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December 14, 2011 in News, City, Region
County leaders open to merging police forces
Spokane County Commissioners this week said they are open to the possibility of combining city and county law enforcement agencies.
Commissioners Al French, Todd Mielke and Mark Richard sent a letter to Spokane Mayor-elect David Condon supporting consideration of law enforcement consolidation.
The letter, sent Tuesday, comes after Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich last month offered to serve as interim city police chief at no cost to the city upon the departure next month of Chief Anne Kirkpatrick.
Knezovich also said the time is right for a broader discussion of a combined force.
Condon at the time said that he would be open to Knezovich’s offer, but that he is hearing from other replacement candidates for the chief’s job.
The commissioners’ letter said the departure of Kirkpatrick offers the opportunity to examine the structure of law enforcement in a broader way.
“With the retirement of Chief Kirkpatrick, it appears there may be a unique opportunity for this region to have a dialogue about where a regional law enforcement is in the best interests of the public,” the letter said.
It goes on to indicate that the commissioners stand “ready to dialogue with you, your administration and transition team” on the issue.
An opportunity for such a discussion was passed up prior to Kirkpatrick’s hiring in 2006, which came in the same year that the sheriff’s post was vacated by Mark Sterk, the letter noted.
The board also pointed out that recent debates over the role and power of a police ombudsman, the influence of the Spokane Police Guild and the desire for improved public confidence in law enforcement are issues that show the need for the broader discussion, according to the letter.
The letter was delivered to Nancy Isserlis, chair of Condon’s public safety transition subcommittee.
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Spokanewaste on December 14 at 11:06 a.m.
A good idea to consider. Greater efficiencies often lead to greater savings. If the administration can be reduced with savings realized and/or more police, that would be great.
skime on December 14 at 11:48 a.m.
The protector of the bad cops “UNION” “POLICE GUILD” would have a fit. These organizations do not care about the people of Spokane! They want what is best for their union brothers. Look how they protect every bad cop.
catfuzz on December 14 at 12:19 p.m.
Usually the bigger a government entity gets, the more opportunities for corruption.
Ron_the_Cop on December 14 at 12:28 p.m.
Skime,
True about the Guild but local LE leaders in their failure to lead have been a bigger problem. Tucker hasn’t help either.
IMO this would not be a good move right now until the US Attorney’s Office is done with their criminal investigation and after if they decide to do a civil pattern and practice investigation.
Read my comments in the other thread on Tucker’s response to the recall.
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/dec/14/prosecutor-defends-decision-making/
Shelala on December 14 at 12:30 p.m.
Why not fix the problems that gave rise to this suggestion in the first place? Without doing so, we are just left with a even bigger problem via a merger. There is no quick fix. Besides. the SCSO has had similar issues of their own. I question if hiding a problem department in the bowels of a larger department is addressing any meaningful change or just moving the dirt around. Tackle the problems head on and then think about merger.
DickAdams on December 14 at 12:55 p.m.
If Ozzie were to head up all the LE agencies in the county, you might just as well but your head between you legs and kiss your a$$ good bye. Like the example of the sheriff looking the other way regarding the Zehm murder when it was obvious Klubber Thompson`s ruthless behavior caused his death. OTTO, RIP. Klubber is headed for the Iron Bar Hotel, even though LE and Public Officials were guilty of a cover-up and hoping the case would not end up in the courts.. Their plot to cover it up back fired thanks to the wonderful citizens in Spokane county that finally forced justice to be served. Everybody that participated in the cover-up, I will never understand how they can look at themselves in the mirror.
wdodd on December 14 at 2:06 p.m.
Ozzie needs to clean up his own department first before he can clean up the SPD. This is the mabn who stated that he would radicate racism. Not even Jesus was successful in completing this task. Ozzie seems to put himself above GOD!!
Ron_the_Cop on December 14 at 3:12 p.m.
@Shelala
My point exactly!
Otto_Pilot on December 14 at 3:34 p.m.
@ DickAdams
You called?
??Riddler?? on December 14 at 3:39 p.m.
?? Currently, County “investigates” City OIS’s and vice versa ??
?? What “impartial” LE Agency would investigate if both departments were combined ??
johnclarke on December 14 at 3:44 p.m.
I’m all for combining redundant services, but can’t support a Tea Party guy running it.
horse_feathers on December 14 at 3:49 p.m.
A merger could very well open the door to cleaning out the culls as a reorganization coupled with todays economic crisis concerns could kill the Guild which would certainly bring a breath oif fresh air to the issue.
I kinda like that phrase “kill the Guild”
DocTom on December 14 at 3:56 p.m.
Great idea! This will save funds, improve service, and make the Guild go away. Here’s a fellow willing to serve without adding to his income…that’s hard to believe in today’s greedy society. Very good and if this doesn’t work out, he can always be turned away at election time. Not so with the Guild, nor the ongoing ineffective and corrupted chief…try it and see how it works.
CougarGold on December 14 at 4:01 p.m.
JC -
“I’m all for combining redundant services, but can’t support a Tea Party guy running it.”
The beauty of this is that if the Sheriff is running the combined service, he needs to be elected rather than selected. Don’t like the job he’s doing? Vote him out. If there are enough like-minded people as you, you get your way. Currently with the SPD, you don’t have that option.
brianrbreen on December 14 at 5:08 p.m.
Someone might want to check with some of the incorporated areas in King County who are held hostage by the rising cost of their contracts with the KCSO, and look at the history of the “King County Police Department” as well as the reasons they reverted back to a Sheriff.
Once you contract out your law enforcement for a period of time, and then decide it’s too costly and you can’t control those costs you have to start all over again from scratch.
Then one might want to question why the jail expense at the Spokane County jail is so much higher than other county jails.
@horse_ feathers
I’m not so sure if it would help or not. Take the case of fired SPD Officer Nathan Bohanek. He was fired for excessive force, assaulting a handcuffed prisoner and calling him names. Witnesses were other officers. Prior to being fired he plead to 4th Degree Assault, paid $250.00, six months probation on a deferred sentence. Medical Lake hired him despite his history. Then when Medical Lake contracted with the SO Ozzie hired him. So who knows if they combined whom he would take and whom he wouldn’t?
Ron_the_Cop on December 14 at 5:11 p.m.
All I say is this needs to be fully researched first. My initial response is to let the feds clean house first and then lets see where we will go from there.
I’m not opposed to some discussion where better coordination and force leveraging of scarce LE resources is worthwhile e.g., the lack of priority on property crimes by the City and Tucker’s office. Trust me crooks don’t recognize political boundaries and will exploit them whenever possible to rape and pillage.
Regardless of what you think of Sheriff Knezovich this smacks of a power grab by the Board of Commissioners to fill a political vacuum
For now I side with @Shelala 12:30PM. BE VERY CAREFUL in what you wish for:-)
reservedparking on December 15 at 10:25 a.m.
So the SPD & SCSO ‘merge’ personnel, making the bargaining unit twice as big. Less duplication of administration? Cool! More money for salaries & benefits!