I am beginning to feel at least a bit of accomplishment as far as pushing SPD and the Condon Administration into real transparency, however it is still a struggle, and may require me going deep into my Plan Book, but we will keep at it.

 

Both Laurie Farnsworth and Terri Pfister have been going beyond regular work hours to take care of not only my PRRs but also that of many other media and private citizens. The cause of course for those efforts is the lack of transparency on the part of the Condon Administration and SPD.

At 6:45 PM last evening I received a fairly responsive email from Laurie Farnsworth regarding my PRR request for the IA Cases regarding Mell and Lydia Taylor. Note from the images below that SPD IA has now changed the estimate of when I will receive the documents from July 15^th to March 7^th.

Notice from the email exchange below the link Ms. Farnsworth provides to IA Report 13-101 on the SPD IA Website. That same link was provided to reporters back in April 2015.

https://files.acrobat.com/a/preview/d9aeb65a-4b8c-4cc7-99c6-fcb16c9555f4

 

This is the IA Report Ms. Farnsworth linked:

 

https://files.acrobat.com/a/preview/fb5d3042-6ade-4798-bce0-33258b6d543d

 

Obviously the improper redaction of the two Detectives names saved them and SPD some embarrassment regarding the escape of Ryan Bronowski and what transpired after his escape.

 

Here is a little bit of background regarding the Bronowski escape:

 

 

“When detectives left the room where Bronowski was questioned last week, the 24-year-old broke free of his handcuffs and fled the building where he was being held, according to court records. Bronowski was picked up and booked into jail late Saturday on charges of car theft, robbery, burglary and escaping police custody, according to jail records.”

 

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/nov/06/in-brief-driver-flees-after-crashing-car-onto/

 

 

 

 

At this point Officer Teresa Fuller continues to ignore me…BUT I have learned that I’m not the only one she is ignoring. When people start asking the tough questions she seems to kind of disappear, since she reports directly to the Chief of Police, and in this case Interim, Chief of Police Meidl one has to wonder what the cause of the disappearing act actually is.

 

After many years of doing investigations some Investigators and Investigative Reporters develop an intuition, or since of smell if you will for when something is not Kosher. I think my readers realize that sense of smell kicked in with me long ago regarding the relationship between Frank Straub, the Taylors, and some aspects of current events at SPD. When you get that smell, whether you end up being right or wrong you have to follow-up on it.

 

 

 

 

I REPORT YOU DECIDE!

 THIS JUST IN!!

So as you all know I have NOT received all of the Nissen Affidavits I am entitled to on the both the Condon/Straub case, but also the Lynden Smithson case. I have previously explained their importance and I just received this email from Terri Pfister explaining, aside from in inadequate PRR systems, the City thinks they have to fight it out with the Unions.

 

You might remember that Lynden Smithson, and Justin Bingham refused to provide Nissen Affidavits, and I’ve never received their text messages…so here is the scoop below!

I have to tell you I honestly feel sorry for Terri Pfister…the poor gal is getting it from both sides!

 

 

 

 

 

Keep in mind that violating established law is not a good idea for lawyers.

 

 

I REPORT YOU DECIDE…OR LAUGH…OR CRY…OR SWEAR!

 

I have received a number of questions regarding what I feel we will get from the City Council’s “Independent Investigation” and Kris Cappel. You might remember Mayor Condon tried real hard to get Retired Judge Michael Hogan, whom I’ve never been impressed with do the “Mayor’s Investigation”.

http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2015/11/30/retired-federal-judge-to-conduct-investigation-into-condons-handling-of-personnel-issues

 

Fortunately, most people saw through that the City Council finally stepped in (after some prodding) so we ended up with Kris Cappel.

The questions I have received revolve around what do I think we will get…the truth is I really don’t know but I do have some concerns.

 

When Cappel was announced as the investigator, I knew the name and some of the background, but as any investigative reporter would do I went back checked and did some more checking. Some of the things I am reporting were originally going to be hold-backs until after the report was public…but I will give my readers some info and facts today so you can draw your own conclusions.

 

The best place to start is the contract we all have with Kris Cappel. Notice there is a $48,000.00 cap. Those don’t really mean much in the cases of consultants/investigators…more can be added later if need be.

 

City of Spokane Contract with Cappel:

 

https://files.acrobat.com/a/preview/f2046c63-a30a-47db-bbdc-c598fe61cb0f

Another important thing to look for in any contract is the scope of work, that too can be added to or subtracted from. I really don’t like this one.

 

 

 

 

This is Kris Cappel’s company which has quite a bit of history in Washington including an investigation of the Lynnwood Mayor which I will link below and mention I hope we get more.

http://www.seaboldgroup.com/about_us/team/kris_cappel/

Lynnwood Mayor Investigation by Cappel:

 

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20101004/NEWS01/710049927

 

Cappel’s 27-page report:

 

https://files.acrobat.com/a/preview/6065f645-67c3-45e8-a095-1e2e300e5833

 

Strong Letter:

https://files.acrobat.com/a/preview/0d55735f-8d43-4399-9572-f6c2d0afe850

 

Cappel Response:

https://files.acrobat.com/a/preview/2d505d63-26e5-45c2-9993-59151030651a

 

 

Cappel’s statements on PI ethics:

 

https://files.acrobat.com/a/preview/8a0c6450-d7aa-48a6-8177-055872cc17b2

 

 

 

It is always interesting in Spokane!

 

One of the things you folks might find real interesting is that Kris Cappel at onetime was involved as an investigator hired by a company known as Cedar Grove Composting Incorporated who sued the City of Marysville in a PRA case and her Public Records Requests as Cedar Grove’s hired gun became a bone of contention. So we know that Cappel has a background in doing PRRs.

Here is the Slip Opinion:

 

https://files.acrobat.com/a/preview/1ad35e0c-8f40-4b41-98fd-f5299e62057d

 

Okay…so here is the interesting part, and the reason Cappel’s name was familiar to me.

Believe it or not Cedar Grove Composting Incorporated, is strongly associated with the Condon Family as well as other notable Spokane Families, including the Rivard and Stone Families. Does that matter as far as this investigation is concerned, well we all hope not!

 

That is all I’m giving up today folks!  🙂 🙂

 

http://old.seattletimes.com/text/2020683955.html

 

Look People… I don’t just make this stuff up!!!!

 

 

I REPORT YOU DECIDE!!

 

 

 

I received a really quick response to PRRs I submitted to obtain the IA Cases involving Mell and Lydia Taylor. Which would lead anyone to believe that there is something in the Mell and Lydia Taylor cases that the City of Spokane, and the Spokane Police Department don’t want me or the public to know anytime soon.

 

Keep in mind that back in April 2015, the same time the Cotton/Straub case was screwed up by the Mayor and Teresa Sanders the Mell and Lydia Taylor case was also going on. I have confirmation that back in April of 2015 other members of the media submitted PRRs and received redacted copies of the Lydia Taylor IA case.

 

BACKGROUND:

 

In early October of 2014 the FBI investigation of Mell Taylor for receiving steroids, which was the result of a large scale DEA international conspiracy case became known and was reported in all the local press. Frank Straub who was unhappy with the media reporting held this press conference on 10/3/2014. As it turns out some of Straub’s statements in the press conference were untrue. The FBI sends their case to SPD and the Spokane County Prosecutor, Jack Driscoll decides not to charge. Some kind of deal is apparently struck and Mell Taylor escapes any real IA Investigation by SPD by retiring.

 

http://www.khq.com/story/26700071/watch-chief-straub-addresses-internal-affairs-investigation-into-two-officers

 

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/oct/03/police-chief-embattled-detective-received-steroids/

 

 

Approximately seven months later the results of the Lydia Taylor IA Investigation are out, reporters submit PRRs, and receive redacted copies of the IA Case.

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/apr/25/police-sergeant-demoted-2-ranks/

 

The Lydia Taylor IA case is never posted on Director Tim Schwering’s IA website for some reason. SPD Brass recommend Taylor be fired because she is a “Brady Cop” but Straub and Mayor Condon decide to keep her on the job despite the fact she is now a “Brady Cop” (** Taylor is on the Spokane County Prosecutors “Brady List” under her maiden name “Pritchard”.

There were many good SPD Cops that were really PO that Condon and Straub retained a “Brady Cop”, who was considered one of Straub’s Golden People, along with her husband.

 

The stuff hits the fan, the Cotton/Straub issue finally hits daylight and complaints are made by Straub’s Senior Staff and the Union. Which included among other thing this:

 

* Unreasonable emotional outbursts

* Personal Attacks

* Threats regarding our employment and position

* Scare tactics

* Retaliation

* Degradation of character

* Demeaning and condescending treatment

* Profane and highly inappropriate language

* UNTRUTHFULNESS

* Misrepresentation of the Mayor, City Administrator, and others

 

Some SPD Cops make complaints about Monique Cotton’s veracity a key player in those complaints is of course Lydia Taylor to whom Cotton was accused of making a false report.

Lydia Taylor and Monique Cotton needless to say had a close working relationship.

https://files.acrobat.com/a/preview/50580210-22ca-4fc4-85f3-6b76980b23c8

 

Frank Straub, as we know, was asked to resign and joined the growing number of lawsuits against us.

 

 

Well there is some of the background, there is of course a lot more.

 

WHERE WE ARE TODAY!!

 

 

 

I did as Teresa Fuller directed me to do submit a PRR for the previously disseminated Lydia Taylor IA Case and here is what I received.

 

 

 

 

Since Teresa Fuller as SPD PIO seems to not want give up any information and simply ignores my attempts at contact, I also requested her Job Description, and of course was NOT surprised to learn there isn’t one. I also learned that the PIO job at SPD is one of those infamous GP jobs that a Chief of police can award to anyone he wants, John Gately I believe had a similar one.

 

 

***I hope to get another story out today that is related to this story and hopefully will answer a number of questions I have received regarding the City Council’s “Independent Investigation, so stay tuned.

 

 

I REPORT YOU DECIDE!