http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/jul/23/police-union-endorses-woodward-as-candidates-spar-/
Since both the apparent leaders in the Mayoral race won’t respond to my tough and legitimate questions I thought I would try this to get a few answers. Starting with Candidate Woodward and her most recent public statements which Candidate Stuckart is more than welcome to jump in on.
“The one issue I have with the ombudsman situation as it stands now, I think the disciplinary measures need to come from the police chief,” Woodward said. “I wish we didn’t have to have an ombudsman situation, to be honest with you. I want to be able to believe that the police chief can do his job and weed out any bad apples if there are any.”
MY FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS:
“I think the disciplinary measures need to come from the police chief,” Woodward said”
***Candidate Woodward are you aware that the OPO Ordinance strictly prohibits the OPO from having any involvement whatsoever in “disciplinary measures” and they are entirely the purview of the Chief of Police and the Mayor?
***Are you aware that the OPO Ordinance strictly prohibits the OPO or OPOC from even commenting in any way about “disciplinary measures”, or lack thereof, taken by the Chief of Police or the Mayor?
“I wish we didn’t have to have an ombudsman situation, to be honest with you. I want to be able to believe that the police chief can do his job and weed out any bad apples if there are any.”
*** Candidate Woodward are you aware that after former SPD Officer Karl Thompson was convicted in Federal Court and sent to prison for violating the Civil Rights of Otto Zehm and lying about his actions which the Federal Prosecutors described as an “extensive cover-up” and “violent abuse of power”, that in February of 2013 the voters of the City of Spokane overwhelmingly voted in favor of a City Charter change creating the Office of Police Ombudsman?
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/jan/25/ombudsman-power-in-the-mail-for-vote/
***Were you aware that the two individuals who championed the Charter Change at the time were Conservative members of the City Council Steve Salvatori and Mike Allan?
*** Were you aware that at the time the FBI was investigating the Otto Zehm case then Chief Anne Kirkpatrick and Mayor Verner gave their complete and unequivocal support to Karl Thompson despite the obvious cover-up?
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/nov/02/otto-zehm-case-timeline/
***Were you aware that as a result of the extensive SPD Cover-up former SPD Officer Tim Moses plead guilty to Obstruction charges and left SPD subsequently being placed on the Prosecutors Brady list along with current SPD Officer Sandra McIntyre who was also involved?
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/mar/23/officers-likely-to-face-charges/
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/may/08/timothy-moses-pleads-guilty-to-perjury-in-otto/
***Are you aware that current Police Chief Craig Meidl whom rumor has it you intend to keep said about Karl Thompson after he and his wife saluted Thompson as he was hauled off to prison? If you haven’t you can read them here.
***Are you aware that the Spokane Police Guild opposed any Spokane police ombudsman’s authority to conduct independent investigations into alleged officer misconduct which forced the issue to be subject to contract negotiations during which the powers of the OPO have been extremely limited and further limiting OPO powers are a big part of the current ongoing contract negotiations?
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/sep/15/oversight-request-denied/
Buffalo Brian Breen 