Most people know it is a battle to get to the truth with any
government agency that isn’t transparent whether there have been negative reviews
by Commissions, Federal Agencies, or IGs. Such is the case with the Spokane
Police Department under the Condon Administration, it matters not that the Use
of Force Commission, and the COPS/DOJ Collaborative Review over and over stressed
the need for SPD to be transparent they just aren’t, so it ends up being the
Media’s responsibility to try and get to the truth.
Chief Meidl apparently mentioned at a recent “BREAKFAST WITH
THE CHIEF” function that he has sought technical assistance from the Department
of Justice to help SPD with something.
That of course would be newsworthy in and of itself
especially when you consider all the recent issues involving SPD, but beyond
that I have conflicting reports from sources regarding exactly what the content
of the interaction between Meidl and DOJ entailed. Several sources have told me
that the contact is related to these obvious problems at SPD which I’ve been
working on for almost a year now.
The question I asked in my email to Meidl is a simple one,
the question is will he respond and be willing to answer follow-up questions…in
other words be transparent?
You might have noticed in the image of my email above I
included Chief Meidl’s PIOs in the email in hopes of getting some kind of
answer to a simple question whether it is from Meidl or one of his PIOs, and
the reason I did that should be pretty obvious.
Chief Meidl doesn’t like to respond to my “individual
requests” even though he does it for other reporters. He doesn’t even like to
have the Media to have is phone number even though many do.
Since the Spokane City Council, including those running for
office have been sitting on their thumbs regarding the issues with SPD even
though I have kept them informed every step of the way, I have to wonder if the
very, very false “Kill the messenger” strategy worked with them.
With respect to the “Kill the Messenger” strategy I can’t
help but wonder what Meidl thinks about all the honest Cops and City Employees
who like me want SPD cleaned up…okay…never mind I already know! 😊
How long will it take to get to the truth on this one, based
upon all the history of a lack of transparency odds are several months!
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 