Bunker mentality hurts city

Perhaps there really is trouble in River City. And lately, it all points back to the Spokane Police Department (with able assists from the city attorney’s office and the Verner administration).

Day after day the evidence mounts that Officer Thompson acted inappropriately in regards to Otto Zehm. Instead of our civic leaders doing the right thing, a multiyear, systematic program of cover-up and obfuscation ensued. More self-inflicted injury, including a further erosion of the already-shaky public trust in those institutions, has occurred.

The bunker mentality displayed by the Police Department and the city attorney’s office has contributed in great measure to this recent spate of shameful events. And please, do not confuse this “hunkering down” with legitimate litigation strategy and the proper exercise of discretion.

Public servants are held to a higher standard. Moreover, where was the professional and personal courage of those in charge?

If the leadership had actually exercised some semblance of leadership – by doing an appropriate investigation (police ombudsman, anyone?), admitting the wrong actions taken by the people involved, and then taking the necessary steps to make it right – the present miasma, stubbornly clinging to the city, may have been avoided.

Jody M. Cramsie

Spokane