Spokane7
67°
December 31, 2011 in City
Changes begin among city staff as three top administrators depart
Even before he officially took office, Mayor-elect David Condon shook up City Hall on Friday when he informed three top administrators that they won’t be back to serve with him as mayor.
Receiving notice were City Administrator Ted Danek, Public Works and Utilities Director Dave Mandyke and General Administration Director Dorothy Webster.
Mandyke and Webster immediately announced their retirements. Counting the open seat for police chief, the departures create three big vacancies in city government.
Danek will be replaced by Theresa Sanders, the city’s former economic development director, who served as Condon’s transition director.
Condon deferred questions about the makeup of his staff in a brief interview after he took the oath of office Friday morning. The announcement about Danek, Mandyke and Webster was made by news release about an hour later. Condon did not return calls seeking comment.
In his speech after he was sworn in as mayor, Condon promised to create an “effective team of people I can trust.”
Sanders, who was active in Condon’s campaign for mayor and long rumored to be Condon’s choice for city administrator, was first hired at City Hall by former Mayor Dennis Hession but quit after two years, citing an inability to “change the culture.”
Sanders, 51, is a graduate of North Central High School and has a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Washington University in government. She worked at Microsoft, leaving in 1998 as the senior product manager, and has worked in several economic development positions since.
“We need to get to a place where we serve as a service organization, more than just a regulatory organization,” she said in an interview Friday.
Sanders pledged that city services will function smoothly despite the significant change on its way.
“The bureaucracy has a lot of layers to it that keep the organization functioning,” Sanders said.
She will replace Danek, 45. He said Friday that Condon made a good decision by naming Sanders to lead the city’s staff.
“I firmly believe that the mayor has to have his people in place to be successful,” Danek said.
Mandyke and Webster have long and diverse experiences at City Hall. Mandyke has worked for the city since 1973 and was named the leader of the city’s public works and utility departments by Hession and oversees the largest portion of the city budget. He was an assistant city manager in the 1990s.
Webster was hired in 1989 and has overseen affirmative action programs and was a deputy city manager in the 1990s. In her current role, she oversees a hodgepodge of services and special projects, including the public defenders office, human services, city hall maintenance and community centers.
Attempts made to reach Mandyke and Webster on Friday were unsuccessful.
Gerry Gemmill, the deputy public works and utilities director, will be the acting director, city spokeswoman Marlene Feist said in a news release. No interim director was named to replace Webster.
Condon has yet to settle on a replacement for retiring police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick. He said Friday he has chosen acting Assistant Police Chief Scott Stephens to be the acting police chief but that appointment is effective only through the weekend.
“The No. 1 issue will be public safety, and I will be addressing that first thing, next week,” Condon said.
Outgoing Mayor Mary Verner started a search for a new police chief with Condon’s blessing. Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich has lobbied for the job in an effort to combine his office with the city’s police department.
Two other city hall staff members were told earlier this month that they would not keep their positions in the mayor’s office. Karen Stratton, Verner’s executive assistant, and administrative assistant Lura Robson, however, will remain employed at the city in other positions.
Closing Geiger: Wise or worrisome? 
Slightlyworried on December 31 at 12:11 a.m.
Could Rocky Treppiedi please be next? That would sent a clear and concise message to us that the thug approach to defending misconduct and illegal activity in the SPD is no longer tolerated.
brianrbreen on December 31 at 5:30 a.m.
Tuesday should be an interesting day, and the concerns some have for what might happen henceforth are already evident.
Ron_the_Cop on December 31 at 5:30 a.m.
Please no City/County consolidation of the SO/SPD just yet. See my punch list wish for Mayor Condon in the other thread:
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/dec/30/condon-takes-oath/?comments#c390469
… I agree any consolidation with the SO/SPD would be a VERY BAD MOVE right now. Let the feds finish their housecleaning first.. .
brianrbreen on December 31 at 5:57 a.m.
@Ron_the_Cop
I don’t think that is a concern at this point, unless the obstructionism that will inevitably take place can’t be dealt with. I sincerely hope that Mayor Condon’s moves to make the necessary changes result in a very positive direction for the SPD. There is a hell of a task ahead and I think the right people will be in place to take on the task, the only concern I have is whether or not a select few on the department have enough control to make things so difficult that the only option is consolidation.
I don’t envy those that will be responsible for fighting the upcoming battle, and that battle will require the community to be supportive, and at the same time vigilant.
johnclarke on December 31 at 8:39 a.m.
Deck chairs being shuffled about. I’ll be waiting (and hoping) for the union confrontations to take place.
BlondeSquawker on December 31 at 8:41 a.m.
Gee. I wonder if your cops are bracing for another riot.
brianrbreen on December 31 at 9:14 a.m.
@johnclarke
This is the best time that I can remember that the City has been in a very favorable position to negotiate a decent contract with the Police Guild, which includes some legitimate oversight.
It would also be a great time for the City Council to enact an “Investigative Ordinance” similar to other cities where there have been problems with the police departments. Police unions don’t look upon these types of Ordinances favorably but they are helpful from the standpoint of dealing with disciplinary issues.
Seattle’s ordinance has an interesting history which goes back several years, and came about because of the many problems associated with the Seattle PD. One section in particular, which I’ve linked below, may soon become of interest to Spokane, if you are at all interested.
http://clerk.seattle.gov/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?d=CHAP&s1=14.12.h2.&Sect6=HITOFF&l=20&p=1&u=/~public/chap1.htm&r=1&f=G
johnclarke on December 31 at 9:28 a.m.
thanks Brian, I will read that. Although obviously I share the community concern for a watchful eye on the police force, I myself feel that the majority of the coppers are dedicated and professional folk doing a difficult job. Actual civilian oversight would be a welcome change, certainly.
My focus is on the money. Take a look at the budget and where it’s going. Yes, I’m talking about the fire department. Although they stack the deck by saying they “respond to a zillion calls every year” we could simply ditch firefighter EMS and you would be left with about 70 structure fires a year. Yes, stop sending an entire fire engine and crew to EMS calls. This is nothing but job protection and a way to wear out the equipment. Then you get Chief W in front of the council asking for millions saying “we don’t like all this mileage on our Fire Engines.” There is no evidence, none nada zip that Firefighter EMS means faster response and more lives saved.
brianrbreen on December 31 at 9:43 a.m.
@johnclarke
It is sometimes difficult to convince people just how professional and dedicated most of the coppers are, but it is understandable given the circumstances.
I always wondered about the “Three Tiered Response”, but I haven’t a clue whether it’s necessary or not. I think it’s pretty easy to find fluff anywhere in government, and in my view there is some on the SPD. Hopefully if there is, someone will recognize it and deal with it appropriately.
The_Seer on December 31 at 10:16 a.m.
Condon won’t cut Trepieddi loose because they are made from the same cloth: Patronage.
These people don’t need to be replaced. The positions can be simply eliminated and the use of consensus within departments can be utilized in decision making rather than top-down management that sickens almost every sector of U.S. culture.
If I were mayor I’d schedule a bunch of small street repair jobs in every section of the city. I’d then roll by each site and fire the six guys leaning on shovels and give the one working a big raise.
B+O tax. Spokane is the only major city in Washington that doesn’t have a B+O tax.
http://dor.wa.gov/Content/FindTaxesAndRates/TaxIncentives/Def_Credits.aspx#SBC
http://dor.wa.gov/docs/pubs/excisetax/bo_pubutil_littertax/bofs.pdf
http://www.mrsc.org/subjects/finance/b-otax.aspx
If you look at all the cities in Washington with a Business and Occupation tax (contained in the third link) you’ll notice they perform much better in creation of private sector employment and median income. People in Spokane, through this newspaper and the Cowles family publishers, have been led to believe B and O municipal taxes are job killers when in practice the exact opposite is true, at least in Washington.
A B and O tax in Spokane would lower utility taxes/rates across the board. It would allow police to go back to being police instead of revenue collectors.
A B and O tax in Spokane would allow city government to eliminate the portion of the sales taxed they are allowed to tack onto the state sales tax.
PlanB on December 31 at 10:32 a.m.
Condon promised Rocko would be gone, and he really needs to come though on that.
johnclarke, I agree with you about the fired department. It has grown way beyond what is necessary to protect the city.
westerly on December 31 at 10:40 a.m.
B&O works well in Puget Sound, where the affluent live and spend money and purchase billions of dollars in manufactured goods. Over there resides very big business. Their business is much better than Spokanes mom and pop style business and the few mfg places that have poor profit margins. Spokanes poor cannot support business here, they can’t afford much that is produced here..hence…the b&o always is the gun pointed at the city of Spokane..”we will leave the city and take up shop in the Valley or whatever”.
pjc on December 31 at 10:48 a.m.
It would be interesting to see how much these retirees will be getting in pensions. Perhaps a hotshot reporter at the S-R could look into this issue. I bet it will be more than they were making before they retired.
This is the thing that is killing state and local governments, overly generous and unfunded public pension & retirement plans.
http://www.nber.org/aginghealth/2011no1/w16792.html
pjc on December 31 at 10:55 a.m.
These people don’t need to be replaced. The positions can be simply eliminated and the use of consensus within departments can be utilized in decision making rather than top-down management that sickens almost every sector of U.S. culture.
If I were mayor I’d schedule a bunch of small street repair jobs in every section of the city. I’d then roll by each site and fire the six guys leaning on shovels and give the one working a big raise.
A lucid thought. Your idea should permeate this place:
http://www.spokaneschools.org/site/default.aspx?PageID=1
Shelala on December 31 at 11:02 a.m.
I don;t think a consolidation of the SPD and SCSO is a good thing because the county has had its own issues, but if a consolidation would take place, how does the consolidation effect union representation, benefits/pay and ranks, etc? In the event of consolidation, don’t you think the role of Spokane Prosecutor’s office is especially important? I’d like to learn about some of the issues that would need to be addressed in a consolidation. I guess I am on the fence, but I like the idea that the voters can vote a Sheriff out in the event his/her performance is lacking.
Shelala on December 31 at 11:31 a.m.
BTW. if SPD was to remain intact, why is there the expectation that anything will significantly change by just the removal/retirement of the Chief? Problems existed before Kirpatrick came and still exist when she left. The problems didn’t develop overnight. Moving around the same players internally seems like just a shell game netting the same results.
brianrbreen on December 31 at 11:32 a.m.
@Shelala
I can see both advantages and disadvantages. One big advantage for the new city administration is from a bargaining standpoint. If the Police Guild doesn’t come around consolidations steps could begin. Consolidation would affectively mean an end to the Spokane Police Guild. It would also allow the Sheriff to pick and choose who she/he hired from the SPD, (Although Ozzie has hired cops fired from the City in the past) which could mean the end to the careers of some Brady cops, and the disciplinary appeal process would be through open County Civil Service rather than secret Arbitration.
On the other hand the City would no longer have any control over expenditures and would be subject to a contract with the County, and would have virtually no say in any oversight.
As far as the prosecutor is concerned, I don’t see much difference either way, that is, what it is, whether there is consolidation or not.
Although I would hate like heck to see it, if the SPD doesn’t come around, it might be the only alternative.
Ron_the_Cop on December 31 at 11:37 a.m.
@John Clark,
A man after my own heart re Fire Chief Bobby Williams. I’ve wondered the same thing and put him on the stop at a neighborhood council meeting which he dodged. I don’t mind fire providing EMS and or AMR or a combo of both but the under the table money going back and forth is swindling the rate payers. That’s why I’m advocating that Williams be fired for his involvement in the AMR billing fraud that Hession low balled. It took a civil suit to recover some of the stolen money from AMR.
@Shelala,
Agreed re SO/SPD. Many issues to consider but LATER. Folding one problem agency into another with some problems would only obscure real problems as Justy suggested in another thread. Yes the Sheriff is accountable to the voters but the effect is diluted over the entire County. IMO the City may get preferential coverage/treatment to the detriment of the rural areas that would get the short end of the stick.
Shelala on December 31 at 11:41 a.m.
@Brian
Judging from your answer and interesting points, maybe consolidation may be the answer. Maybe not ideal, but certainly better than what exists now. Officers/Deputies received the same training from what I understand.. Do you think training and hiring would be tweeked to allow a new vision of what the citizens expect from our law enforcement?
Shelala on December 31 at 12:05 p.m.
@Ron,
Good points, but I think there is a sense of urgency to fix things now. If you look back and compare the leader’s respective responses to the questioning public during the Creech incident involving the SCSO and the Zehm incident involving the SPD, both of which created a public outcry, Ozzie at least responded numerous times to the public’s concerns and the family. The SPD brass essentially remained mute and allowed their officers to run rampant with salutes, etc. I don’t agree with the handling of either incident, but at least one department attempted a response.
DickAdams on December 31 at 12:21 p.m.
Brian you state:
“On the other hand the City would no longer have any control over expenditures and would be subject to a contract with the County, and would have virtually no say in any oversight.”
Brian: Would it not depend on the inter-local agreement between the city and county that must accompany a consolidation of SCSO and SPD?
brianrbreen on December 31 at 12:25 p.m.
@Shelala
I for one am willing to see what happens in the next couple of years with hopes that positive changes are made. As far as training, I feel that some immediate changes need to take place including some transfers from the “Training Unit” that I see it as a liability for the City and should be addressed. I also feel that many other moves are in order based on what has come to light and training is just one of the issues. I don’t believe it is necessarily the curriculum, but the way the curriculum is presented and I think we all got a taste of that.
I think Ron is absolutely right regarding the smaller incorporated areas of the County, just take a look at King County. Those incorporated and unincorporated areas in Spokane County should be concerned about any consolidation plans.
It will be interesting to see what announcements are made next week. It also appears that other people that frequent your pet peeve are interested in whether the rumors are true or not.
brianrbreen on December 31 at 12:28 p.m.
@DickAdams
I would think it would depend entirely upon the services contract for police services provided by the county. I would think we would be in the same boat as Rockford, and they are hurting.
brianrbreen on December 31 at 12:38 p.m.
@DickAdams
Look at what is happening with the Jail contract between the City and the County. Because of the escalating contract costs the city is contemplating sending prisoners to Benton County.
DickAdams on December 31 at 12:41 p.m.
JC, I agree 100% with your take on the Spokane Fire Department. Its a sore spot with a large number of voters the way Chief Bobby Williams runs (his) the fire department.
The one item that`s overlooked most of the time, is the money from everybody`s homeowners insurance preimum that is subtracted out of it and the money is given to Bobby`s fire department (the city depart`mt). City Hall officials have what is called, “accountants amnesia” regarding that source of revenue.
DickAdams on December 31 at 1:04 p.m.
Brian, inter-local agreements between the county and city depends which agency is the better negotiator. City Hall has pulled a few fast ones on the inter-local agreements with the county in the past. The waste to energy plant is a big one, and the public facilities district is another. I don`t think the county knew what hit them. Tucker may have been at the 19th hole when the agreement was drawn up? I would think the unions involved in the marriage, may have something in the working agreement about it, and/or provisions in state or federal laws. With very few exceptions, when consolidations take place, the effective union current agreements haven`t much to say when all the positions are abolished. Both city and county have the preoperative to abolish positions and the unions can`t do anything about it other than to complain.
brianrbreen on December 31 at 1:29 p.m.
@DickAdams
I honestly don’t know how it would be handled here. I just have some background regarding how it went in King County, and the problems associated with that. Whatever the process it wouldn’t be an easy one. I know the City of Spokane Valley might have some input regarding the pros and cons.
I’m not so sure the County Commissioners would want to accept all of the liabilities involved in policing the city, which they would have to do in any contract/inter-local agreement. But who knows.
Dazzeetrader11 on December 31 at 2:35 p.m.
Howard, Rocko, Williams…all gone soon enough. 6 months tops. I’d hoped the “accountant” might be gone as well….that one might take a bit longer.
johnclarke on December 31 at 3:30 p.m.
DickAdams on December 31 at 12:41 p.m.
JC, I agree 100% with your take on the Spokane Fire Department. Its a sore spot with a large number of voters the way Chief Bobby Williams runs (his) the fire department.
The one item that`s overlooked most of the time, is the money from everybody`s homeowners insurance preimum that is subtracted out of it and the money is given to Bobby`s fire department (the city depart`mt). City Hall officials have what is called, “accountants amnesia” regarding that source of revenue.
Dick Adams, thank you. I was totally unaware of that! Can you help me find out more on that topic? I do marvel at all the line items that belong to the fire department in the budget. Payroll is just part of the problem.
Ron_the_Cop on December 31 at 3:58 p.m.
Shelala,
I’ve stated before that Sheriff Knezovich was way more available to the media and the public on the Creach OIS than the SPD was in the Zehm OID. However it was the SPD’s Major Crime Unit that did both of these investigations.
SPD did the Sheriff no favors in it’s handling of the investigation of the Creach OIS. While I don’t believe this OIS was criminal there are many issues yet unresolved as to policies/tactics that the Sheriff has not publicly addressed which greatly concerns me.
That’s my point regarding any consolidation right now. I agree with Brian that a joint regional LE training facility may be a good idea if the training was looked at with a fine tooth comb. Brian is right the use of force experts at the SPD’s academy have to go. This academy needs to be revamped from the bottom to the top because I believe this is where SPD went off the tracks in addition to SPD’s ineffective leadership.
brianrbreen on December 31 at 4:30 p.m.
@Ron_the_Cop
As far as I know the SPD Academy is still a Regional Academy run by the SPD which trains recruits from various departments on the east side, as well as their own and the SO. Officer Preuninger who is the defense tactics instructor assigned to that Academy is the “Expert” who testified in Thompson’s behalf during the trial and testified completely contrary to the expert that certified him from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, which oversees the SPD Regional Academy. I can’t see how the WSCJTC could be at all happy with what Preuninger testified to, if you read that testimony in my view it leaves not only the SPD but also other agencies who have been trained in that way, hanging out in an excessive force litigation. It would be the first testimony transcript I would get in a 1983 action where the officer had received his training at the SPD Regional Academy.
brianrbreen on December 31 at 4:35 p.m.
https://fortress.wa.gov/cjtc/www/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15&Itemid=103
brianrbreen on December 31 at 4:57 p.m.
@Ron_the_Cop
I forgot to mention, regarding the link above that the WSCJTC is currently without a Director, any guesses as to who might have an interest. :) :)
reservedparking on December 31 at 5:05 p.m.
Don’t forget the SCSO has a union, too - Deputy Sheriff’s Association, or something similarly named.
So if you’re thinking you’re ridding yourselves of a LEO union, you’re sadly mistaken. Labor will still be represented. Wages, hours, and working conditions will still be negotiated. Contracts will still exist & require compliance.
If the departments do consolidate, the bargaining unit will be larger, perhaps more powerful.
Shelala on December 31 at 5:14 p.m.
@Brian
Which expert witnesses do you suppose the donations and wristband sales paid for?
brianrbreen on December 31 at 5:22 p.m.
@Shelala
I knew that was coming. :) I’m pretty sure we paid for that one, maybe even twice. I can give you a name and number to call to see what experts we paid for from CJA funds if you would like.
@reservedparking
I don’t disagree with that. I’m not an advocate of consolidation….at least at this point.
Shelala on December 31 at 5:53 p.m.
@brian
yeah, I couldn’t resist the opening. I know the number, etc just thinking maybe one of those 505ers would come out of the woodwork with some financial disclosures to shut me up. Frankly, I am at this point in favor of consolidation. I would probably be even in favor of consolidation within the parks department if I thought the end result would be ridding the community of bad apples. A lot of time in the private sector and in state and federal government, leaders and managers are hired for their leadership capabilities and not necessarily for their ability to do the actual job function. Sometimes a person is not capable of being a leader despite his years on the job and merely attains the title through seniority backed by a strong union that recognizes seniority above performance. If we do keep SPD without the merger, maybe it’s time to think outside the box, to quote a cliche, and look for an actual leader instead of law enforcement experts without leadership abilities. And no, law enforcement, is not so special that this would not be possible- that is the communal scream of every worker bee whose leader didn’t come up through the internal ranks.
brianrbreen on December 31 at 6:13 p.m.
@Shelala
Yep, the 505’s are quiet……I wonder why! :)
Probably enjoying the holidays.
Shelala on December 31 at 7:16 p.m.
@Brian
Not so quiet today.
brianrbreen on December 31 at 7:27 p.m.
@Shelala
I thought you meant the Facebook page. My buddy smitty is a whole different dilemma.
Shelala on December 31 at 7:33 p.m.
@brian
Perhaps you may be right.seems to be concerned about someone being sacrificed for justice sake…hmmm. Smitty has some issues. He;s your bud, you keep him.
Shelala on December 31 at 7:34 p.m.
@Brian
I was referring to FB
brianrbreen on December 31 at 7:41 p.m.
@Shelala
It’s just the ones that didn’t get the memo sort of speak.
Shelala on December 31 at 7:55 p.m.
@Brian
Wait till sentencing. We’ll see who got the memo.
westerly on December 31 at 8:30 p.m.
Dave Mandyke retireing…38 years….dedicated and probably at least $90,000 a year with $10,000 a year medical added on….no wonder Spokane has money for projects, ad nauseam.
Ron_the_Cop on December 31 at 9:39 p.m.
@Brian and Shelala,
I sent the link that WDodd found on freedom of speech for public employees to OPO Tim Burns. Actually I was surprised just how much public employees’ speech can be curtailed. I suggested the FB posters read this article in Law Officer:
http://www.lawofficer.com/article/technology-and-communications/facebook-free-speech-firing-wo
Shelala on December 31 at 10:02 p.m.
@ron
More info on this thread
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/dec/24/thompson-defense-seeks-new-trial/#c389425
brianrbreen on December 31 at 10:30 p.m.
@Ron_the_Cop
You might want to read this thread. I’ve been harping on this since Verner and Kirkpatrick said the salute was not actionable.
Here is the 9th Circuits criterion for determining if the disciplinary action taken against a police officer was legal when the officer’s defense is that they were simply expressing their freedom of speech.
(1) whether the plaintiff spoke on a matter of public concern; (2) whether the plaintiff spoke as a private citizen or public employee; (3) whether the plaintiff’s protected speech was a substantial or motivating factor in the adverse employment action; (4) whether the state had an adequate justification for treating the employee differently from other members of the general public; and (5) whether the state would have taken the adverse employment action even absent the protected speech.
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/nov/22/in-brief-council-denounces-salute-of-thompson/
brianrbreen on December 31 at 10:44 p.m.
@Ron_the_Cop
I might add I spent some dough to have a lawyer review the case law in relation to the salute. How is your complaint going, I assume it is the only one showing pending on the Ombudsman’s web site. Interestingly there were 642 internal city emails generated regarding the salute so it will be awhile before I’m ready to make my complaint. I’m still going over hours of radio traffic, and haven’t got all of the PDRs yet which I’m told won’t be available until around Feb. 6th. To bad I can’t bill this out.
Open_Spokane on January 01 at 6:32 a.m.
@ John Clark and others
I’m glad that you are looking at the Spokane Fire Department. Just the facts’
There are very few actual fires in Spokane and the number of actual fires is less than 40 and dropping.
Those numbers are padded with fire’s that happen outside the City of Spokane.
Chief Williams makes in excess of $240k/year wages and benefits. He’s the highest paid and least transparent employee in the city.
Spokane’s average fire loss is around five million per year. I’m guessing about 95% of that is covered by insurance. It cost you and me in excess of $50 million a year to run this good old boys club.
A performance audit is long overdue with the SFD.
johnclarke on January 01 at 9:30 a.m.
@ Open_Spokane
I agree - how do get started ?
Open_Spokane on January 01 at 10:48 a.m.
@ John Clark,
You are not alone and this municipal mafia also known as the City of Spokane can be better managed. The timing for change has never been better with a new mayor and city council.
In a democracy, nothing is more valuable than the truth. Our new leaders cannot make good decisions unless they have good information. Past and present city staff treated the council members like a bunch of six graders and withheld information and alternatives. That control of information limits legislation to the extent that it is little more than a rubber stamp for department heads.
Might I suggest the following
* Demand transparency and full disclosure. Do public records requests.
* Never vote for any bond issue, levy or any other tax increase unless changes are made in Spokane. There’s a dire lack of accountability at all levels in city government. No police ombudsman, no new fire levy. Yes, it’s a flock shot but nothing works like peer pressure.
* Chief Williams needs to be fired. For his complicity in the AMR overbilling scandal and his unethical purchasing of dispatch software that never went out to competitive bid.
* Everytime you see a fire crew doing personal business on the clock - call Mayor Condon. I would guess more miles are put on fire trucks doing personal shopping than miles traveled to fire calls. 625-6250 if more people would put this number on speed dial you would see some changes in a big hurry.
As for Spokane EMS mismanagement you can email spokaneems@gmail.com and request information. They will tell you that using big fire trucks is just about as efficient as delivering pizza’s with concrete trucks.
*
*
johnclarke on January 01 at 12:08 p.m.
All great ideas, but the fire levys keep passing. When you are facing an issue and only one side is advertising who is going to win? The union funds billboards and other materials, and you get firefighters out on the street corners waving signs. Without proper funding, the opposition vote does not stand much of a chance I’m afraid.
I look to elected leadership to take this on. I’ve said it before, in this town the Union tail is wagging the dog.
Ron_the_Cop on January 01 at 3:59 p.m.
@Brian,
Re my complaint to the OPO re the salute et al I haven’t received any reply. It appears from the website that the OPO received about five complaints. In checking the website I don’t see and final disposition on any of them yet.
brianrbreen on January 01 at 5:14 p.m.
@Ron_the_Cop
I thought with the exception of one they were classified as “Closed as Investigative Inquiry”.
Ron_the_Cop on January 01 at 6:09 p.m.
@Brian,
You’re right. I was looking at the bottom of the column. Looks like there were 6 complaints. With the exception of one which was left as pending classification (OPO 11-76) the others were closed as “Investigative Inquiry.” I have no clue if this one was mine or not.
I noticed there was a complaint regarding a comment on the 505 FB page, “… the complainant was concerned about comments made on a Karl Thompson Facebook support page.”
Here’s the 2011 listing of complaints:
http://www.spdombudsman.com/documents-and-reports/2011-complaints
John_Fever_Richmond on January 02 at 10:22 p.m.
Chief Bobby Williams needs to go! Make him take that worthless, overpaid, joke of an investigator Kevin $mathers and his fat little sidekick with him too!!!!! Remember his flawed investigation and wronful arrest in the Whitley fire debacle. I mean for what $mather$ does very poorly - WE are paying for dearly! For the amount of arson that takes place in this town, wouldn’t it just be cheaper to outsource the arson investigations?
I can tell you that WE would be getting more for our $ than we are presently getting from that wannabe cop $mather$ - he totally sucks!!!!!