For a City Council that isn’t “unnerved” that Spokane might be declared a “Sanctuary City” I find it a bit odd that their City Council Website provides a link asking the question “Is Spokane A Sanctuary City?”

 

https://my.spokanecity.org/citycouncil/items-of-interest/

 

The link goes directly to the SPD IA Webpage, which of course links some of the Policy and Procedures I addressed here, as well as some data which might give some insight into just how big a problem SPD Cops confronting undocumented people might be…that is if you take a careful look.

 

 

https://my.spokanecity.org/police/accountability/bias-based-policing/

 

What is missing, for some reason, from the City Council’s Webpage is this, which makes Cops, or anyone in City employment, asking people their immigration status against City Law, a fact which will make or break President Trump’s retired U.S. Marine Corps Gen. John Kelly’s decision to declare Spokane a “Sanctuary City,” and the possible loss of a pot full of Federal Bucks for Spokane. Which of course begs the question… “If everything was hunky dory in the first place what the hell was the Ordinance for?”

https://my.spokanecity.org/smc/?Section=03.10.050

I’m kind of wondering exactly who they are trying to fool, certainly not me, and even though I’m no expert I am somewhat familiar with what the Feds have in the way of resources to check on things especially public comments people have made and the background of issues. This one was BIG, with both sides battling it out.

 

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/oct/30/spokane-city-council-prohibits-immigration-status/

https://files.acrobat.com/a/preview/b8a971b6-2039-47f8-b9ac-1e159d1b62d8

http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2016/01/12/spokane-council-passes-sick-leave-ordinance-immigration-petition-in-limbo

http://www.khq.com/story/29549303/public-safety-concerns-in-a-sanctuary-city

 

Another thing I’m sure of is that calling the head honcho of any organization in public a “misogynist” and “rapist” isn’t going to get you a raise, and might not be a good thing to have done if a City is looking for some Federal Money.

Maybe it is a good time for some people to start taking care of stuff at home instead of trying to be a player on the National Stage… admit it was a mistake and dump the damn Ordinance.

https://examplepro.me/2017/01/29/is-spokane-really-a-sanctuary-city/

 

I REPORT YOU DECIDE!!!

 

 

 

Some GOOD…SOME BAD!

Unfortunately for the GOOD ones, they/we must rely on HUMANS to decide if they are GOOD or BAD, and it isn’t like humans never make mistakes.

My parents and grandparents were good ones, Dad even fought in the Pacific during WWII because he loved this Country. I sure am glad they immigrated here and decided to bring another American into this world.

I’ve been lucky in my life experience because most my involvement with immigrants, undocumented people, illegals, or whatever you want to call them, except for a couple of murder cases and one client, has been darn positive.

If everyone had an opportunity to spend some time in war torn places like this, they might get at least some understanding of how badly both good and bad humans want to come here and live.

I can guarantee from personal experience that both the good and the bad will go to great lengths to get out and really you can’t blame either of them.

A volunteer stint with AmeriCorps brought me into contact with some great undocumented kids working hard at getting their degrees at a local University. She stands out because she really didn’t know what to do once she received her degree because she couldn’t work in the US. What was interesting about her was that the people paying for her education were the people who she and her mother and father had worked for many years which, at least for me, demonstrated that at least some of the folks that employ undocumented people aren’t always the heartless bastards they are sometimes made out to be. I couldn’t offer her much help other than to suggest a good immigration lawyer.

As is the case for many families here in the US, “The Buff Family” got bigger when my grandson Marine while stationed at Camp Pendleton fell in love with one of those beautiful Latino gals that came across as a fourteen-year-old by herself to get away from a bad situation and at least some opportunity to better herself. Making the right moves to make sure the Feds didn’t grab her before the marriage was not a treat. We absolutely love this gal who has since provided us with two beautiful great grandchildren, just recently got her GED, and thanks to help from the Marine Corps and others is on a path to US Citizenship. Aside from being a wonderful person she is also a great cook which certainly helps, and if you think you get real Mexican food in Mexican restaurants you should think again. I am having one major problem with my grandson’s wife though, I’m having one hell of a time convincing her that it was the Irish that discovered Mexico…for some reason she ain’t buying it.

So, what is my position regarding the most recent hot topic concerning President Trump’s efforts to keep the Bad out and let the Good in?

The simple answer is, because we have humans involved in every aspect, to coin a good old military acronym… SNAFU!!!

I REPORT YOU DECIDE!!!

Since yesterday’s story regarding the “Sanctuary City” issue several people have asked my opinion regarding why the easily obtainable facts in the story were not brought out in the local Mainstream Media.

https://examplepro.me/2017/01/29/is-spokane-really-a-sanctuary-city/

The truth is, I honestly don’t have an answer. I personally felt they were important facts that needed pointing out and chose to do so to help folks be more informed on the issue. Why other media didn’t feel the need to set the record straight is a question they would have to answer, and not me.

The primary theory expressed by my Liberal friends was that the local MSM is under financed and understaffed to the point that they don’t have the time to do much fact checking. I agree with that to a certain extent.

The primary theory expressed by my Conservative friends is that local reporters and editors are all Liberal and digging into the facts wouldn’t help their agenda. I don’t know that I necessarily agree with that, but certainly when you research their social media accounts it would be easy to draw the conclusion they do, for the most part, have a Liberal bent.

A relatively consistent theory from both sides of the equation was that presenting stories in a particular way helps the clicks which are of paramount importance for selling advertisements. I certainly think that has become true in today’s world especially since more and more print media organizations have seen a considerable downturn in actual newspaper sales and have opted for a strong internet presence as an alternative.

To be perfectly clear this blog is not dependent on clicks, advertising, or subject to editorial review. The only agenda present here is to get the facts and the truth out with absolutely NO CONSIDERATION of a political ideology.

To sum it up…DON’T ASK ME, ASK THEM!!!

I REPORT YOU DECIDE!!!

Well…yes!

The answer basically lies in this City Ordinance which is primarily an Ordinance telling SPD Cops how they can and can’t do their jobs, which is fine, but in some cases agendas overreach Good Ole Police work, and this very well may be the case here.

The big question now of course is whether this restrictive Ordinance will be looked upon unfavorably by President Trump’s, retired U.S. Marine Corps Gen. John Kelly (Semper Fi, Oorah) and if Spokane is in risk of losing Federal Funding. I guess that all depends on one’s perspective. As for me I’m not so sure, but Councilmember Beggs, Council President Stuckart, and Mayor Condon seem to think it will NOT be a problem, Mike Fagan on the other hand feels it will. I tend to side with Councilmember Fagan on this one.

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/jan/25/city-leaders-believe-trumps-sanctuary-city-order-w/

Of course, the “Sanctuary City” and “Terry v Ohio” issue have been brought up several times before!

“Since the Spokane City Council decided to make Spokane a “Sanctuary City”, because they had absolutely no understanding whatsoever of Terry vs Ohio, and President Elect Donald Trump has on several occasions stated that he will withhold all Federal Grant Funding from ALL “Sanctuary Cities” wouldn’t OUR million-dollar windfall come in handy to cover the $1.207 in “1620 & 1530-Grants” SPD is relying on in the 2017 budget?”

https://examplepro.me/2016/12/14/it-isnt-their-money/

https://examplepro.me/2017/01/17/terry-vs-ohio-the-broken-windows-theory/

https://examplepro.me/2016/08/17/my-take-on-the-opo-candidates/

https://examplepro.me/2016/07/10/terry-vs-ohioive-got-the-power/

Council President Stuckart’s statement in the above SR Article is true. The SPD policy has been in place since Anne Kirkpatrick decided buy the Lexipol LLC canned Policy and Procedures…way back when. What Council President Stuckart leaves out is the extent to which the Ordinance goes well beyond the actual SPD Policy and Procedure.

“I’m not unnerved by following our police policy for the last 10 years,” said City Council President Ben Stuckart. Prior to passage of the 2014 ordinance, Spokane Police had not been asking about immigration status as a department policy for a decade. “All our police chiefs have been clear. I think the city of Spokane would rather have our police out working on property crime, than asking somebody what they’re immigration status is.”

He is dead right about the property crime issue, but that is an entirely different story!

I took the time to separate the relevant SPD Policies for you here:

https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3Ad0fc3b46-4c77-4d41-b334-30d28c56b846

As is always the case folks can decide for themselves whether the Lexipol Policy covered everything enough that there really wasn’t a need for a new Ordinance, and it is just a matter of proper supervision and…Yes OVERSIGHT?

I just want to point out a couple of things which I hope kind of clear things up.

Keep in mind that his Lexipol Policy was written back during a time when the Country was going through the same discussion we are today.

Perhaps the first thing to do is define who we are talking about.

Next step is to figure out if we are talking about a crime or a civil issue.

Can SPD Officers develop “reasonable suspicion” that Sid Wade is undocumented simply because he is wearing a Sombrero and doing a Mexican Hat Dance on the sidewalk at Howard and Riverside? 🙂

Having pointed all this out the questions remain:

A. Unless required by law or court order, no Spokane City officer or employee shall inquire into the immigration status of any person, or engage in activities designed to ascertain the immigration status of any person.

How will a Former Marine view the language in “A.”?

B. Spokane Police Department officers shall have reasonable suspicion to believe a person has been previously deported from the United States, is again present in the United States, and is committed or has committed a felony criminal-law violation before inquiring into the immigration status of an individual.

Will a Former Marine be able to figure out that even though you can’t ask in the first place, according to the Ordinance, but checking the ICE Data Base just might give you “reasonable suspicion” that Sid Wade has been deported in the past and is back for another run at it and it really doesn’t matter since the cop needs reasonable suspicion that Sid “is committed”, whatever that means (Yes Sid “is committed” I’m not sure to what though?), or has committed a “felony”, which eliminates some other dastardly stuff like Domestic Violence etc, and draw a conclusion that some folks here in Spokane are at best a bit confused?

C. The Spokane Police Department shall not investigate, arrest, or detain an individual based solely on immigration status.

Then why bother with “B.”

D. The Spokane Police Department shall maintain policies consistent with this section.

Will a Former Marine check to see if the Spokane Police Department maintains policies consistent with the Ordinance? One did, a long time ago.

Watch out for those Former Marines!

I REPORT YOU DECIDE!!!