Trial begins for former Spokane Police Guild president

The trial of former Spokane Police Guild President John Gately on a misdemeanor charge related to phone calls he made to a fellow officer accused of rape is scheduled to begin Monday.

Gately last fall was charged with two felony counts of rendering criminal assistance and obstructing a law enforcement officer, a misdemeanor, after he called Sgt. Gordon Ennis last October and told him detectives from the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office were planning to serve a warrant on him.

Superior Court Judge John O. Cooney dropped the two felony charges at a hearing April 1 after a motion from Gately’s attorney, who argued Gately’s conduct did not violate state law.

The trial will begin with discussion of motions filed April 25 by Gately’s attorney, David Allen.

Among other things, Allen has asked the judge to ban testimony from current Spokane Police Guild President John Griffin and other police officers about whether they believe Gately’s actions were wrong or whether they would have behaved differently.

Allen has also asked the judge to prohibit testimony on the Otto Zehm case, the prosecution of Karl Thompson and any association between Thompson and Gately.

Cooney heard arguments on those motions April 28 but has not yet issued an order.