Letters

God directs, sentences

Did you hear the voice of God?

In reading The Spokesman-Review, I saw where an individual had received a message from God to commit his act. It stretched my imagination a bit, but hold on, folks. I intercepted another message, a message telling the judge to give this guy 10 years or so. Time enough to make sure he got the original message right.

Jay Cline

Newport, Wash.

WSP gives troopers a pass

A U.S. Court of Appeals found that Washington State Patrol Sgt. John Sager and Trooper Rachel Gardner provided false information to a judge in order to obtain a search warrant for Spokane firefighter Todd Chism’s home, with a “substantial showing of the officers’ deliberate falsehood or reckless disregard for the truth.” A WSP spokesperson says it does not warrant disciplinary action because “It was done in good faith.” This good faith has now cost us, not the officers, $2.4 million.

How did the officers act in good faith by omitting critical information – that an electronic Internet address came back to names other than the Chisms? How is it in good faith when they did not advise the judge they had no evidence that pornography had been downloaded by Chism?

The WSP website says there were “oversights” and “new practices are in place to prevent oversights in the future.” In the future, they will tell their troopers not to lie?

The situation reveals the moral ineptitude of some of our law enforcement leaders today. How long will the public stand for it before demanding that things change?

WSP Chief John Batiste, if he approved of this inaction, should be dismissed.

Don Brockett

Former Spokane County prosecutor

Spokane

Rodgers performed well in Bend

It’s hard for me to believe the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture fired Forrest Rodgers for poor performance. The board had to find a reason for firing him, which I find it difficult to believe.

I lived in Bend, Ore., for about 10 years when he was in charge of the High Desert Museum. I enjoyed the native walks where native plants were marked and wild animals were displayed. Tours were conducted and there were shows involving these wild animals.

I am a 78-year-old American Indian and enjoyed visiting the Native American displays. I took classes in basket weaving and making Indian regalia, such as moccasins and a Sioux skirt. There were classes on beadwork. Most of these classes were taught by Native Americans.

We took our visitors to this living museum. All ages enjoyed the museum. Children especially enjoyed the wild animals. The museum was an education in the region’s natural and cultural heritage. Forrest Rodgers was not given the chance to do this for the MAC.

Ruth Moses Wapato

Spokane