Why is Nicks still employed?

I was amazed to read that the city is reversing its position on the Otto Zehm (death). It appears that they have finally watched the same tape the rest of us saw.

After four years of Assistant Chief Jim Nicks telling us not to believe our own eyes, now he tells us that Otto did not attack the officers and Officer Thompson did not follow departmental procedures. Why did this take four years? Do you think it has anything to do with the FBI coming to town to poke holes in their case?

Years ago before the tape was released, my family watched Jim Nicks wax eloquently about how dangerous a weapon a plastic pop bottle could be and we knew at the time this man was not being truthful. After months, the department only released the tape under threat of lawsuit and then spent four years spewing misleading misinformation that has now been contradicted.

Those of us raised in Spokane have grown used to this pattern of brutality and cover-up. This is an affront to all taxpaying citizens and hard-working honest law officers.

A fish rots from the head down. Why does Jim Nicks still have a job?

Brian Lehman

Spokane Valley