaced at the probing of the media it should have become clear that a cover up was in the works. Heads should have rolled within the police command staff.
Chief Kirkpatrick while well intentioned has let too many things go on under her watch. See my previous posts regarding the ongoing official complaints that both former Sheriff Bamonte and me have filed with the SPD Ombudsman on Chief Kirkpatrick.
I’m on record of telling the Mayor on many occasions she should fire the following senior staff, Gavin Cooley, Chief Kirkpatrick for the reasons I’ve previously stated, Chief Williams for allowing the AMR billing fraud under his watch and other issues, the City Attorney and several of the Asst. City Attorneys for not representing the best interests of the citizens of Spokane. Dave Mandyke just because according to my sources has too much wood on everyone else:-)
I would have fired Asst. Chief Nicks if not actively involved in the cover up in the Zehm case, for not recognizing that one was going on. Chief Kirkpatrick not only kept Chief Nicks but has publicly endorsed Chief Nicks as her successor. It looks like Deputy Chief Odenthal was involved or sanctioned the editing of the video. Instead of coming clean and handling this in public Chief Odenthal was quietly ushered out the rear door.
And more recently the Mayor was pushing the STA Downtown Trolley system and drinking the Cool-Aid of the powers that be this project will bring real economic development to Spokane. This is hogwash as it will only personally benefit the powers that be at great expense of the taxpayers.
I voted for Mary Verner because I thought she would be willing to take on the powers that be in this City. At that time a $10K loan money was funneled under the PDC wire through Mike Ormsby to fund a hit campaign against Verner at the last minute. Mark Fuhrman called Hession out on this loan on the air and Hession would not distance himself from this loan.
[Continued]
Ron_the_Cop on August 11 at 8:50 p.m.
[Continued from above]
Look I’m not a supporter of Condon either until he makes it clear he will root out the corruption in this City. See my email I sent to S-R reporters Brunt and Clouse regarding the timing of this article. This is not new news as most of this was known back in March of 2010. This article is definitely not flattering of the Mayor. So why run it now? Cowles Co surrogates are supporting Condon’s campaign. Is there a connection? Nothing surprises me anymore in this City:
I can go on on but will leave it at that. I would encourage all to read this piece and then scan this blog for other germane articles:
http://tinyurl.com/48qh6et
lewis8457 on August 11 at 8:51 p.m.
Spokane citizen yes but Verner is a foster parent that thought killing a disabled man in cold blood was justified.
if she didn’t know the facts before making that statement it just shows how unconcerned or stupid she is.
she needs to go along with rocky, shogan, kirkpatrick, ozzie, torok thompson, Fire Chief Bobby Williams, and the other 6 officers who helped kill Otto.
the officer had run up to Zehm, whose back was initially turned to him, and batoned Zehm to the ground - the first of at least seven baton strikes used on Zehm. Within another sixteen seconds Zehm had also been tasered. In addition to the multiple beatings and taserings, Zehm was improperly hog-tied by police and placed on his stomach for more than sixteen minutes. Police can be seen in video sitting on Zehm’s legs as he lay on his stomach in a hog tie. 3 minutes after applying a breather mask with no oxygen Zehm stopped breathing.
Disband the entire SPD shut down the police guild and start over this time every one takes drug test for steriods..
Spokane_Citizen on August 11 at 9:17 p.m.
Ron…despite Mr. Adam’s assertions about the letter not going out without Mayor Verner’s approval, have you even bothered to look at the date on the letter? The date is nearly a year and a half before Verner was elected mayor. At the time of the letter issuance, Hession was mayor, and Verner merely a council member. This is why so many claims of conspiracy fall apart; broad accusations are made without corroboration with even basic facts.
It is also notable that Dick Adams has not revisited this forum since I pointed out that Verner (contrary to his plainly erroneous accusation) couldn’t have given ‘approval’ to the letter as Mayor (as he asserts).
Now, i am not saying that Dick is not an honorable man…but simply that he, and others like him, often let their anger and animosity lead them to unfounded allegations that are not fact-based.
Spokane_Citizen on August 11 at 9:27 p.m.
Lewis…you need to seek professional help. You have an obvious fixation upon this issue. Your ramblings reek of profound paranoia. It can’t be pleasant to go through life with such a persecution complex.
Are there bad cops? Certainly..but they are a tiny minority, and the vast majority of police officers are the best trained and most empathetic ever commissioned.
Spokane_Citizen on August 11 at 9:41 p.m.
Mark Twain once said something that has direct relevance to the groundless innuendo and falsehoods stated in this forum…..he said “that a lie is heard halfway around the world before the truth can even get out of bed and get its boots on”.
Frankly, I don’t know why I bother to even attempt to discuss community issues in this forum with people who obviously feel no obligation to deal with anything in a rational manner.
DickAdams on August 11 at 10:01 p.m.
spokane citizen: I indeed made a mistake by using the letter Treppiedi opined prior to Verner`s being mayor. I should have noticed the date. No question however, Mayor Verner perused the file because of the events of Otto`s tragic death and the citizens of Spokane`s hot and horrific topic. I`m not making excuses for my oversight. I`ll try to do better. Thanks for pointing the error out spokane citizen.
Ron_the_Cop on August 11 at 10:58 p.m.
Spokane Citizens,
Thanks for pointing out the date of the letter. Point taken. This is the beauty of the new alternative/social media sites. They have a self correcting/fact checking ability. I will admit when I’ve erred and or am mistaken. Too bad the police command staff dug in their heals on this one.
Again this article is really not new news as after Chief Nicks’ testimony before the federal grand jury in March of 2010, it was clear he was changing his account of this event. As I’ve said before this case should have been recognized quickly as a wrongful death, apologized to the family and fairly settled quickly with the family.
For whatever reason the City’s intransigence will now cost the taxpayers much more money. Money we can little afford to waste in these bad economic times. I’m sorry but Mayor Verner was at the helm. I’ve heard the City’s re-insurer was balking at settling. If so so be it but the Mayor could have stepped in and facilitated a settlement instead of maintaining the party line of the cover up that there was no wrong doing.
Ron_the_Cop on August 12 at 2:15 p.m.
If you are concerned about what you’re reading here, I would encourage all to take note of this FB post by Ed Brynes who is a regular poster here:
EagleEye on August 12 at 3:00 p.m.
From the viewpoint of the public, it’s an amazing stretch for any police officer, department or city attorney to claim that a plastic pop bottle was somehow a “dangerous weapon” and therefore a man was subject to a Rodney King style beating to subdue him. That rational is just so far over the top that it insults the intelligence of anyone who hears it.
The police are paid to “protect and serve”, not kick ass, shoot first and then nonchalantly allow a planned vacation before even finishing the critical details of a final police report (which is apparently what happened in the Creach incident).
I completely agree with the author as well as with comments from Ron-the-Cop and others, our City and County leaders need to DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY and completely clean house.
EE
EagleEye on August 12 at 3:39 p.m.
In addition to the urgent need for across the board leadership changes, we also need to address the separate issue of the increasing militarization of our local police forces. A growing and pervasive SWAT mentality that employs military style tactics, training and thinking for even minor police interactions is failing our community.
This has been a growing trend, both locally and nationally through federal funding and grants (for systems, hardware and training) to local police forces. Every citizen is viewed as “potentially dangerous” and this mentality needs to be quickly and completely reassessed along with an overhaul in police training.
Many in our community have a deep (and growing) lack of trust in our local police forces. Especially when there are almost NEVER any firings or convictions after police shootings or misconduct and the City and County investigative units ALWAYS cover for each other. People want accountability and true, meaningful change and it does indeed start at the top.
If these trends continue, who would be surprised if London-style riots were to break out locally because of a similar, knee-jerk reaction to yet another unwarranted police/sheriff killing of a citizen? Let’s fix this now, beginning with a purge at the top, before things deteriorate further.
EE
ChefGus/ John Olsen on August 13 at 12:40 p.m.
I would point out the fact that Mayor Hession had is City Attorney Mr Craven, actually nail Rocky’s foot to the ground with regards filing a counter suit against anyone with chutzpah enough to actually go after the city legally… intimidation that Mr Hession would not tolerate…. Mr Craven had two pictures on his wall when i was called in for an audience with him with regards the Riverfront Fourth of July Youth… one of Martin Luther King Junior and one of then “Cassius Clay”/Mohamed Ali… that told me a lot about how the City Attorney would run his shop…. and it was apparent that he and Mayor Hession were/are more on the side of the Gospel Calling to help the weak and Lowly… John Olsen