DRAFT REPORT OF THE CITY OF SPOKANE USE ... - Samuel Walker

City of Spokane Use of Force Commission December 20, 2012
records, policies, cases, web pages, and reports. Throughout this work,
notwithstanding that the body was not formed as the “Zehm Commission”, each
member of the Commission has remained cognizant of the fact that a core purpose of
our work is to help avoid future tragedies like what happened to Otto Zehm.
In presenting this report and the Commission’s recommendations, it is important to note
at the outset that no one occurrence defines the Spokane Police Department, its
members or its service to the citizens of Spokane. The Department is comprised of
approximately 275 uniformed officers (with an authorized strength of 295) and nearly
100 civilian employees. Each of the department’s members is responsible to perform
his or her role in the most professional and legally correct manner. Each is responsible
for their personal contribution to the department’s public service mission and to the
safety of the City and its citizens. And, each is responsible for the overall reputation
and credibility of the department in the City of Spokane.
The Commission’s members thank the officers and civilian employees of the SPD for
their service to this community. Their efforts, which are often not seen or recognized
publicly, involve the ability to make difficult and fast decisions in challenging
circumstances, the need to pay ever vigilant attention to fairness, and the resilience of
spirit to not be bogged down by the conditions they encounter on a daily basis.
The SPD and those who serve the City in other capacities are part of ever changing
institutions. At the time of Otto Zehm’s death, Jim Nicks was the Acting Chief of Police
and Dennis Hession was the Mayor of Spokane. In July of 2007 Anne Kirkpatrick
became the Chief of Police and she served in this role until the end of 2011, with most
of that time occurring under the administration of Mayor Mary Verner. David Condon
was sworn into the Mayor’s office on January 1, 2012, and, shortly thereafter, he
appointed Scott Stephens as Interim Chief of Police. Major Stephens served in that role
until Frank Straub was recently sworn as Spokane’s new Chief of Police. Across this
same span of time, there have also been changes in the make-up of the Spokane City
Council and in the Office of the City Attorney. Likewise, many new members have
joined the uniformed services of the SPD and many have retired at the end of their
careers.
The SPD’s leaders and its officers, along with the political and administrative leadership
of the City of Spokane, are responsible for continuously furthering the interest of public
safety through constructive change and improvement. This obligation remains constant
notwithstanding who is serving this City as Mayor, as Councilperson, as Chief of Police
or as a patrol officer. The recommendations that follow are offered in the spirit of
helping those who carry this obligation, as a matter of office or function, to better serve
the citizens of Spokane.
City of Spokane Use of Force Commission – Page 2