I’m having a hard time wondering why the mayor of Spokane would ask “embattled” Frank Straub to come lead the Spokane Police Department. Oh! I think I know why! He wants a “metro” police department because we all know bigger is better! Not!

In case the mayor missed it, the citizens living in Spokane voted no for creating a metro police force several years ago. The voters know they will get a further reduction in services with this type of policing model. This silent majority also knows their force has great women and men on it who fight daily to keep Spokane citizens safe from a growing criminal element, and they don’t want to share these officers with the rest of Spokane County.

Since the mayor feels interim police Chief Scott Stephens isn’t qualified to be chief, then perhaps he needs to call retired Chief Terry Mangan and ask him to come out of retirement to lead the department.

When Terry left, the SPD was one of the premier police departments in the nation! That can happen again, but not with an embattled candidate!

Tom Stanton

Deer Park