Irony in Zehm, Olsen cases

How ironic and disheartening to read of Otto Zehm’s family filing suit against the Police Department the same day as Jay Olsen’s acquittal hit the papers. Zehm’s family has been waiting three years for an apology or justice. Shonto Pete got his on March 13. Do you think you would be free to go if you got drunk, chased a man through a neighborhood shooting and then shot him in the back of the head? Law enforcement attending the trial celebrated the verdict vigorously showing exactly whose side they are on.

Chief Kirkpatrick’s public relations campaign is wasted time and money when the public is confronted with the facts of these cases. Did anyone else find it odd that Olsen’s jurors weren’t allowed to hear that Pete was acquitted of stealing Olsen’s truck, which the case hinges on, but they were allowed to hear unsubstantiated hearsay from another officer who claims Pete confessed to that? Naturally this was not disclosed initially and the supporting tapes were mysteriously erased.

I hope Otto Zehm’s attorneys are paying attention. Through Assistant Chief Jim Nicks the department has already lied through their teeth, crassly seized Zehm’s medical records and set the stage for a repeat of Olsen’s trial.

Brian Lehman

Spokane Valley