Police story repetitive

A drama which might be called “Local Police Issues” has played for years around the world. The cast here in Spokane consists of the chief of police, the mayor, the council, the ombudsman, the police union, individual policemen, professional agitators, assorted attorneys, volunteer agitators, the media and other interested citizens. It amounts to a cast of thousands; some thoughtful, others not so.

It is a natural. Crises are automatic. Each player has a list of interests which clash with those of the other players. These interests can be related to personal life, career, financial matters, political future or value systems.

A possibly fictional example: the chief gets a policy idea, but she works for the mayor who may not like it, and also it has to make the Guild happy. And then she might wonder about the agitators. What will the Peace and Justice Action League or Doug Clark think? And how will this look on her résumé? The war is on.

While all this makes for decent theater, I don’t believe good policy ensues. I propose that an independent group of citizens be fairly selected to make up an advisory Police Commission similar to the one in Eugene, Ore.

Ron Myers

Spokane