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September 15, 2011 in City
Clark: Police chiefs’ parting gifts will embody law, odor
The ongoing soap opera that is Spokane law enfarcement has had more twists and turns lately than a Ringling Bros. trapeze act.
Fortunately, Cpl. Clark has returned to help guide us through this briar patch in blue.
So let the unraveling begin …
Q: What do you make of Spokane police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick and Assistant Chief Jim Nicks both abandoning ship at practically the same time?
Cpl. Clark: It’s poor time management. Even Nixon and Agnew had the decency to keep their departures separate.
Q: Chief Kirkpatrick has had a pretty rough go of it, huh?
Cpl. Clark: “SPD” doesn’t stand for Schemes, Prevaricators and Debauchery for nothing.
Q: Do you know what Chief Kirkpatrick will do after she leaves the department?
Cpl. Clark: First up is a long, hot, soapy shower.
Q: To relax?
Cpl. Clark: To wash the stink off.
Q: And then?
Cpl. Clark: As luck would have it, she’s found police work in a far happier and less stressful place.
Q: You mean like Palm Springs?
Cpl. Clark: No. Libya.
Q: Did the Nicks retirement surprise you?
Cpl. Clark: Not really. Nicks, as we all know, was the SPD’s minister of disinformation in the smear against Otto Zehm, the innocent and mentally ill janitor who died following a violent encounter with thug police.
Q: That’s right. But then Nicks flip-flopped his story to implicate Karl Thompson Jr., the officer facing a federal trial over what he did to Zehm. Did Nicks have a sincere change of heart?
Cpl. Clark: More like a sincere fear of committing perjury.
Q: Will there be much political fallout from the Kirkpatrick/Nicks exit?
Cpl. Clark: Rumor has it that Spokane Mayor Mary Starshine is planning another ragtag, impromptu news conference.
Q: To address the police leadership vacuum?
Cpl. Clark: To scold us for overwatering our lawns.
Q: And what about David Condon?
Cpl. Clark: Who?
Q: You know, Condon. The wannabe mayor who got his ass kicked by Mary in the primary.
Cpl. Clark: Oh, him. Condon’s been in round-the-clock meetings with his campaign advisers.
Q: Looking for ways to turn around our police department?
Cpl. Clark: No, looking for ways to turn our police scandals into votes.
Q: Condon’s interest in Otto Zehm does seem shamelessly opportunistic, huh?
Cpl. Clark: Condon couldn’t even spell Otto Zehm three weeks ago.
Q: Has the Spokane Police Guild reacted to the news about Kirkpatrick and Nicks?
Cpl. Clark: The guild is already planning a big “Nice Knowing You, Anne & Jim” party.
Q: Sounds festive.
Cpl. Clark: Guild officials plan to present Chief Kirkpatrick with a ceremonial SPD dagger.
Q: Why a dagger?
Cpl. Clark: It’s the same one they stuck in her back when she applied for the chief’s job in Seattle.
Q: What are they giving Nicks?
Cpl. Clark: A ceremonial dead fish wrapped in newspaper.
Q: Isn’t that a Mafia symbol of doom?
Cpl. Clark: What’s your point?
Q: That’s cold.
Cpl. Clark: Not as cold as the parting gift proposed by a reader who left a message on my voice mail.
Q: What would he give Nicks?
Cpl. Clark: A 21-Taser salute.
Q: Pretty soon we’ll have to go through the long, ugly process of selecting a new Spokane police chief. Do you have advice for any candidates who might be considering the job?
Cpl. Clark: Run for your bloody lives.
Doug Clark can be reached at (509) 459-5432 or dougc@spokesman.com.
Recent stories by Doug Clark
Doug Clark: Roskelley’s candidacy is all downhill from here May 27, 2012 15- Clark: No clear inspiration for ‘Spokane Motel Blues’ May 24, 2012 6
- Professor’s ‘Motel’ mystery needs you to solve it May 22, 2012
- Clark: City ordinance shows lack of sound thinking May 20, 2012 21
- Doug Clark: Many wrongs, one big right in Zehm case May 17, 2012 24
Steve Eugster on September 15 at 7:58 a.m.
Otto Zehm died a tragic and needless death as a result conduct by the Spokane Police Department. People have not acted in the proper way and may not be, even now, acting in the proper way. There must be feelings of doubt, guilt, misgiving and deep grief at what was done and what, in the aftermath, is being done. The police chief and her assistant are resigning. A police officer has been indicted and the case against him is going to trial. If he is found guilty he may go to jail. The mayor and former mayor are wondering if they made the right decisions. Attorneys in the City Attorney’s office have to be in doubt and in fear they too may have done wrong or feel guilt about conduct they have engaged in which may be questionable. The police department is suffering. The city is suffering. Otto Zehm’s family is suffering.
There is nothing in this to make light of. People do not make fun of tragedy; they especially do not do so when the tragedy is still unfolding. Doug Clark and the Spokesman-Review should be ashamed.
gonefishin1 on September 15 at 8:34 a.m.
suffering???? the police department isnt suffering!!!! if they were they wouldnt be trying to figure out ways to cover their arse! The only suffering is realizing the cover up isnt working. I will agree though it is a tragedy that otto got treated like rodney king. If the SPD would have owned up as admited they screwed up, it wouldnt be to this point. You are a extreamly talented attorney and if you were Rockys boss im sure you’d never have let that happened or be kicking his can down the road. I didnt see any poking fun at otto in dougs article. More like the SPD. I do however value and respect your comments
TheRoyLarsen on September 15 at 8:45 a.m.
I heard they’re getting married.
ericdx on September 15 at 9:27 a.m.
Seugster,
Are you REALLY as clueless as your post suggests? You actually think that the chief, assistant chief, Mayor, former Mayor, Prosecutor, or Assistant Prosecutor feel doubt, remorse or guilt? You poor deluded soul. The only thing they feel is fear of losing their positions, and now the fear of being nailed in a federal investigation. There is not a one of that bunch that feels sorry about the situation, because to do that they would need a consience, and there is not one scrap of that in the entire bunch. All that is going on is a huge game of CYA, and for the chief and assistant chief, a case of get out of Dodge quick. I wonder, who’se friend, lover, and or confedant of the group of bungling leaders are you?
The_Seer on September 15 at 9:50 a.m.
While I agree Nicks’ reversal was motivated by a desire to save his pension, doesn’t he deserve a modicum of credit for manning up and being the only to cross the “Thin Blue Line?”
Squid on September 15 at 10:41 a.m.
Eric, SEugster is a former Spokane City Council President, who was probably the most outspoken and quoted Council member in City history. Also a lawyer. A very serious guy. I happen to be not so serious, and enjoy it when someone makes light of situations, to detract from the horror of it all. Hard to watch our city burn without laughing or crying.
Squid on September 15 at 10:55 a.m.
I am pretty sure that Nicks retirement, and Kirkpatrick’s resignation were planned and orchestrated in some sort of meeting, with City Attorneys. Hard to believe there wasn’t some sort of meeting that planned this, when they both bail on the same day. I think Doug should print his version of that meeting.
Will Rocky be the next to jump? Maybe wishful thinking.
Dazzeetrader11 on September 15 at 11:17 a.m.
Seer…Nicks was caught lying by the Feds. Nothing about him is noble. He’s saving his own skin.
He’s been misleading and deceiving for years. He’s pulled it off till now. He should have been fired years ago. If you cannot trust your police force, who can you trust? Certainly not Verner. She’s lied about this all along.
gonefishin1 on September 15 at 12:05 p.m.
I can see how the meeting went, everyone involved though they needed a percieved skapegoat so, nicks agreed to fall on his daggar and anne thinks “you all are unbelieveable” and cant understand why the city refuses to deal with this head on so, he figures she will jump ship before it sinks.
all in all, its good that nicks came clean
brianrbreen on September 15 at 4:04 p.m.
@The_Seer
A modicum, YES.
IN MY OPINION
Actually Nicks expressed his concerns back in early November 2006. after learning the tapes were edited to cover things up. His mistake was he played the game, and when told by Rocco not to worry about it, he acquiesced and should have taken a stand right there. He even was involved along with Kirkpatrick in forcing the retirement of a Deputy Chief who according to filings was responsible for directing the lead investigator to edit the tapes. If he would have listened to what he was told earlier he might not be in this position. But he didn’t and there is a lot more history regarding that including the wire wars ( ask Hession). I don’t think he is a bad guy just got caught up in Rocco and City leaders trying to cover things at a time when he had a shot at Chief.
Keep in mind this is just my opinion.
Ron_the_Cop on September 15 at 8:43 p.m.
Yep I agree re Nicks. Also the Deputy Chief was Odenthal the same one that tried to conceal his daughter’s DUI stop and help quash along with City Adm Lynch the indecent exposure by a sitting Federal Court Judge in River Front Park.
Of course Odenthal was quietly ushered out the back door. I hope the feds get around to him for ordering the video tape be edited. Too bad Nicks didn’t realize he was being had however he was after all the Interim Chief. This occurred on his watch.