Arkansas, Washington still sparring over felons
OLYMPIA -- Washington and Arkansas are continuing their fight over felons. Arkansas wants to keep sending parolees here, but Gov. Gregoire won't budge after Arkansas felon Maurice Clemmons murdered four Lakewood police officers.
Arkansas says our state can't deny their felons, to which Gregoire says: Watch us.
This brouhaha began after the officer shootings, as the same man accused of killing them is the reason no one wants another felon from Arkansas.
Shortly before Maurice Clemmons killed the officers, he got busted in Pierce County. His arrest triggered a parole violation for crimes he committed in Arkansas. But Arkansas never took Clemmons back.
A short time later, Clemmons would be at the center of the deadliest day in police history in our state. State leaders vowed then, Washington would never let another parolee from Arkansas into our state.
"If Arkansas doesn't like it, then sue me," Gregoire said shortly after the shootings.
Gregoire and Department of Corrections has kept that word ; three Arkansas parolees have been turned away.
In a strongly worded letter to the editor in Thursday's Tacoma News Tribune, the head of DOC said accepting Arkansas felons would dishonor the fallen officers.
Arkansas officials say the transfers Washington turned down were 'mandatory'. They say the governor and DOC can't pick and choose which parolees from other states they will accept.
The interstate agency that oversees felon transfers in all states agreed with Arkansas, calling Washington's refusal unlawful. But Gregoire is not backing down.
"No, we are not allowing felons from Arkansas into our state right now, not until we get some sort of arrangement where we feel public safety is protected," Gregoire said.
The head of the DOC says he'd be happy to take felons from other states under two conditions: He gets full criminal histories on the felon and the DOC has the right to send them back when they pose a threat to public safety.
Arkansas says our state can't deny their felons, to which Gregoire says: Watch us.
This brouhaha began after the officer shootings, as the same man accused of killing them is the reason no one wants another felon from Arkansas.
Shortly before Maurice Clemmons killed the officers, he got busted in Pierce County. His arrest triggered a parole violation for crimes he committed in Arkansas. But Arkansas never took Clemmons back.
A short time later, Clemmons would be at the center of the deadliest day in police history in our state. State leaders vowed then, Washington would never let another parolee from Arkansas into our state.
"If Arkansas doesn't like it, then sue me," Gregoire said shortly after the shootings.
Gregoire and Department of Corrections has kept that word ; three Arkansas parolees have been turned away.
In a strongly worded letter to the editor in Thursday's Tacoma News Tribune, the head of DOC said accepting Arkansas felons would dishonor the fallen officers.
Arkansas officials say the transfers Washington turned down were 'mandatory'. They say the governor and DOC can't pick and choose which parolees from other states they will accept.
The interstate agency that oversees felon transfers in all states agreed with Arkansas, calling Washington's refusal unlawful. But Gregoire is not backing down.
"No, we are not allowing felons from Arkansas into our state right now, not until we get some sort of arrangement where we feel public safety is protected," Gregoire said.
The head of the DOC says he'd be happy to take felons from other states under two conditions: He gets full criminal histories on the felon and the DOC has the right to send them back when they pose a threat to public safety.