Treppiedi did his job well

Has Spokane found its proverbial scapegoat for the Otto Zehm scandal? Rocky Treppiedi: “I am not talking to The Spokesman-Review.”

The public should know why: He and the Police Department have been vilified by The Review since the 1986 so-called “Gypsy case,” where a property crimes task force recovered a large amount of stolen property and cash. The city and 24 officers were sued for $50 million. Citizens identified and recovered their property. After a mixed Circuit Court of Appeals decision, Rocky was able to settle that case for essentially attorney fees. That case was handled with full transparency.

As investigative division commander during the 1980s, it was clear that the department needed access to legal advice. The nature of police work and the potential for liability was becoming job-prohibitive. Shortly thereafter, Rocky became the full-time adviser to the department.

The department is tasked to do more with less. Property crimes are out of control. Risk management is the rule of the day. Rocky was a gut fighter, and did what city management wanted him to do. Good luck in replacing him.

Tom Keefe (April 17), the Gypsy curse will not go away until top management takes responsibility.

Bob Allen

retired police captain

Chattaroy

Editorial choice odd

I was left a bit quizzical after reading the guest editorial, “Democracy about equality,” in which the author, the Rev. Thomas Altepeter, is described as a psychologist and “Ecumenical Catholic priest.”

The editorial opines about the Spokane City Council needing to take a stand in favor of gay marriage. I was puzzled about what an “Ecumenical Catholic priest” may be, so I did an Internet search. Apparently, there is an Ecumenical Catholic Conference that was formed in 2003 that is (from a Roman Catholic view) a schismatic and heretical group that is in no way in communion with Roman Catholicism. Altepeter’s editorial is heavy on liberal social policy and negligible on theological analysis.

While The Spokesman-Review can certainly choose anybody to write guest editorials, I certainly think that choosing Altepeter is a way to get a dig in at the Roman Catholic Church because of its teachings against homosexual conduct. Usually, the leaders of tiny, obscure congregations do not merit an opportunity to pen editorials.

Sam Watt

Spokane

Marriage is a civil institution

When my husband and I married in 1979, we simply went to the courthouse, paid the fee and signed the papers. There were no vows, no blessings, no mentions of God. They were neither desired nor required. Yet society has had no problem recognizing our union.

Why? Because marriage as we know it is a civil institution: full stop.

Over the years, I’ve known many gay and lesbian couples who were just as committed to each other as we were (and still are). Yet, because of religious bigotry, they could not do what my husband and I did so easily. This is cruel and unfair, to say the least.

I see precisely zero reasons why same-sex couples should not be given the same legal recognition and societal respect that my husband and I take for granted. Rev. Thomas Altepeter was right on in his editorial (April 15): It’s about civil rights and equality under the law.

Both my husband and I supported the passage of Councilman Jon Snyder’s resolution, and will definitely be voting against Referendum 74 if it appears on the ballot.

Elissa Lowe

Spokane