Spokane7
55°
January 25, 2011 in City
Long wait by armed driver also at issue
Spokane Police Ombudsman Tim Burns also declined to certify an investigation regarding a driver who had a permit to own a handgun but was given the gun back in pieces following a traffic stop.
The man, whose name was withheld from the report, informed police upon being stopped for a minor traffic offense June 27 that he had a loaded and holstered handgun. Police handcuffed the man and placed him in the back of a patrol car while they verified his gun permit.
Burns questioned why police searched the man’s car and returned his firearm disassembled.
“I can certainly emphasize with the officers and their concerns, but I’m also sympathetic with the driver,” he said.
The incident took unusually long because the officer mistyped the suspect’s name into the computer system.
Burns said improved training on data entry could prevent that from happening again.
Police have since issued a memorandum reminding officers to return lawfully owned firearms as they found them, if possible, said Lt. Craig Meidl said.
“The offices are expected to justify and write a report if they give a weapon back in a different form,” Meidl said. “We’re still going to do what we need to protect ourselves.”
Meghann M. Cuniff
Man dies following early Saturday accident 
misjustice on January 25 at 8:03 a.m.
WTF? Guess citizens’ 2nd and 4th Amendment rights are a quaint suggestion that local LEOs reserve to themselves. The rest of us? Not so much.
What’s it going to take to get these bad actors frog marched out of the department? A Detroit? Because with the fear and anger simmering beneath the surface, that’s highly likely.
liarsinnews on January 25 at 8:08 a.m.
I`ll wait and see what kind of report is filed. I probably could write the opine. I hope I`m wrong but don`t think so.
eagleproducer on January 25 at 8:27 a.m.
“The offices are expected to justify and write a report if they give a weapon back in a different form,” Meidl said. “We’re still going to do what we need to protect ourselves.”
You’ll feel and be much more “protected” if you stop lying while engaging in cover-ups and terrorizing our citizenry.
misjustice on January 25 at 11:06 a.m.
What gives cops the right to take apart someone else’s gun?
I can understand officers removing the clip, or cylinder, and even locking it in their trunk until sorting things out; but not disassembling it. Why? What was the purpose? Just because they can? Power trip? Fear trip? Retaliation?
Improved training on date entry? Really? Like what? Learn to freaking type??????? This would be funny if it wasn’t so pathetic.
Orphan on January 25 at 12:29 p.m.
Wow that is so dangerious and so unlawful, substitute car or wallet for gun, without probabale cause an officer would not be allowed to take someones car apart. A properly holstered firearm is not PC to search a vehicle especially if the driver was handcuffed in the back of a patrol car, once the driver is out of the car and cuffed there isnt anyway the officer could be in danger, thats the rules no danger no searchy.. This Cop is too stupid to be a Cop fire him before someone with money enough to sue does.
When are we going to demand that an audio video device that records in real time at a remote site be attached to each officer the entire time they are on duty?
Teseract on January 25 at 12:42 p.m.
How dare anyone but law enforcement officers carry a gun? Good citizens don’t need to defend theselves, they have the police to do it for them. If they arrive on time… and if the 911 dispatcher does their job right.
The only time I’ve ever called 911 turned into a second and third time when I heard the fire department sirens getting closer and closer… then further and further away. The dispatcher had sent the fire department to the wrong area dispite having the correct addresss. The fire station was less than 2 miles away, but it took 25 minutes for the fire engines to roll up, by which time the vehicle that had caught fire was rolling 10’ flames into the sky and the flames were encroaching on the house, despite multiple calls to 911.
How did the fire department finally find me? They followed the smoke column which was visible from miles away. Yes, the house was saved by a smoke signal, not by cell phones, radios or GPS!
The LAST people I trust to get there in time to save my life or my property are those people in government paid to protect us. If I’d called 911 about someone trying to murder me the cops would probably have shown up just in time to find my body in a cold puddle of my own blood and the killer probably already in Canada!
To the wonderful firemen that ignored dispatch and found me in my time of need by using their own brains instead of listening to the idiot at dispatch — THANK YOU!
D Statler on January 25 at 4:14 p.m.
What is it going to take to get a full civillian oversight committee installed ? Our Ombudsman really isn’t doing anything of real value to the taxpayers.Our police chief won’t stand up and do the right thing when necessary. This whole letting one law enforcement agency investigate another is rediculous. The system as is, breeds corruption throughout.
I am wondering how the spokane gunsmiths(POLICE DEPARTMENT) keep their own firearms cleaned and working? I am also surprised the legally carrying driver didn’t get beat up or shot while on his knees.He was lucky he didn’t have a rock!
Ed Byrnes on January 25 at 5:21 p.m.
My assessment is that instituting a citizen review panel for OIS’s and misconduct will require a local ballot initiative. I am looking for funding to get this accomplished since we know the guild will be running as large of a negative advertising campaign as they can.