November 11, 2011 in News, City

Spokane police chief plans to retire Jan. 2

Meghann M. Cuniff The Spokesman-Review

Tags:Anne KirkpatrickSpokane Police Department

Spokane Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick confirmed Friday that she will not wait for a new chief to be hired and will leave at the first of the year.

Kirkpatrick has said as late as Nov. 4 that she would stay through the first few months of the year as the city searched for a new chief.

But on Nov. 6, she sent a letter to Mayor Mary Verner announcing a departure date of Jan. 2.

“My family’s a priority and I’m at a great age for new things,” Kirkpatrick, 52, said in an interview Friday.

It’s been a difficult time for Kirkpatrick’s department. A jury on Nov. 2 convicted Officer Karl F. Thompson Jr. of violating the civil rights of Otto Zehm. On Nov. 4, the city was slapped with a $722,000 verdict for the way Kirkpatrick and the department disciplined Detective Jay Mehring, who was acquitted in October 2008 of allegations that he threatened to kill his wife during a messy divorce. The verdict includes $250,000 in punitive damages against Kirkpatrick

Kirkpatrick insisted Friday that recent turmoil in the department after Thompson’s conviction and the Mehring verdict did not affect her decision to leave sooner.

“I think that the top of the year is a better time for transition,” she said. “This should not be a surprise to anyone. We’ve been talking about it for quite some time.”

Kirkpatrick said she’s had no conversations with Spokane Mayor-Elect David Condon about her Jan. 2 departure.

Condon campaign spokesman Tyler Whitney confirmed Condon has not spoken recently with Kirkpatrick. Condon urged that a new chief not be selected before he takes office.

“With regard to the City’s current need for a new police chief, I believe that a national search conducted at this time won’t yield highly qualified candidates,” Condon said in a news release. “Qualified candidates will want to know that they have the support of the new mayor. I want all options on the table as we work not only to find a new chief, but reform the department as a whole.”

Assistant Police Chief Jim Nicks, who has said he’ll retire when Kirkpatrick leaves, is on medical leave and Major Scott Stephens has been appointed acting assistant chief.

Kirkpatrick, who has applied for for chief jobs in Seattle and San Francisco, emphasized just two months ago that she was moving on, not retiring. She acknowledged Friday that she’s since changed her mind.

“I thought I would just resign, but when you sit down and start calculating your pension and things of that nature it makes a lot of sense for me right now,” Kirkpatrick said. “I can always come out of retirement.”

But she said she doesn’t expect to do so anytime soon.

“I have nothing lined up. I have no application anywhere,” Kirkpatrick said. “I’m a young woman and I have new chapters I want to explore.”

Kirkpatrick, who grew up in Tennessee, said she hopes to move back to the South where her family lives.

“I’ve been away from them for almost 30 years. I’ve been out here alone,” said Kirkpatrick, who is not married and has no children. “My parents are getting older, and I have a lovely family, and I like to be around them. It’s just an exciting time for me.”

Kirkpatrick, a lawyer, joined the city in September 2006 after a national search. She previously was chief of police in Federal Way and Ellensburg, Wash.

Kirkpatrick says she has vacations scheduled but expects to work up until Jan. 2.

News of Kirkpatrick’s pending departure was reported in March, though she said when hired that she planned to stay for about five years.

In a statement released by the city Friday, Kirkpatrick said, “I have been honored to serve as the Chief of Police, and I thank SPD’s employees, the City’s elected leadership, and most importantly, the citizens for this opportunity.”

Kirkpatrick declined to say whether she believes Thompson acted appropriately in the Zehm case and said she’ll discuss the topic in depth before she leaves.

“I’m going to make my remarks at a time that is appropriate and today is not that time,” Kirkpatrick said. “Today is really more about my announcement of the date. Everybody’s been waiting for the date.”

When asked if the department is making changes in light of department trainers testifying in court that they supported force used by Thompson that jurors later said was a criminal, Kirkpatrick said “some things are being addressed.”

“I’m not ready to comment on what those are right now,” she said.

“I inherited Otto Zehm, and I said I would carry it, and I did carry it,” she continued. “I said I would stay to see that come to closure. I’m just doing what I said I would do.”

Staff writer Jonathan Brunt contributed to this report.

67 comments on this story so far. Add yours!

Shadedmuse on November 11 at 8:50 a.m.
She will be missed, she did a great job as Chief, I say its time to Bring back Chertok
Dazzeetrader11 on November 11 at 9:01 a.m.
Condon’s job is being made easier. Expect the rats to run like crazy. They know what’s coming. Kirk needs her full 5 years for financial reasons. Feds want to talk to her.
misjustice on November 11 at 9:39 a.m.
How do you know the Feds want to talk to her?
james_l on November 11 at 9:42 a.m.
Jack (Daniels) told her.
brianrbreen on November 11 at 9:49 a.m.
@greenlibertarian
Prospicience? A WAG? Inside scoop?
I think Stevens might be good for the interim spot once Kirkpatrick is gone. She has promoted him to Acting Assistant Chief, but he will have a lot of preliminary things to clean up before anyone new gets the head Kahuna spot, and Kirkpatrick needs to stay out of everything until she is gone (she hasn’t been around much anyway). Need a kick arse Major to take his spot, that should, in my view, be Capt Judith Carl, anyone can say what they want about her, but she actually is tough, smart, and on the very rare occasion sensitive. She is what they need in that spot.
A lot of messes to clean up and they have to be done legally, right, and fair.
As far as Kirkpatrick is concerned the sooner the better, the longer she is there the harder it will be for anyone to straighten the course.
brianrbreen on November 10 at 7:57 a.m.
The very best thing for the Spokane Police Department right now is for Condon, should he win, is to step in and get rid of Kirkpatrick and Nicks (Verner won’t do it). Then allow whoever might be in line for the job (probably Stevens) internally to have their shot while a search is underway. The City Attorneys office will tell Condon how necessary it is for the two to remain until after all the other civil litigations against Kirkpatrick are resolved, and there is a resolution to any other criminal issues in the Zehm case. That’s hog wash and he should have had good counsel outside the City Attorney’s Office in that regard prior to taking office. He then has to focus his attention on the City Attorneys Office and make the necessary changes there, including dealing with the issues of obstructionism, transparency, and ethics.
A change in culture begins with the leadership at the top, the very top. If Mr. Condon has any aspirations of a political future beyond that of the Mayor of the City of Spokane, I’m sure he knows that political future is dependent upon his ability to provide the voters with the type of strong leadership necessary to clean up many of the messes other people have left for him.
Ron_the_Cop on November 11 at 9:51 a.m.
JustMeAgain,
If the feds go up the food chain re the Otto Zehm cover-up that’s where I would go next. Perhaps also with the advisement given to Ofc. Moses and Ofc. McIntyre re to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Further re obstruction of justice that “I don’t know … I don’t recall” will not cut it.
another_perspective on November 11 at 9:55 a.m.
You know Chief Kirkpatrick was tossed into the biggest cesspool that you could imagine. She did come in to clean it up, but she received little support from staff and rank and file. Nicks and others stymied her at every turn. She errored in thinking these professional police officers would support her. She should have fired or neutralized them and brought in her own staff.
A new broom sweeps clean and she didnt.
another_perspective on November 11 at 9:55 a.m.
You know Chief Kirkpatrick was tossed into the biggest cesspool that you could imagine. She did come in to clean it up, but she received little support from staff and rank and file. Nicks and others stymied her at every turn. She errored in thinking these professional police officers would support her. She should have fired or neutralized them and brought in her own staff.
A new broom sweeps clean and she didnt.
Liberalsblow on November 11 at 9:59 a.m.
Funny that Breen pretends to know so much about an organization that he left 17 years ago.
Two fools Ron and Brian that attempt to gain credibility by claiming ownership of the name “cop”, while constantly tearing it down at the same time.
I suspect a little looking into Brian’s past at the SPD would reveal irrelevant career.
Liberalsblow on November 11 at 10:00 a.m.
Strange that a chief that claims to be a labor attorney would constantly have her decision over turned in the legal process.
Maybe she is the actual problem.
Bluecollorman on November 11 at 10:05 a.m.
She’s another fine example of what Affirmative Action has done for the country in general
brianrbreen on November 11 at 10:06 a.m.
@liberalsblow
No question, totally irrelevant never did much of anything except keep my head down, and I was a coward too. If someone asked for my name and badge number I always came up with a phony name and number to hide behind.
DickAdams on November 11 at 10:10 a.m.
Pension, pension, pension. 5 years, 5 years, 5 years!! Taxpayer money given to her by the stupid policies that should never been enacted in the first place where these employees only need 5 years. Look up the amounts of money that have been given officials in the past when retiring or leaving their job. Its ludicrous and wasteful spending.
Google Gavin Cooley, when he thought he may be dumped because of a change in Mayors. With only 3 years on the payroll, he thought he was entitled to receive all the full benefits as those that had the required time and received the full amount of benefits. Cooley should have been fired right there and then. My educated guess was he was kept employed to draw up the agreement between the Cowles Dynasty and the city (Verner said at the time,it made her sick to her stomach). Cooley has even controlled fixing the books and was a party to spending the reserve account money. Cooley, screwed the taxpayers in the agreement with the purchase of the RPS parking garage costing the taxpayers money until 2030 to pay it off. Taxpayer money, taxpayer money, taxpayer money.
EthicsinLE on November 11 at 10:14 a.m.
The Sheriff’s office needs to take over SPD. Under Knezovich, credibility and accountability would be restored. I’ve talked with MANY SPD officers who wish the SO would take over. SPD has great guys, but they need good, strong leadership. There are so many internal problems at SPD they need a chief from the outside, not from within.
Liberals blow - I agree. Someone who is an attorney and supposed to be as smart as she is, she sure has made some major mistakes. I have no problem with officers being disciplined. But, if you’re gonna do it, do it right, follow the rules and you won’t get your decision overturned, a 700+k verdict against the city and a 250k punitive damages personally. As to “Ron the EX cop”, any officer, current or former, that associates himself with Mark Fuhrman, a convicted perjurer and racist, is a disgrace to the badge. Notice how Ron took down his “Friends of Mark Fuhrman” website shortly after some recent events and right before he got his PI license? Guess that site would look bad when he being paid as an “Expert witness” in court. To me, it speaks of his character.
brianrbreen on November 11 at 10:14 a.m.
@liberalsblow
If you have a beef with me take it up with Judith, she always took care of my light work.
PassinThru on November 11 at 11:01 a.m.
The Chief probably wishes she’d never heard of Spokane. I doubt that she knew of the underlying tough attitude that prevails among many in the SPD from clear back in the Robert Panther era and before. Once she became aware of the propensity of these officers to bark once and then inflict a big bite (or hard shove, or stick swing or whatever) she may have tried to steer things toward a better way, but as proven by 50 salutes in court last week, she couldn’t do it. Many L.E. officers in other jurisdictions have been aware of an arrogance, referred to by many as the Spokane PD Attitude, that even they encounter when they need information or help from SPD. That underlying attitude manifested itself one night in a Zip Trip, and occasionally pops up again. Understand that most of the SPD shootings may NOT be due to the attitude I speak of (point a gun at any cop, even in Colfax, Cheney or even Springdale) and you’ll be lucky to live), but the hard shoves, the hair trigger pepper spray and many of the dogpiles are products of the SPD Attitude.
We’ve heard about the Chief’s intent to leave for quite some time. Recent developments (in court, not the polls) have done nothing to disuade her. She’s at the age where retirement from a full law enforcement career is appealing, regardless of local politics.
Many agencies have combined city and county law enforcement. Butte/Silverbow County comes to mind. I doubt that would happen here, because the city government - mayor and town council - wouldn’t have the control they have now.
Ron_the_Cop on November 11 at 11:09 a.m.
Liberalsblow,
You and I can agree that Chief Kirkpatrick came into a cesspool. IMO she was way in over her head. The Guild has real issues with her and I understand their vote of no confidence. The Guild’s issues however were spun against them by the media and City leadership. Yes the Chief is an attorney and you’re very correct she couldn’t follow SOP when meeting out discipline. Atty Bob Dunn is scooping up fat paychecks because of her mistakes.
Ethics in LE,
I think I explained in another thread that I created the FOF blog after Fuhrman’s Show was suddenly canceled. IMO because he was creating too much attention to the “powers that be” in this town on several issues. I was posting as Rocketsbrain before that. When Fuhrman did emerge in another local radio show, I changed this blog to Ron the Cop (BTW Fuhrman hung this AKA on me when I called into his show). I kept the underlying domain name as I didn’t what to lose my prior content. It would have required a considerable amount of IT work that I didn’t want to do.
As for Fuhrman I do like him. Fuhrman knows he screwed up in the OJ criminal case. To be technical he did not lie in the OJ case. He was led down the garden path by none other than F. Lee Baily on an issue that was not a material fact in the trial, the previous use of the “n” word. Furhman walked into the trap. How or why this got filed as a perjury in CA I don’t know as the elements of perjury in CA generally require the perjury is on a material fact.
For those that want to ensure the appropriate change comes to SPD leadership here’s what I wrote in another thread:
ChiefsFan21
Here’s what you and your all your friends and relatives can do to ensure real change will happen at SPD. Write and or contact the following and demand that their current criminal investigation be expanded to include any and all who were complicit and or aided/abetted in the Zehm cover-up for obstruction of justice.
JAMES A. MC DEVITT United States Attorney
and
Timothy M. Durkin, Assistant United States Attorney
Post Office Box 1494
Spokane, WA 99210-1494
Telephone: (509) 353-2767
Victor Boutros, Trial Attorney
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division – Criminal Section
950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20530
Tel. (202) 514-3204
And write the following to demand that the US DOJ initiate a civil pattern and practice investigation of SPD.
Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General
Civil Rights Division
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
(202) 514-4609Telephone Device for the Deaf (TTY) (202) 514-0716
And finally write/email both the Spokane Board of Commissioners and the Mayor and City Council of Spokane and demand that all officer involved shootings and deaths be reviewed by a inquest panel presided over by a superior court judge under the rule of law/evidence before a jury pulled from the standing jury pool:
Board of Commissioners
Spokane County Courthouse
1116 West Broadway Ave
Spokane, WA 99260
http://www.spokanecounty.org/commissioners/content.aspx?c=1038
Mayor and City Council
City of Spokane
808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.,
Spokane, WA 99201
http://www.spokanecity.org/government/citycouncil/
brianrbreen on November 11 at 11:35 a.m.
@EthicsinLE
Combining the city and county has been discussed since they moved into the PSB together. I personally don’t think that’s a good idea, it took years for the transition to become effective with the King County PD.
I think we are all on the same page as far as Kirkpatrick is concerned. My first clue was when she gave Torok a Garrity letter prior to the SO doing his criminal investigative interview. The IA people have to take some of the responsibility for all the screw-ups as well.
I totally agree there are some outstanding cops down there, but there are some rotten ones as well which is true of any department. I say give Stevens a shot at trying to half way straighten things out prior to someone new coming in, and I’m sure there will be someone new coming in. Give him the support he is going to need.
As far as Thompson is concerned we disagree, fine and dandy, but get over it and just do the damn job.
Ron Wright is Ron Wright, Brian Breen is Brian Breen, do not worry about a couple of old farts like us. Doing so totally takes your eye off the ball.
I will tell you this with respect to County v City, as someone that has reviewed many, many, City and County investigations, as well as investigations all over the world during the last several years, they (the county) are doing a lot better job in my opinion, and that’s not easy for me to say. As a side note, in my irrelevant career I did write the Investigations Manual for the SPD Investigative Division mentioned in the Worley report, as well as a whole bunch of other task force reports, policy and procedures, and the like. So at some point I had some people fooled that I knew what I was talking about. You would be surprised at how many SPD cops I’ve talked to that are as fed up as you are with the leadership, and I think you can see so are a whole lot of citizens.
Look at what ultimately happened to Erin Blessing, and Storch after the Boothe case, and how that was handled. It makes me understand why she is reacting the way she is in the Thompson case, but everyone has to get by it.
It’s time for you guys to help Stevens out knock the sh#t off and get back to focusing on work. Things will work there way out, but it’s going to get ugly before it’s pretty.
brianrbreen on November 11 at 11:43 a.m.
@Ron_the_Cop
Mc Devitt is gone.
@PassinThru
Dead on, and boy have I heard exactly that from other agencies. It’s embarrassing.
Liberalsblow on November 11 at 12:36 p.m.
what happened to Blessing and Storch?
zelda on November 11 at 12:51 p.m.
SPD isn’t doing anything much different from many LE departments in California. The pension arrangements are ludicrous and will bankrupt a lot of cities. CA is only a couple of years ahead of Greece in this regard. Funding the pensions is an exponential calculation and, very much like San Jose and Vallejo, a city can reach the end-point whereupon nearly all taxpayer $$ go to pay for pension obligations to city retirees, particularly fire and police departments.
As for Kirkpatrick, it is entirely possible that she will step away from her office physically and use vacation time (accrued + unaccrued) through Dec. 31. That way she stays on the payroll system but hands the reins over to another person in the PD to run the day-to-day operations.
So reporting that “she’s leaving” depends on what kind of departure arrangement she has constructed for herself.
Ron_the_Cop on November 11 at 1:09 p.m.
Brian,
Me bad:-) This was a cut/paste from and an earlier posting for ASUA Tim Durkin’s address. Current US Attorney for the Eastern District of couse is:
Michael Ormsby
Correction to my earlier answer to ChiefsFan21 as to what can be done to ensure that the necessary changes in SPD and City leadership are done:
Here’s what you and your all your friends and relatives can do to ensure real change will happen at SPD. Write and or contact the following and demand that their current criminal investigation be expanded to include any and all who were complicit and or aided/abetted in the Zehm cover-up for obstruction of justice.
Michael Ormsby, United States Attorney
and
Timothy M. Durkin, Assistant United States Attorney
Post Office Box 1494
Spokane, WA 99210-1494
Telephone: (509) 353-2767
Victor Boutros, Trial Attorney
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division – Criminal Section
950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20530
Tel. (202) 514-3204
And write the following to demand that the US DOJ initiate a civil pattern and practice investigation of SPD.
Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General
Civil Rights Division
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
(202) 514-4609Telephone Device for the Deaf (TTY) (202) 514-0716
And finally write/email both the Spokane Board of Commissioners and the Mayor and City Council of Spokane and demand that all officer involved shootings and deaths be reviewed by a inquest panel presided over by a superior court judge under the rule of law/evidence before a jury pulled from the standing jury pool:
Board of Commissioners
Spokane County Courthouse
1116 West Broadway Ave
Spokane, WA 99260
http://www.spokanecounty.org/commissioners/content.aspx?c=1038
Mayor and City Council
City of Spokane
808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.,
Spokane, WA 99201
http://www.spokanecity.org/government/citycouncil/
DH on November 11 at 1:10 p.m.
I don’t doubt it has been a tough job, but the Spokane Police Dept is out of control and needs new leadership. Many in the department saluting a fellow officer (that beat a innocent man to death), and shooting citizens armed with only a knife are just a couple of blatant examples of a department needing capable leadership.
Ron_the_Cop on November 11 at 1:18 p.m.
I am no fan of the previous US Attorney Jim McDevitt and or his successor, Michael Ormsby, for that matter. Ar least in the Zehm case they have chosen the right path.
From my previous post to Brian:
LOL Brian - you’re quite correct the federal young guns like Mr. Durkin are playing major league baseball in our bush league run by Steve Tucker!
[I sent a comment by Truthhurts re US Atty Michael Ormsby to investigative reporter Larry Shook who sent this reply]
Detective Wright:
I think the only thing that can rehabilitate “The Omenous Mr. Ormsby” is the truth about his pivotal role in the RPS scandal and open discussion about how someone who should have probably faced criminal indictment wound up being a U.S. attorney. These are questions that go to the heart of America’s public corruption epidemic.
As The David Project’s legal team evaluates the possibility of a civil RICO class action concerning the Secret Deal of Spokane’s River Park Square scandal, the actions of Mike Ormsby and his billion-dollar law firm will deserve careful attention. So, too, will the scandalous role played by the IRS in covering up the RPS fraud and sticking taxpayers with the bill.
As these few links show, the evidence against Mr. Ormsby and his many co-conspirators inside and outside government is heavy enough to sink a battleship. But the government will never use that evidence. Citizens will have to if they are ever to experience justice.
Hence, The David Project.
Larry
HTML links in the above -
The Ominous Mr. Ormsby - http://tinyurl.com/44b55hh
Protesting Ormsby - http://tinyurl.com/3dfsodv
Indictment Sought - http://tinyurl.com/3zctl48
Secret Deal: The Story of Spokane’s RPS Garage - http://tinyurl.com/6f4e6d5
[IRS] Invitation to an Audit - http://tinyurl.com/6g9rkgy
brianrbreen on November 11 at 1:38 p.m.
@Liberalsblow
You are probably a lot better then I at the sleuthing stuff, been so long for me, you can probably sleuth it out yourself.
I don’t want to bring up any of the old wounds, got enough current ones.
Ron_the_Cop on November 11 at 1:42 p.m.
Zelda,
A slight bit of correction re pensions in CA. Many municipalities, counties and of course state employees are in CalPERS. Vallejo I believe is a member of CalPERS. All contract agencies pay a percentage of their total salaries into CalPERS based on their MOUs re what plans/add ons they provide.
CalPERS each year does an actuarial analysis to change the contributions rates so each agency is fully funded over an amortization schedule of 20 years or so. CalPERS is almost fully funded. The problem is the State of California has given some very good deals to their employee groups - CA Correctional Officers Association for which the State is now paying considerable for. The State is finding itself in the same boat as Vallejo did in that their annual percentage contribution rates has soared. It’s generally not the member agencies that have created this problem. CalPERS is sitting on a ton of money that the State Legislature would like to get their hands on to balance their deep budget hole. The various employee groups are taking a position of HANDS OFF the pot!.
San Jose PD for one has its stand alone pension system as do LAPD, LASO, San Diego County/PD, Orange County and San Bernardino County. Some of these are in pretty good shape while other aren’t like the City of San Jose. San Diego PD had a problem because all of the money the elected were pouring into sports venues/arenas.
So it’s really more complicated than saying CA gave everyone silver spoons on the backs of the taxpayers.
Liberalsblow on November 11 at 1:50 p.m.
@Breen
Why would I need to sleuth it out if you already know? You brought it up.
Well Brian is this just another case of mouth runneth over and you really don’t know what your talking about.
I’m familiar with the Boothe incident. I know Blessing and Storch made the accusation. I know he was aquitted.
I realize you expect the cops to support the court decision, but you are a hypocrite when you don’t like the decision yourself.
what happened to them? did they get fired?
You said “look what happened to ……” I’m trying to look. What am I looking for?
Shadedmuse on November 11 at 2:01 p.m.
Obama-Holder Purged all the Bush-Tea-baggers from DOJ when they took over. thank gawd we need a tea-bagger free world.
zelda on November 11 at 2:08 p.m.
Thanks for the info, Ron. I think that CA’s biggest problems by far are that 2/3’s of the state budget is mandated and they fell in deep and abiding love with Prop 13, not mention the initiative explosion. The info about the correctional system workers is probably the most-egregious example of out-of-control compensation, but aren’t a lot of those workers employed by private firms contracted to run the prisons? At best, SJ and Vallejo are object lessons for municipalities everywhere.
I could call CA a microcosm of today’s financial quagmire, but CA would be among the top 10 world economies if it were a separate country. So it’s a macro problem. Lots and lots of blame to go around — Dems and GOP. The gold rush lasted well beyond Sutter’s Mill.
Anyway, this is going off-topic and I didn’t mean to introduce a tangential issue in this thread…so let’s return to our original programming.
brianrbreen on November 11 at 2:08 p.m.
@Liberalsblow
You are right. I don’t know crap. Hey, even though I know who you are, don’t you think it would be nice if everyone else did. Then perhaps people could see just exactly who the one is shooting off their mouth. Of course that would take some guts wouldn’t it.
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/sep/10/jury-finds-officer-not-guilty-assault/
This is from the Inlander
It wasn’t simply a feeling Spokane Police Officers Erin Blessing and Shaidon Storch had on Sept. 5, 2008. That night, Officer Rob Boothe — an expert in martial arts and one of the department’s use-of-force instructors — chased 22-year-old John Luna on foot with several other officers. Boothe tackled Luna and placed him under arrest.
According to Blessing and Storch, Boothe kicked Luna in the face while he was in handcuffs and sitting on the ground. Boothe denies this.
On the stand, Boothe gave a reason for why accounts from his fellow officers — both of whom he trained — differed so greatly from his.
“I can be a hard trainer,” Boothe said. “Some people have trouble being told what to do.”
Storch said in court that his testimony came at a personal cost: His relationships in the department soured after reporting what he had seen Boothe do that night.
A jury cleared Boothe of the charges. Following the verdict, an internal investigation also cleared him of all excessive force violations. The internal report, however, did stick him with one offense: demeanor, because he used strong language with Luna.
When asked if Blessing and Storch were lying when they said Boothe kicked Luna in the face, Kirkpatrick says, “Not in my opinion.”
When asked if Boothe lied, she says, “We have an acquittal. The acquittal speaks for itself.”
Considering the contradictory accounts, somebody had to be lying in that case, right? “I hear what you’re saying,” the chief says. “I understand.”
Since not one of the officers was disciplined, the department won’t release any records, meaning the public can’t review the investigation of Boothe and understand why IA detectives couldn’t sustain the allegations
brianrbreen on November 11 at 2:28 p.m.
@Liberalsblow
Unlike some people Blessing and Storch had some guts, and stood up didn’t they. Came forward testified against Boothe with a courtroom full of cops supporting him. No one bothered them after that right? No one gave them those good old looks right? It was just a piece of cake for them to show up for work right. Kinda like it was so easy for the cops that came forward on some of the IA cases I had RIGHT? You know anything about those? Just a walk in the park right?
Wow, did you notice that Kirkpatrick said she believed Blessing and Storch? Interesting huh? I suppose if the Inlander really wanted to get the IA reports mentioned in that article they could, now, given the new Washington State Supreme Court ruling regarding IA files. But if you know so much why don’t you just tell us what happened to those IA cases if there ever were any.
DickAdams on November 11 at 2:32 p.m.
When it comes right down to it, retiring was an after thought if you think about it. Anne`s 5 year plan (saying she planned “?” to stay only 5 years), but Kirkpatrick tried to get out Dodge city several years ago. It just doesn`t add up. Heck, Anne had already been making out applications in several cities. When Anne couldn`t find a job during the couple of years she tried and was approaching the 5 year mark, even a fool would know enough to hang around and receive a generous city pension handed out with only 5 years of service.
DickAdams on November 11 at 2:37 p.m.
I should have included, she lied attempting to cover-up the Otto Zehm crime, so I have a hard time believing anything that comes out of her mouth.
The_Seer on November 11 at 2:47 p.m.
Wow!!
This good cop/bad cop sideshow almost approaches entertainment!
The_Seer on November 11 at 2:49 p.m.
dick: She needs that extra jack to pay off Mehring’s settlement. And we get to write the check. What a world, eh?
Ron_the_Cop on November 11 at 2:55 p.m.
The_Seer,
You got that right. I’m guessing the City will pick up all of the tab including Chief Kirkpatrick’s share too. Gee I should give Atty Bob Dunn a call I think I may have a good libel case. She’s never corrected/retracted an email where she accused me of libeling her even though I asked politely to please tell me where I may have been wrong:-)
brianrbreen on November 11 at 3:00 p.m.
@Liberalsblow
Since “The_Seer” needs some entertainment. Just thought I’d through this in. If you go back and do some of that sleuthing, you will find I supported every jury decision, because it was just that a jury decision, might not have liked some of them, but it is what it is. As a matter of fact even supported Harvey’s if you can imagine that. So go figure.
brianrbreen on November 11 at 3:08 p.m.
@Ron_the_Cop
Harvey’s case is just down the road, and it’s going to cost.
BTW: The city is self insured up to one million then the insurance kicks in except for the punitive damages. The city could deny paying the punitive based on the jury verdict but they won’t, because it doesn’t set a very good precedent. The problem is that she alone will have caused the city insurance premiums to skyrocket next year, and in the future.
LostInWyoming on November 11 at 4:52 p.m.
Maybe they’ll send in an undercover Federal officer to replace her. Do some house cleaning. I’m waiting to see how many of Karl the Klubbers supporters pack up and hit the road too.Would be funny to see a help wanted ad in the paper for 50 police officers in Spokane. = )
Liberalsblow on November 11 at 5:38 p.m.
@Breen
so after all your bloviating about “Look at what happened to Blessing and Storch……”
the thing that happened is a sideways look and “it wasn’t easy”
I never claimed to know so much about anything. I’m just here to expose you for the blow hard that you are.
o_pleez on November 11 at 5:55 p.m.
DickAdams– ” When Anne couldn`t find a job during the couple of years she tried and was approaching the 5 year mark, even a fool would know enough to hang around and receive a generous city pension handed out with only 5 years of service.”
–––––––––––––––––––––
In the interest of accuaracy, the LEOFF II pension is a state pension, not city, and the Chief had time in LE on the West side, so she’s been in the sysem more than 5 years.
The “generous city pension” after 5 years doesn’t exist.
brianrbreen on November 11 at 6:12 p.m.
@Liberalsblow
And your doing a great job of it, keep it going! You are, just kicking the crap out of me, (even without a baton) and exposing my cowardly, bloviating, no-nothing self. I must have hurt your feelings some where along the line. Life can be a bit#h sometimes.
@The_Seer
How we doing?
DickAdams on November 11 at 6:18 p.m.
Are you serious onot informed? Are you saying the city of Spokane didn`t want to be included LLEOFF2, and is not obligated to contribute a huge amount of taxpayer money to fund the plan? For gosh sake, pleez do your homework for once. Your moronic logic makes absolutely no sense.
Slightlyworried on November 11 at 6:42 p.m.
I wonder if Kirkpatrick, Verner and Trippiedi will get together before January 2nd to get their stories straight?
misjustice on November 11 at 6:53 p.m.
“I have been honored to serve as the Chief of Police…”
Honored to serve? Too bad that it can’t be said that you served honorably, Chief…
You were a bitter disappointment.
greenlibertarian on November 11 at 6:55 p.m.
I’m just here to expose you for the blow hard that you are.
-Liberalsblow
Well you’re doing a rather piss-poor job of doing that, but on the good side, you’re doing yeoman’s work making yourself look like an inconsiderate jerk. Congratulations! Though I would guess you’re quite skilled in that department.
DickAdams on November 11 at 7:05 p.m.
brianrbreen, I consider you one of the good cops and appreciate your wisdom opining facts. The same goes for Ron the cop and another gentleman, former sheriff, Tony Bamonte. Tony, gained notoriety solving a 30 year cover-up of murder in the Spokane PD where many men in blue were carrying around the secret. Tony`s investigation of the men in blue, many knew about the homicide. Its a shame every LE officer, IMO, doesn`t follow the examples of, Ron, Brian and Tony. I know one thing for sure, if I ever needed a LE officer it would be someone like you 3 retired officers. However, the way things look today, I don`t think I`d gamble on one of the good cops showing up. With my luck, one of the police who saluted clubber Thompson would show. For that reason, I shall continue to trust my S&W 38 revolver (with my permit to carry) rather than take a chance of being shot by one of the fifty that saluted clubber Thompson. Put that in your cracked pipe and smoke it all you name callers.
misjustice on November 11 at 7:14 p.m.
@ Brian, I don’t know what TheSeer thinks but I think you’re doin’ a “heck of a job!”
And you, too, Dick!
; )
brianrbreen on November 11 at 7:30 p.m.
@Dick and Misjustice
Thanks much! I think some of these young cops just don’t understand this cowardly, bloviating, old former cop would just like to see things better down there, and I’ll keep bloviating as long as I know folks down town are reading this. I know the same is true for Ron Wright and Tony Bamonte.
I really don’t think they realize it ain’t over yet and it’s going to be a while. I hope they all read Tom Clouse’s brand new piece and start thinking about shutting down that stupid facebook thing and just doing their job.
Ron_the_Cop on November 11 at 8:07 p.m.
Liberalsblow,
I concur with Brian we’re just a bunch of old blowhards, now out to pasture who know nothing about LE rules of engagement, procedure and ethics. Yep, and of course you’re right I was a ROD detective (Retired on duty):
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/nov/04/cit_thompson_detention/?comments#c367242
BTW I went to the same police academy that Deputy Hirzel did and trained on a straight stick too that Ofc. Thompson carried. I still had a straight stick when I retired. I never transitioned to the shorter baton/side handle/PR-24. I never said I had an issue with officers using a straight stick.
I don’t have an issue with color of police units only that those used by patrol should be PLAINLY marked. I have no objection to stealth units for working traffic as long as they are PLAINLY marked. In my analysis of the Creach OIS in which there were mistakes made on both sides, IMO the use of the unmarked unit was a fundamental causal factor in this shooting. In my research this was was more than likely an instantaneous misidentification by both Creach and Dep. Hirzel. Look it doesn’t look good when you shoot the property owner on his own property. Deputy Hirzel’s tactics in confronting Creach were questionable just as Ofc. Thompson’s were in the Zehm case.
I AM NOT SAYING THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING CRIMINAL in nature in the Creach OIS only that I still don’t think we know the whole truth yet because of issues with SPD’s OIS investigation. Dare I say this could have been an accidental shooting contrary to the official reports and conclusions?
I was never against drug testing for OIS/OIDs. Read more of the press clippings as this dispute with the then chief (Adam Henry) was over a fishing expedition on an OID for a marginally involved officer. We sued the chief and successfully got a temporary injunction against his receiving the drug test results. I successfully negotiated a drug testing policy for all OIS/OIDs that was acceptable to our members and administration that included protection against witch hunts. This testing policy also included screening of the results by a medical review officer to screen out false positives and therapeutic doses of prescribed medications. BTW do you think there is a place for steroid use in LE?
Look Brian and I have been around the block perhaps more times than you and Liberalsblow sorry. We are just trying to keep you guys/gals from putting your feet in your mouths in public. Look I respect greatly those who serve nowadays doing a very difficult job day in and day out.
Look your issues with Kirkpatrick and other command rank personnel are political. Don’t get tunnel vision. You need the community’s support to bring about the change you all desire so po’ing the public does not serve your interests well. Also do consider that your SPD use of force experts called by the defense should restudy the difference between the ROEs of the military in a war zone and civilian LE. KXLY Jeff Humphry’s video demonstration of a former SPD use of force expert showing a two-liter bottle as a weapon was amusing. I grant you such a bottle could be used as a distraction but it is of little value as a weapon. As for use of force experts I will go with the LASO Lt. who testified for the prosecution any day. LASO’s contract cities are some of the most dangerous territories in the nation to police.
http://www.kxly.com/localvideo/index.html?v=27560
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/oct/18/expert-thompsons-version-events-ulikely/?comments#c359541
The creation of professional police departments had a lot to do with the military putting down food riots in London by shooting the demonstrators in the mid 1800s. This did not go over well with the populace.
Please see my comment to Liberalsblow in the other thread
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/nov/06/doug-clark-to-those-who-disgraced-the-law-they/?comments#c368498
The_Seer on November 12 at 8:06 a.m.
brian: If I may offer some direction:
To really keep me interested there needs to be more characters involved and ones I can IDENTIFY with, rising action and then a big twist near the end like in “The Usual Suspects.” And I like film noir lighting too.
Speaking of which, great film tonight on channel 7 Saturday Night cinema!
Liberalsblow on November 12 at 9:16 a.m.
So Breen blabs about “what happened to Blessing and Storch”
and I have pinned him down to a looks and speculation on how hard it was them.
This subject he directed at me even though I had never mentioned this before.
No Ron is directing Creach stuff at me that I have never mentioned before. why?
Ok I’ll play. Creach was documented as a hot head that approached people in his parking lot with a gun. If you do not drop your gun when an officer is pointing his at you expect to die. End of subject
what is clear is that these two ex-cops spew random thoughts to sway the mind of people like Lewis our local idiot. They use these police subjects to make themselves seem more credible. How pathetic.
brianrbreen on November 12 at 9:42 a.m.
@Liberalsblow
Right again! I would like to sway Lewis’s mind despite his rants. But I would like to do it in a way that he understands that not all cops are alike, just like not all janitors are alike. There are some good and some bad. I realize for some young cops that might be hard to understand, but right or wrong, that’s the way a lot of us cowards did it back in the day, and some how for the most part it worked.
@The_Seer
How in the hell could I ever find anyone you would identify with? :)
misjustice on November 12 at 10:04 a.m.
Brian, I can totally picture you in black and white grainy clarity; hat tipped, lone street light reflecting off your badge, squintingly giving some punk “the look”…
; )
o_pleez on November 12 at 11:51 a.m.
DICK “Are you serious onot informed? Are you saying the city of Spokane didn`t want to be included LLEOFF2, and is not obligated to contribute a huge amount of taxpayer money to fund the plan? For gosh sake, pleez do your homework for once. Your moronic logic makes absolutely no sense.”
––––––––––––––––––––––––—
You’re correct in that the city is part of L-II, and contributes to the plan. The city’s portion is 5.23%, and the employee portion is 8.45%. I never claimed the city didn’t participate in L-II.
The statement I was correctuing, was your claim that AP was getting a generous city retirement after only 5 years, when in fact, her pesnsion is based on years of service that include time at other agnecies, not only SPD, and that the City only contributed to the system on her behalf for 5 years. Once a LEOFF II employee retires, the city no longer contributes to, or pays anything towards their pension, or any other post-retirement expenses.
Do your own homework, before calling someone a moron, DICK.
brianrbreen on November 12 at 12:01 p.m.
@misjustice
Maybe in my first few years when I didn’t quite understand what the power of the badge really meant and what the responsibility was that went along with that power. But after I got my head on straight and didn’t have to prove to anyone how tough I was. I found that a smile went one hell of a lot further then “the look”. If that makes any sense.
Ron_the_Cop on November 12 at 12:20 p.m.
Liberalsblow,
You brought up the Creach OIS by mentioning what color police cars should be:-)
At some point in your career you will realize that people don’t always tell the truth. The sooner you figure that out the better investigator you will be.
The problem with the Creach case is we only really have two eyewitnesses - Creach and Deputy Hizel. One is dead and unable to be questioned. We are left with the forensic evidence and what the neighbors DID NOT hear.
This will eventually go to a civil wrongful death case. At that point the testimony/evidence is then subject to cross-examination and vetting by other experts. Then perhaps we will get a clearer picture of what happened that night.
The SPD in house experts use of force experts in the Zehm case have not impressed me. In the SO IA investigation in the Creach OIS I was pleased to see they at least they had a blood spatter expert review the scene evidence - re whether the body was moved or was consistent with Creach staggering and then falling to the ground. In the Zehm case we had filtering of evidence and witness statements to the Medical Examiner. In the Creach case I believe Dr. Howard was not fully briefed and his statements have been filtered by the investigators. There still is the issue of the steep angle of entry of the bullet. Yes, the are a number of factors that could have contributed to this but I would like to see the experts duke it out at trial.
Liberalsblow on November 12 at 6:30 p.m.
I have never in this forum said anything about police car colors. You have me confused with someone else. Please post a link?
I never said I was a cop or investigator.
Ron_the_Cop on November 12 at 8:14 p.m.
Liberalsblow,
Sorry I do apologize the reference to police unit colors was by EthicsinLE:
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/nov/04/cit_thompson_detention/?comments#c367242
Sorry for the confusion:-)
Hcklbery on November 15 at 10:06 a.m.
GOOD RIDDANCE TO ROTTEN TRASH.
This Mayor and Police Chief as well as Asst Chief have created a Police Dept riff with Arrogant STORM TROOPERS who think NOTHING of murder in the name of their OFFICIALDOM than cover up and conspire to cover it up with OUTRIGHT LIES, TESTIMONY FABRICATION and EVIDENCE PLANTING and TAMPERING AS THE RECENT OTTO ZEHM CASE HAS PROVEN IN A COURT OF LAW NO LESS.
THIS CITY HALL NEEDS A THOROUGH DISINFECTANT CLEANSING FROM THE TOP DOWN, ESPECIALLY IT’S CITY COUNSEL AND POLICE DEPT.
They are CORRUPT, THROUGH AND THROUGH.
wordcollector on November 16 at 11:48 a.m.
I appreciate brianrbreen’s comments about the difficulty apparently faced by LE who try to do the right thing in their difficult line of work, particularly when they see their colleagues doing things that are wrong. He mentioned Storch and Blessing, who both stood up and did the right thing in telling the truth about misconduct by a fellow officer. And both of these officers suffered for it at the hands of their colleagues who didn’t agree with their decision to tell the truth. They were harassed and intimidated at work. While they were at work, other officers deliberately delayed showing up at calls where they knew Storch and Blessing were headed—just to punish them for telling the truth. One of these officers suffered a break-in at his/her personal residence and the SPD who were working that shift deliberately stalled reporting to the scene, allowing the burglar to escape. While this only represents one situation where SPD officers have been “punished” by their fellow officers for telling the truth, at any price, I doubt it is the only such case. As Brian said—no wonder Blessing and many others are so vocal in their support of Thompson, as simple-minded as that might seem to those of us who find fault with Thompson’s actions. In her shoes, I would be afraid not to be. Ultimately, all of this speaks to the lack of ethical leadership and accountability both in the SPD and at City Hall. When good officers are allowed to be bullied and victimized by thugs pretending to be police officers, and when their attempts to seek out assistance from the brass are treated with scorn and more bullying, it’s unlikely that good officers are going to continue to put themselves on the line when the truth needs to be told—especially if that truth isn’t the truth the thug-minded want to hear.
brianrbreen on November 16 at 12:20 p.m.
@wordcollector
Thanks for posting that. Hopefully it will give people some idea of what it is like when the culture has gotten to the point that it is, and how hard it is sometimes to stand up. Kudos to those that do. Even though I disagree with Erin’s position regarding Thompson, I know she is a good kid and a good cop. Takes after her mom.
brianrbreen on November 16 at 12:45 p.m.
@wordcollector
I might just add that I know better than most. Somehow I always got stuck with the sh*t jobs that ended up POing people. So some of those “thug minded” members down there and their surrogates that think they might be able to intimidate me should probably go back and take a good look at my irrelevant, cowardly career. They are light weights compared to others that have tried.
wordcollector on November 16 at 12:54 p.m.
@brianrbreen—I can tell you know better than most by following your comments these past many months. I’m not a law enforcement officer, and I can’t pretend to know all of the inner workings of the SPD, but I do have a few inside lines, and I find myself more appalled every day by what I hear, both in the news and from my contacts. I’m with you—I don’t agree with the stance of those who support Thompson, but I do think that officers like Storch, Blessing, and Blessing’s mom :) are good people. Too bad the culture within the department doesn’t support them in continuing to develop positively in their roles instead of tearing them down.
brianrbreen on November 16 at 1:17 p.m.
@wordcollector
Well said. Let’s just hope some how it gets fixed.
brianrbreen on November 16 at 6:44 p.m.
@wordcollector
Here is some food for thought regarding some of things we expressed, and might be worth a read by some folks, not Erin Blessing, but others who think they have some great ideas.
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/nov/16/bainbridge-police-officer-suspended-for/
wordcollector on November 17 at 7:23 a.m.
@brianrbreen
Gotcha. Some of the comments on that Facebook page supporting Thompson make you wonder how far some of these rogues would go to get revenge on the public they hold in so little esteem. I’m glad at least one law enforcement agency in the state actually holds its officers accountable for their behavior both on and off the job, at least some of the time.