City Attorney Holmes: 'This is a sad day for Seattle'
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SEATTLE -- Pressure is building between two powerful city leaders and the man tasked with overseeing changes to the police department.
It all stems from attorney Merrick Bobb's plan for Seattle police officers, which was released on Tuesday.
Bobb was appointed by the federal government to make sure SPD implements a slew of reforms put forth after a Department of Justice investigation found officers using excessive force.
In Bobb's report, which was filed on Tuesday, he details plans to change the way the department defines, reports, investigates and reviews use-of-force claims against officers.
What's yet to be determined is whether any city leaders will agree with Bobb's plan. Bobb, Mayor Mike McGinn and City Attorney Pete Holmes have been bickering back and forth about the changes for some time.
On Tuesday, McGinn fired off a letter to Holmes accusing him of overstepping his bounds and dragging his feet on implementing changes to the department. He accuses Holmes of stalling so he can look at Bobb's plan before making any decisions.
"The fundamental question is he an independent policy maker with final authority over decisions, or is he the city's attorney bound by rules of professional conduct? He can chose either path." McGinn said.
If all three sides can't agree on Bobb's plan, the changes outlined in the original settlement agreement between the city and the Department of Justice will automatically kick in.
McGinn said he would rather the city work without the monitor. He already has two police changes that are ready to go, but he claims Holmes is not on board.
Holmes released his own brief response to McGinn's letter, saying, "I cannot comment in detail on the mayor's counterproductive statements, except to say that this is a sad day for Seattle."
On top of everything else, there's drama between McGinn and Bobb after the city's budget office caught Bobb trying to turn in reimbursement receipts for expensive dinners and alcohol.
McGinn has said he's worried implementing Bobb's plan would mean his team would spend more city money for months to come.
Everything will come to a head next Tuesday, when a federal judge will rule on Bobb's proposal.
It all stems from attorney Merrick Bobb's plan for Seattle police officers, which was released on Tuesday.
Bobb was appointed by the federal government to make sure SPD implements a slew of reforms put forth after a Department of Justice investigation found officers using excessive force.
In Bobb's report, which was filed on Tuesday, he details plans to change the way the department defines, reports, investigates and reviews use-of-force claims against officers.
What's yet to be determined is whether any city leaders will agree with Bobb's plan. Bobb, Mayor Mike McGinn and City Attorney Pete Holmes have been bickering back and forth about the changes for some time.
On Tuesday, McGinn fired off a letter to Holmes accusing him of overstepping his bounds and dragging his feet on implementing changes to the department. He accuses Holmes of stalling so he can look at Bobb's plan before making any decisions.
"The fundamental question is he an independent policy maker with final authority over decisions, or is he the city's attorney bound by rules of professional conduct? He can chose either path." McGinn said.
If all three sides can't agree on Bobb's plan, the changes outlined in the original settlement agreement between the city and the Department of Justice will automatically kick in.
McGinn said he would rather the city work without the monitor. He already has two police changes that are ready to go, but he claims Holmes is not on board.
Holmes released his own brief response to McGinn's letter, saying, "I cannot comment in detail on the mayor's counterproductive statements, except to say that this is a sad day for Seattle."
On top of everything else, there's drama between McGinn and Bobb after the city's budget office caught Bobb trying to turn in reimbursement receipts for expensive dinners and alcohol.
McGinn has said he's worried implementing Bobb's plan would mean his team would spend more city money for months to come.
Everything will come to a head next Tuesday, when a federal judge will rule on Bobb's proposal.
After being caught trying to defraud the city by getting them to pay for his booze and spendy nights out on the town, Bobb should have at minimum been fired, or charged with a crime. He is corrupt and should be unemployed and have nothing to do with the accoutablity of another department.
Hey Mr. Mayor it's time to get up off your knees and quit kissing Diaz butt.
I'm disappointed that this KOMO article doesn't lay out the proposals in a bit more detail. I think the focus here on the drama is not as important as the substance.Â
@lakeview That's all this story is supposed to be about. That there is drama and disagreement between them all.
Perfect material for a comedy film. We could call it "Band of Idiots."
Bad spelling in this story too!!Â
Is there some one who is supposed to be sad from this ridiculous story??? Ummmm not me!
As there have been no police walk outs i guess that it is not that big of deal. when the cops stop work and picket THEN it will be news worthy.
Actually it is prohibited for police to walk off the job and/or strike
Who is actually sad here? I know for a fact that I am not.Â
Get rid of all of them, they are a joke. McSchwinn doesn't want any competition for tax dollars for his bike lanes, the police chief Dumbazz thinks everything is fine and this crazy city attorney thinks he can waive state law.
Fire them all...
I'm sorry, but if the SPD can't get their act together with this we need to start rolling heads at the top.
@ghjim If criminals can't get their act together. Go downtown after 7...oh don't forget a gun to protect yourself. I feel for the police, it is nothing but Gotham City down there.
They brought this upon themselves.Â
Yes the SPD did in effect shoot themselves in the foot and only have themselves to blame.
hell with the monitor. seattle police needs an army protect the residents from the cops
McGinn would rather work without a monitor? I say DREAM ON! That department NEEDS a monitor, but I will admit that it needs a DIFFERENT monitor. Boob, oops I mean Bobb is a freaking joke.
I love how this is playing out. And you still think you don't have a problem?
Mayor running a smear diversion campaign against doj attorney overseeing his police department. Haha the peas come from the same pod.
Anyway good to see some real change in how this department conducts its business. Better late than never.
Whats with all the Holmes Hugging in the local media this past week? Someone had a real puff piece about him in another outlet. I think it was the PI.Â
I don't understand why the mayor and city attorney have any say in this at all. It is their police department that is messed up, it seems like a major conflict of interest. I think the DOJ should just hand them the new procedures and tell them to make it happen.Â
A change to the way excessive force accusations are handled?? Does this mean they won't be round-filed upon receipt anymore?
Seriously, when's the last time you heard of an officer being fired for anything short of shooting....actually even then. I think the last time I heard of one even getting in any trouble was the guy who shot that wood carver, and even then that was a long drawn out affair.
@mootpoint The issue about it being so hard to fire bad cops is thanks to their union, not the city.Â
Both the SPD and Mayor McGuinn need a swift kick in the rear.
@Bellevue ScottSPD must have some real dirt on Mayor McGuinn. How could anybody be in bed with a rogue police department
As usual for Seattle the powers to be will have a babble fest with each other and still not get anything done. If they don't quit clowning around the feds will take over. This town is the most indecisive place I have ever been. Rather than doing it they will have a babble fest, vote on it, babble some more, vote again, and on and on and still get nothing done. Seattle, the greatest little DO NOTHING TOWN in the USA.Â
@LongBeachBum Lived here my entire life and I can say you are 100%% correct and not only that but it has gotten worse over the years. However, I also put some of these bicker fests on residents since we can never come to any compromise (we're all stubborn and always right).
If Bobb tried to pass off excessive personal expenses as legitimate, then his credibility is shot. I don't care who he is, thinks he is or who he works for, he has NO credibility. Get someone else and do it over, and do it right. Holmes is correct to review the report first, and I hope he takes as long as he needs before we rush head first into legal problems that cost all of us more money than time to fix. So what if it's the DOJ - aren't they the same guys who think its legal to use drones to attack citizens inside the US?
@Juliana Well they stopped running guns to the cartels... gotta do something right?
Furlough the SPD for a year and let the citizenry clean up the city, no holds barred...
@Biggg Donnn I would take it to another level. Since SPD is so detested in this city why not dismantle the entire organization. After all Seattle is a progressive city with sterling values. Who needs a police force when the citizens could do a much better job.  Think of the money the city could save which would go to other more meaningful and relevant things.Â
As a right-leaning Libertarian, I disagree with much of Mayor McGinn's political philosophy. But from what I've seen over the past couple of years he is the least corrupt mayor we've had since the 80's. He'll get my vote, just for that. Got to start somewhere.
Can the Mayor fire the city attorney, or does the city council have to get involved?
@marsneedswomen The City Attorney is an elective office - if you live in Seattle, then YOU have to fire him!Â
http://www.holmesforseattle.com/
@JLS1950
Yes, but what's it take to remove the city attorney from office, other than waiting around for the next election?
@JLS1950
Heh. I get your point. But I'm guessing there must exist procedures to remove an elected city offical that don't entail a political movement by the voting population, much like an impeachment proceeding.
@marsneedswomen @JLS1950 They call that a Recall Ballot - which starts as a petition. The same would apply to Mayor McGrin, also, BTW.
You want police reform? Grant civil juries the power to immediately and permanently revoke an officers right to hold a badge. If 12 people can sentence you to die, 12 people should be able to fire a bad cop.
Currently civil juries can only impose a monetary penalty on law enforcement. If a prosecutor or internal police oversight group doesn't go after bad cops, all you can currently do is sue them and hope the bad publicity will make their bosses do something.  If you win the lawsuit, it doesn't get paid out of the officers check or his bosses checks. The police departments budget isn't (directly) affected as a result. No, it comes out of the general fund and the teachers take the hit. We need to end this.
If civil juries can fire cops directly, victims would still be capable of receiving restitution for damages but we could limit punitive awards that the taxpayers must foot. No more paying teenage thugs $40k because a cop kicked them and possibly gave them a bruise(true story, they just re-arrested the 20 kid with an AR-15 he bought with their settlement money). It also has the benefit of starting to break up the thin blue line where nepotism, cronyism, and the "Just-Us" mentality protects bad cops. We The People grant our government the right to govern and allow them a monopoly on violence. Shouldn't we have the ability to directly revoke that as well?
@Root Please
That looks to be a very good suggestion.It should, and would have to, apply to all âpublic servantsâ.Judges, teaches, and any non-elected official.I doubt that allowing 12 to overturn a voting majority would fly, but their appointees should be fair game.
@Root Please Well said!  And while we're at it: Roll McNuggets and Ditz (Diaz) out of town on a pole!
@Root Please I agree with you 100%!!!!
I would love to also see police be required to live in the city they are employed by. This living in the next county creates a problem when officers start looking at their employer city and it's residents with contempt.
While this is not a NEW IDEA THATS BEEN SUGGESTED AND STRUCK DOWN NUMERIOUS TIMES IN SEATTLE AND OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
@BuddyHolly Thanks for the agreement. A note of caution on the resident officers idea though: I've seen this before in Philly where they have this rule in place. The taxes in Philly are so high most officers can't afford it so they all live and work elsewhere. The ones they get are often the ones who can't get hired elsewhere and as a result and you end up trading indifferent officers for sociopaths...Â
I saw that âService, Pride, Dedicationâ and about died laughing.What a pile of BS.Serving themselves, pride that they are way above lowly âcitizensâ, and dedicated to preserving a history of abuse and corruption.
@oldster70 Wow! I would love to see you perform the duties of a cop on day to day basis. The city is occupied by an increasing number of people who have just crawled out of the gutter with no respect for themselves let alone the law. I assume if you were in harms way you would not call out to a member of the SPD.
@jdoll88 @oldster70 Actually in the unlikely event that I lived in Seattle, no I would not call one of them. The odds are no better than 50-50 that involving a member of the SPD would only make the situation worse.Â
@jdoll88Â @oldster70Â Â And you just count yourself so much better than those low-life mere "citizens" of Seattle, don't you?
@ JLS1950...yeah, that is exactly what he admitted too. If you keep this up, the Warden is going to take away your computer privileges....
@JLS1950Â @jdoll88Â @oldster70I liked your post, until you brought out the religious B.S. at the end.
@JLS1950 @jdoll88 @oldster70 A bible verse? From a Seattle liberal no less.
@jdoll88@JLS1950@oldster70 So - in other words - you willingly admit that you are a snobbish, self-righteous elitist who looks down on all "other people" (because at heart you are so insecure that you dare not actually examine your own heart vis-a-vis any more substantial authority.)Â
You are not the only person here who "stay[s] out of trouble and obey[s] the law": it is just that not all of us feel the need to wear our "righteousnesses" like flags wrapped around our souls to hide our imperfections from ourselves (and no one else.)Â
Go look up Isaiah 53:6 if you dare to...
@JLS1950 @jdoll88 @oldster70 Actually yes! Only because I stay out of trouble and obey the law. I would always appreciate help from a cop if I needed it.Â