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Friday, January 14, 2011

City Mayor: No "Room in This City" for Cops Opposing Race and Justice Programs

Posted by Dominic Holden on Fri, Jan 14, 2011 at 3:05 PM

Seattle Police Department officers have the right to publish incendiary screeds against the city’s program on racial profiling, call the people who lead the training “the enemy,” argue they should use words like “n***a” and “bitch” on patrol, and joke about shooting African American leaders who support civilian oversight. But that doesn’t mean the city takes it lightly.

“I just don’t think there is room for in this city for police officers who think issues of race and social justice aren’t important… and who think addressing the issues of race and social justice is unwarranted,” says Mayor Mike McGinn.

“After the recent incidents—the stomping, the use of racist words, the shooting of John Williams, and other incidents—it has raised question about how the police officers view and treat minorities,” McGinn says. “People have asked the question: Is this the case of an isolated incident or a broader culture in the police department?”

"But when you see what we see in the Guardian—that training designed to improve how police work with minorities is inherently wrong and that the people who promote that training are 'the enemy'—it would tend to confirm those concerns of the minority community and others that the police department is guilty of giving unequal treatment based on who they are," he continues. “It raises concerns that it’s in a newspaper that purports to speak on behalf of police officers."

So does McGinn—who appoints the chief and oversees the police department—plan to do anything about these concerns?

"I’m the one who is held accountable to the public for the actions of the police department—that is my job," McGinn says. He's spoken to the chief about articles in the Guardian. But he doesn't offer any course of action. "We have to be clear in what our values are and be diligent in pursuing them."

“We are employing those people," McGinn adds. "And it’s one thing to question whether training on race and social justice is done well, but it is not okay to say that people who train on race and so justice are 'the enemy.'”

The mayor is careful to note that he doesn't know if these beliefs are held by only a few officers or by many officers. "We have to be careful not to paint with a broad brush, because there are police officers who do great work on behalf of the community every day. We also have to understand, be aware and be concern that there is a broader cultural issue in the police department and we have to address that. The culture doesn't spring into being overnight and it’s not going to be changed overnight."

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OK, I like the Mayor, but I call bullshit and this should be followed up on. Why did it take until TODAY for the Mayor to condemn this in public, AFTER the Stranger published the Guardian information, when it was claimed in the comments that a copy of the Guardian is given monthly to both the Mayor's office and the City Council members?

Do they receive a copy? And if so, can they -- Pickus, McGinn, someone on the Council staffs -- please explain why this wasn't condemned until it's nasty details were spilled across the public's face?

Posted by Joe Szilagyi

on January 14, 2011 at 3:15 PM

He needs to bust some balls. Don't be another soft liberal... too late?

Posted by aardvark on January 14, 2011 at 3:16 PM

“We are employing those people," McGinn adds. "And it’s one thing to question whether training on race and social justice is done well, but it is not okay to say that people who train on race and so justice are 'the enemy.'”

And: so what are you going to DO about this problem, Mr. Mayor?

Posted by Joe Szilagyi

on January 14, 2011 at 3:17 PM

I thought it was City Council that determined the contract with the Guild and the subsequent lack of civilian oversight?

Posted by Will in Seattle

on January 14, 2011 at 3:20 PM

Fire racist culprits or face lawsuits. Expensive lawsuits.

Posted by Vince on January 14, 2011 at 3:28 PM

Never should've hired Diaz. I suspect the union urged the leading outside contender to drop out.

Posted by dirac on January 14, 2011 at 3:31 PM

What exactly are the "social justice" groups, really? I didn't hear a peep out of them when the 7 young guys who stomped the elderly Tuba man to death got a few MONTHS in jail, I have not heard ONE word from them about the rash of unprovoked attacks on metro (most caught on security tape) of our most vulnerable citizens- a pregnant woman, a deaf woman, an elderly disabled man, a child. I do not think these "social justice" groups look out for most of the people who need it most. Whatever their agenda, they seem indifferent to an enormous amount of social injustice that goes on. I wonder why?

Posted by jane doe on January 14, 2011 at 3:33 PM

I think Vince @5 brings it home, here.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on January 14, 2011 at 3:51 PM

McGinn's heart is in the right place. It's just that he doesn't have the executive skills to do anything about the problem. It's outside of his field.

Posted by The Wretched Harmony on January 14, 2011 at 4:00 PM

McGinn's right, it's about a 'broader cultural issue' within the SPD, but yeah, the $64,000 question is What Does He Intend To DO About It?? Inquiring minds want, and deserve, to know........

And I agree, Diaz was just the wrong choice. Talk about perpetuating yr institutional culture....

Posted by merry on January 14, 2011 at 4:01 PM

Diaz knows this crap gets printed and doesn't do or say a thing. He should be fired. This sort of racial hate speech should not be tolerated. Period. No excuses. Fire these people.

Start with Sgt. Rich O'Neil who is the leader of the right wing of the Police. He's been a problem for decades. He compares "left leaning" politicians to criminals and thinks non-cops shouldn't comment on police shootings.

Mayor McGinn - the Police issue will define you. And when Burgess runs against you as a pro-police politician, taking no stand on anything the cops do wrong because he is one, you have a winning issue. IF you act. So far your non-action is frightening and shows a complete lack of leadership.

Posted by whoknows on January 14, 2011 at 4:07 PM

@7- I didn't know the city employed Tuba Man's killers or any other random criminals.

Posted by dwight moody on January 14, 2011 at 4:20 PM

@9, yeah but he rode a bike gosh darn it!! That's why we voted for him, that and Joe "whatever his name was" simply was lame.

Posted by Cato the Younger Younger on January 14, 2011 at 4:23 PM

Across the population of American citizens, there exists a spectrum of political views; this is a fact, and not debatable.

Some cops are right winged. Some cops are left winged. Most cops, I imagine, are like most people and couldn't give a flying fuck either way.

I look at this publication and it reminds me of all the little high school and college newspapers. It's written by a small group of people and read by an almost just as small group of people. I'd be shocked if 20% of cops actually read this rag. People are making a mountain out of a molehill. Stupid people - racists, homophobes, sexists, what have you - exist within any given population. Police are no different.

Posted by jj41243 on January 14, 2011 at 4:24 PM

Guys, McGinn's hands, and Diaz' hands as well, are tied by the first amendment here. If he fires or disciplines an officer for mere speech, that officer's got a couple of good, strong legal claims under the heading of freedom of speech and right to due process.

Posted by Eric Arrr on January 14, 2011 at 4:25 PM

The real scary thing is that it's not really McGinn--I think the SPD would revolt against any mayor who tried to impose outside discipline. I don't think they view themselves as accountable to anyone. I think that's why what we really need is a federal investigation with the power to remake the department if the apparent systemic problems at the SPD are confirmed by their investigation.

Posted by Cascadian on January 14, 2011 at 4:39 PM

@15 employees are routinely fired for causing public harm or exposure to their employers. It's in the news all the time. The real question is: does this rise to that level?

Posted by Joe Szilagyi

on January 14, 2011 at 4:39 PM

I would add, that I personally don't think so, but when you get into areas of police officers discussing in public all but open dissent of city polices and regulations, you've opened a pretty big chasm of theoretical worms that might be against a range of police or city regulations in and of itself.

Posted by Joe Szilagyi

on January 14, 2011 at 4:42 PM

Um, when you publicly advocate calling people the n-word and bitches on the job, I'm pretty sure that counts as a fireable offense for any job in the country. Let alone if you're caught on camera actually doing it.

Posted by raku on January 14, 2011 at 4:56 PM

@11 wow yeah O'Neil does seem a bit off.

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/cspa…

Posted by Westlake, son! on January 14, 2011 at 5:52 PM

I fucking hate it when politicians and pundits always talk about actions that "send messages," everything is always about some bullshit "message" that something sends.

But this is exactly one of those times where McGinn needs to fire Diaz, shake up the leadership, and send a fucking message to these guys.

Let us not forget that police are public servants, sworn to justice. If someone is not willing to serve and protect our community, instead of divide and conquer fractured communities in a discriminatory and hateful fashion, you FIRE their ass and let them go join the WSP or the Sheriff's office and go take out their anger issues in the boonies.

I don't want this militarist bullshit in my city.

Posted by Captain Wiggette on January 14, 2011 at 7:02 PM

I can speak from experience: firing their boss will in no way "send a message" to any asshole cops. Asshole cops will continue to be asshole cops regardless of leadership, because they are assholes, and assholes do not ever stop being assholes. You can't stop cops from being assholes, but you can stop assholes from being cops.

Posted by DeaconBlues