This short story should give you some idea of the trials and
tribulations of an Investigative Reporter trying to bring transparency to the
Spokane Police Department.
This email exchange between City of Spokane City Clerk and
Public Records Officer Terri Pfister should give you a pretty good idea of
exactly where SPD stands when it comes to transparency.
You can read the same email exchange at this link if you
find it easier.
Was the March directed solely at SPD who has had a policy
for years of not hassling people because of their immigration status and that
policy was recently updated making it more restrictive as a result of the
settlement in the Gomez v. City of Spokane Case?
Or was it also directed at the Spokane City Council who
enacted the very controversial Ordinance SMC 03.10.050 in 2014 only to very
quietly repeal it in 2017?
Another thing I don’t quite understand is why the Center For
Justice and The Spokane Peace and Justice Action League are focusing on the
City and not the County. Ozzie’s Troops aren’t encumbered with the same
restrictions SPD is?
Gosh, if the Center for Justice has any evidence of SPD
violating the new policy it would be nice if they sent that evidence along to
me so I can add it into my PRRs I’ve already submitted. 😊
As a side note to my PRRs because of the lack of transparency
on the part of the City of Spokane I’m afraid I’m constantly on the minds of
the great gals in the City Clerk’s Office who have to deal with them. See if
you can pick out what I mean in this letter Terri Pfister wrote to Vicky Dalton
regarding the immigration status ballot issue. 😊 😊
Buffalo Brian Breen 