Keefe covering for Condon

Tom Keefe, Mayor David Condon’s re-election campaign manager, has apparently decided to weigh in on the Spokane Police Department investigation. In targeting Council President Ben Stuckart, he seems to have missed the point entirely.

Condon covered up serious employee complaints about his hand-picked police chief. When things got too hot to handle, Chief Frank Straub “resigned” and the mayor lied about the reasons to the council and the public.

The city hired an investigator to find the facts. But how can an investigator get to the bottom of this when city lawyers are threatening Stuckart in an effort to stifle truth-telling? The fact is, the council voted to waive privilege so the process could go forward as transparently as possible. Seems Condon’s surrogate, Keefe, prefers to sweep the truth under the rug.

The bottom line in this mess is of Condon’s making. Stuckart wants to be forthcoming, but is being threatened by political appointees. If anyone has created a politically hostile environment, it is the liars in the mayor’s office.

Keefe is concerned about “adding to the city’s possible exposure for damages.” He should have advised his mayor to be forthcoming in the first place.

Linda McHenry

Spokane