Monthly Newsletter— May 2012 Edition - Spokane Police Department

Monthly Newsletter— May 2012 Edition
Over 80% of our budget is spent directly on our employees. You are the most important
asset we have as an organization. On every contact you make, you represent not only every law
enforcement officer in this country, but you also represent the City of Spokane. We rely on your
interaction with the public to demonstrate the level of commitment and concern we have for those we
are sworn to protect. We also rely on Patrol Officers to keep everyone safe in transactions that can
often be adrenaline-fueled, alcohol/drug-enhanced, and sprinkled liberally with rage (of course, none of
this is evident when the suspect has sobered up, calmed down, and donned a three-piece suit and tie
for his or her court appearance). Efficient and effective service to the public occurs one way; through
our employees (as a team, we rely on all our partners, from Radio to Records to Property, each
playing a vital role in our police department that I didn’t fully appreciate until promoted to my current
position).
Many citizens seem to base their reality of what law enforcement is and does on what they
see on TV or at the movies; set to adrenaline-pumping music, made to look romantic, actors and
actresses that are only half as good looking as me, exciting, and “the ends justifies the means”. On TV
or at the movies, officers are looked to as heros when they go outside the law to bring a “perp” to
justice or use street language with all these “punks” (a term for those who remember Dirty Harry; for the record, you should not use
that kind of language.)
So where am I going with all this? I’m certainly not telling you something you don’t already know. Sometimes it helps to step
outside yourself and look at things from a different perspective. This year we have already had four senseless, brutal homicides, with
six victims. We usually don’t get this busy until late June or early July. Many are grinding down as they race call-to-call, dealing with the
expectations that we will show up, calm everything down, and happily go on to the next call. Burn out is a very likely reality for some
this summer. If you find yourself overwhelmed or frustrated or burnt out, the best advice I can give you is to take it one day at a time.
Don’t try to take on the whole week or the whole month. You were given enough grace to get you through one day.
A wise man once said, “Don’t worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow has enough troubles of its own.” Believe it or not, I go
through those periods, too, where the tasks before me are overwhelming (you should see the “honey-do” list the spousal unit has for
me at home!). When I can remind myself to stay focused on the here and now and not look further down the road, I have always
managed to get through those seasons just fine. And once I have been able to make that mental shift, I actually have found myself
having fun in the seasons that were burning me out just days before. It has to be a true mental shift, not something where you say you
are focusing on the here and now but still looking down the road. Let’s not think about the entire summer, or the call load we will all
be handling, or the 2013 budget. There will be time for that later. Let’s stay in the here and now; focused on today. The rest will take
care of itself.
-Major Craig Meidl

Employee of the 1st Quarter
Recently, Sgt. Storment nominated Corporal Kevin Keller for Employee of the 1st Quarter, 2012.
Corporal Keller has been working with the Spokane Police Department for 13 years. When Sgt.
Storment came to Team 11 in July, he advised that he found a highly functioning and cohesive
team already in place and much of the credit goes to Corporal Keller. Corporal Keller sets a tremendous
example for his team. He is punctual, professional, courteous, and knowledgeable. He
takes on a tremendous amount of responsibility to make his team successful. Corporal Keller has
excellent leadership abilities especially during critical
incidents. During a recent person with a weapon call, Corporal Keller was first on scene and used
excellent tactics and communicated a plan
to responding officers. Corporal Keller
demonstrated his concern for the safety of
the other responding officers by being
aware of their locations at all times and
ensuring they were safe throughout the
incident. He demonstrates this same level
of concern for fellow officers at every
incident that he responds to. Also, on
many occasions he gives praise to team
members without even mentioning his
own
involvement. Corporal Keller is nearing his
10th year with SWAT and is the Team
Leader for CART. In December of 2011,
Corporal Keller was awarded the SKIP PAV-
LISCHAK SWAT TEAM MEMBER OF THE
YEAR AWARD. His work ethic and output
in these units is just as noteworthy as it is
in patrol. Corporal Keller has maintained
the same level of commitment to excellence
for the past 13 years.

SANDY ALTER
RETIRING AFTER 13 YEARS
Sandra Alter was hired by the Spokane Police Department on October 4, 1999
as a Police Records Clerk. That position was reclassified in March of 2000 to
Police Records Specialist. She then took a voluntary demotion to Clerk II on
March 3, 2002 when she began working in Volunteer Services. Her position
was again reclassified, this time to Clerk III on July 29, 2007. Sandy worked at
the Spokane Police department for 13 years and her official retirement date
was March 12, 2012.
OFFICER BONNIE SHERAR
RETIRING AFTER 20 YEARS
Officer Bonnie Sherar was hired by the Spokane Police Department on February 26, 1992. She has spent her entire
career with the department in patrol. She was a NOPS instructor, and an Neighborhood Resource Officer (NRO) at
COPS Northeast for five years. Officer Sherar has received many commendations over the years, most notably, her
work for “Beats and Rhythms,” a golf fund raiser to raise money for a medically supervised heart camp for children
with congenital heart disease. Bonnie has participated and organized many events in northeast Spokane including:
the Tricycle Race for Jim Hill Days, “Raise the Roof,” and she received the “Best Practices Award” in October 2000
from Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Officer Sherar also organized “Pets with Santa” at COPS Northeast
where citizens can get their pets photographed with Santa.
CAROLYN BRAKEL
RETIRING AFTER 15 YEARS
Carolyn Brakel was hired by the Spokane Police Department on June 17, 1996 as a Police Records Clerk I. She
received a progressive promotion on August 24, 1997 to Police Records Clerk II and that position was reclassified to a
Police Records Specialist. Carolyn promoted to Secretary II on July 25, 1999 and worked in the Chief’s Office for a
short time. She then transferred to Major Crimes and worked as a secretary in the Special Victim’s Unit. Carolyn
retired on January 11, 2012.
WE WILL MISS YOU SANDY, BONNIE, & CAROLYN!
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT!

Please join us at the
Spokane Police Academy
U.S. Marshal Special Olympic
Benefit Trade Show
hosted by the Spokane Police Academy
On-site trade show with regional and national vendors
Vendor booths open all day
Come Check out vendors including: Action Target,
Blumenthals, Cabelas, ESS, Proforce, Pacific Tactical
Solutions, Sharp Shooting, Trijicon, Wing Sales, and More!
When:
June 15, 2012
0900-1700 hrs
Where:
2302 N. Waterworks, Spokane WA, 99212
To sign up as a vendor:
Contact Daane Dunlap – Range Intern
ddunlap@spokanepolice.org or (509) 742-8118

Spokane Law Enforcement Museum
April 24–28, 2012 was the 2nd Anniversary of the opening of
the museum. Volunteers worked to keep it open all week for
visitors.
We are back to being open on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 4
p.m. and group tours may be made at other times if volunteers
are available.
Mother Mary Seymour
One of the serendipities of the work of the SPLEM
Historical office is meeting with family members who are looking
into geneology or information on family members who were members
of the department.
We played host to the great-great niece Jennifer Ish, and great niece
Jeanne Matlack of Mary Seymour. The Historical Monuments
Committee will be dedicating a monument to her on May 10th.
Mary was one of the first matrons for the department. She is shown
in the center of the picture of the 1912 department that hangs in the
Hallways of History across from the Chief’s Auxiliary Conference
Room.
Before contact with our committee, Jennifer had never seen a picture
of Mary. The committee was able to supply the family with
Jennifer Ish, Jeanne Matlack and
SPLEM Historical Office Volunteer
Diane Erickson in front of the 1912 picture
of the department. Picture of Mary
Seymour is in the oval inset.
several photos. Jeanne, whose husband was a Spokane Valley fireman for 37 years, remembers as a young
girl of four or five, when Mary would bring inmates home and teach them how to clean house. She fondly
remembers her Great Aunt Mary buying her a doll and eating dinner at her home on West 2nd. She also remembers
hearing about Mary bringing home one particular inmate to work around the home. It was observed
that Mary was very good at keeping a watchful eye on the inmate and really cared about those she
worked for. The family was very close and full of compassion. Her daughter, Bonnie
Martin, founded the Spokane’s homeless mission that later became the Union Gospel Mission.
Mary was known to many in the department as Mother Mary. She began working for the department when
she was 55 years old in 1910, and stayed until the age of 77 in 1932. Mary died a year after leaving the department.
Her funeral was the first where a motorcycle escort was used from downtown to the Greenwood Memorial
Terrace Cemetery. All the pallbearers were police detectives. As a sign of respect for her service, the department
allowed a badge to be inlaid on her gravemarker. It was paid for by fellow employees.
Photo Chronicles
We are still working on gathering all the family ties and military history. For those of you looking for a
unique gift, a Heritage Tile can be purchased that will be on display wall at the museum. Your affiliation, or
you family members affiliation will be forever remembered. Interested in purchasing a tile just contact one
of our vounteers at the museum or contact the SPLEM Historial Office.
We would also like to see more pictures and stories on the sports programs and competitions as well as
fundraisers that the officers have been involved with over the years, as that is the next section that we will
be working on. Be sure to drop these by the historical office or email the scans and stories.
Thank you to those of you who have given us information on your military service and family ties. It isn’t
too late, please get the pictures and information to us as soon as possible. Contact the SPLEM Historical Office
at 477-6449 or email sswalker@spokanepolice.org

YEARS OF SERVICE—MARCH
Joseph Peterson
30 Years
Deann Gordon
20 Years
Troy Tipke
20 Years
Sherilyn Redmon
15 Years
Steven Wohl
15 Years
Erin Blessing
15 Years
Alexis Kester
5 Years
Cory Lyons
5 Years
Thomas Michaud
5 Years
Jeremy McVay
5 Years
YEARS OF SERVICE—APRIL
Janell Pogachar
25 Years
Julie Reisenauer
25 Years
Jeffrey Schaal
25 Years
Kenneth Anderson
15 Years
Sean McDonald
10 Years
Greg Thieschafer
10 Years
YEARS OF SERVICE—MAY
Arthur Dollard
5 Years
Nicholas Geren
5 Years
Adam Potter
5 Years

Bloomsday News
Sam Yamada was part of the “Foot Pursuit” Corporate Cup team in Bloomsday and
was the second highest scoring individual in the division. Christopher Johnson was
the fastest runner with a time of 49:51 time. Great job to both of you!
A Benefit for
Inland N.W. Honor Flight
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Chewelah Golf and Country Club
Entry Fee: $75.00 (includes cart, practice balls, dinner)
For more information contact: Gordon Grant 509-499-4321 or Bonnie Sherar bsherar@msn.com
Volunteers Needed
The SPD is seeking volunteers age 16 and older. If you or someone you know are interested in helping to
make a difference in our community, and are able to commit to at least 16 hours per month volunteering,
we would like to talk to you about joining one of our volunteer groups. Last year our volunteers donated
over 58,000 hours of their time to helping the SPD provide efficient, effective and unbiased law
enforcement service to the public. Information on the different volunteer groups, as well as how to apply
to be a volunteer can be found on the SPD website at http://www.spokanepolice.org/volunteers/ or by
calling the Volunteer Services unit at 363-8281 or 363-8283.
Here is a great Father’s Day gift!
This would be great for you, a current officer, retired officer or anyone related
to an officer. The purchase of this $17 book assists the SPD Chaplain’s Program.
Please call Chaplain Ron at
768-5164 or Chaplain Beth at 981-2883 to get your copy today. We sure do
appreciate all you do.

Our 87 year old family member was recently robbed in her fenced
backyard. The suspect punched her in the back, took her purse, and
ran down the alley. Thank you to Officer Greg Thieschafer and
Officer Jason Curtis that showed up and treated her with such
tenderness and kindness, like she was their own mother. God bless
them!!!!
Ofc.Traci Douglas was frantically waved down by a woman who ran out of gas
with her small child in the car. Traci stopped to help and took a gas can and
money the woman had and went to get some gas for her. As she was doing
this, the woman told Traci she had pawned her laptop to afford gas money.
Traci decided to buy the gas for the woman and returned the money.
Around 3:00 on Sat the 17th two officers were dispatched to my home in response to a Life
Alert signal. While it was something of a false alarm, I would like to send a message of
appreciation to those officers. They were sharp in uniform, respectful in demeanor and
helpful in offering advice on improved usage of the Life Alert system. That encounter left me
with a great feeling of pride in the department! -Spokane Citizen
"SPD...you are awesome! Thank you for all of your hard work, caring about our community
and the people in it." - Kim Isotalo-Hart
K-9 officer Craig Hamilton
takes a break from catching
bad guys and catches a
rainbow.
-Photo taken by Shawn
Kendall

UPCOMING EVENTS
INWHF Golf Tournament June 2
SPOKANE POLICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
US Marshal Special Olympic Benefit June 15
The Police Advisory Committee meets every
month. Quarterly, the meeting is open to the
public. The Spokane Police Department
encourages citizens to attend this meeting.
Bring your questions and concerns. Police Chief
Scott Stephens and other members of the Police
Department will be present.
Hope to see you there!
Spokane Police Department
1100 W Mallon Ave
Spokane WA 99260-0001
www.spokanepolice.org
SUGGESTIONS—COMMENTS?
Editor, Kim Anderson
kanderson@spokanepolice.org