Salute intolerable

As a recently retired law enforcement official of 30 years, I can say that Doug Clark’s commentary of Nov. 3 regarding the Spokane Police Department officers’ salute to a convicted felon was right on target. Unprofessional and unethical. Period!

Law enforcement officers have been and should continue to be held to a “higher standard” of expectations. For the chief of police and City Council to say the salute was free speech and “officers can do what they want on their free time” reflects the lack of leadership and high ethical standards that should be in place in the Police Department and elected council. Luckily, voters can change part of this shortcoming.

What should be very disturbing to the Spokane citizenry is that this was not the action of one officer, but that of almost 50! I can safely say this action would never have been tolerated by my former Sheriff’s Department of 4,000 members, the county supervisors or almost any other law enforcement agency.

Edmund Burke (politician/philosopher) once said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” Yes, the salute was unprofessional and unethical.

Gregory Ammons

Cheney