SPD monitor asks city to pay for his cable bill, meals and booze
SEATTLE -- New questions are being raised about the court-appointed monitor in charge of overseeing reform in the Seattle Police Department.
Attorney Merrick Bobb is tasked with making sure the SPD implements a slew of federal reforms put forth after a Department of Justice investigation found officers using excessive force.
Since starting the job, Bobb's spending habits have raised eyebrows. He has turned in receipts for expensive dinners at top restaurants that cost $113, $92 and $191. He has also turned in receipts for his monthly cable bill, an Egyptian cotton pillow case and alcohol.
While no one blames Bobb for having expensive tastes, few seem happy that he's asking taxpayers to foot the bill.
"These are rules that are well understood by everyone in government about what is and what is not reimbursable," said Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn.
In emails between Bobb and the City Budget Office, the city raised red flags over receipts related to his travel from Los Angeles to Seattle, including $100 for airport parking when a taxi would have been cheaper.
There's also a receipt for an excess baggage fee for someone who is not even on Bobb's team. The city suspected it may have been a friend, relative or girlfriend.
Bobb also asked to be reimbursed for weekend restaurant bills when the city said they had no meetings planned.
When the receipts were questioned, Bobb fired back in an email, calling the questions "humiliating, time consuming and obstructionist."
"Our budget office folks, they're just doing their job," McGinn said.
While explaining the receipts, Bobb questioned the police department's progress.
"I'm not certain that we can currently say we are getting cooperation from the city regarding the monitoring or movement toward full and effective implementation of the consent degree," he said in an email.
City officials say Bobb has taken about $7,500 off his requests for reimbursement. He refused to comment for this story.
A representative from the City Attorney's office said since the first receipts came in, the office has discussed with Bobb's office what expenses can and cannot be reimbursed.
Attorney Merrick Bobb is tasked with making sure the SPD implements a slew of federal reforms put forth after a Department of Justice investigation found officers using excessive force.
Since starting the job, Bobb's spending habits have raised eyebrows. He has turned in receipts for expensive dinners at top restaurants that cost $113, $92 and $191. He has also turned in receipts for his monthly cable bill, an Egyptian cotton pillow case and alcohol.
While no one blames Bobb for having expensive tastes, few seem happy that he's asking taxpayers to foot the bill.
"These are rules that are well understood by everyone in government about what is and what is not reimbursable," said Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn.
In emails between Bobb and the City Budget Office, the city raised red flags over receipts related to his travel from Los Angeles to Seattle, including $100 for airport parking when a taxi would have been cheaper.
There's also a receipt for an excess baggage fee for someone who is not even on Bobb's team. The city suspected it may have been a friend, relative or girlfriend.
Bobb also asked to be reimbursed for weekend restaurant bills when the city said they had no meetings planned.
When the receipts were questioned, Bobb fired back in an email, calling the questions "humiliating, time consuming and obstructionist."
"Our budget office folks, they're just doing their job," McGinn said.
While explaining the receipts, Bobb questioned the police department's progress.
"I'm not certain that we can currently say we are getting cooperation from the city regarding the monitoring or movement toward full and effective implementation of the consent degree," he said in an email.
City officials say Bobb has taken about $7,500 off his requests for reimbursement. He refused to comment for this story.
A representative from the City Attorney's office said since the first receipts came in, the office has discussed with Bobb's office what expenses can and cannot be reimbursed.
Always gotta be some smart-aleck, trying to get over. Â The man is a self-important, entitled jerk who is upset that he is getting over on people any more. Â I appreciate the Budget people doing their jobs. Â Kudos to them!
Makes you wonder what he would put in the report...........for the right price of course........
Monitors SPD's excessive force? Naw-w, while he's boozing and watching t.v. the SPD just shot another man's son believing the young scared man was holding "something metal"...fire this guy. He's not going to stop Seattle's gestapo one bit.
Pay the man so we can move on getting rid of cops who kick the f___g Mexican pi_s out of you, for sport... You feel me homey?
Fire him immediately!
Scumbag! I want to know who appointed this guy! Anyone for tar and feathering, then riding him out of town on a rail?
The budget office questions his expenses and, all of a sudden, he's not getting ANY cooperation?!?
Time for a new monitor. This guy clearly has no interest in doing his job, just making sure everyone else pays for what he does.
Attorney Merrick Bobb... Oh, well, that explains everything.
Can't we expect to hold some of these people to a higher standard than this. Inappropriate behavior for someone who is supposidly monitoring inappropriate behavior doesn't seem acceptable to me. The man is being paid to do this job and he would have to maintain himself no matter where he works so I don't see that the taxpayers owe him anything other than his paycheck.
@Jatok I totally agree, and add that I think he should be removed from his position.  He cannot seem to be able to oversee himself, let alone the SPD.  Corrupt thinking vs. corrupt thinking.
I bet his tax return is an interesting read.Â
It is standard practice to only pay the GSA daily per diem of $75.00 per day along with many other standardized pricing structures. What makes this red faced, bloated weasel think he is owed more?
What he is doing is unethical and illegal. It sounds like the DOJ has some explaining to do if they have contracted with this thief and Mr Bobb could end up without a job
Yeah, you know, even during snow events, when the City itself is running skeleton crews ... booze and cable do not get reimbursed ... a meal up to a certain $ amount I do believe, and a room (never top of the line), but definitely no booze, cable, or additional "friends" ... Shame on you Bobb
IÂ find it hilarious that he said this was "humiliating." Why? Because he got caught? I think he needs to lose his job over this. Whoever he works for - DOJ?
Typical.
Stealing all he can while on the job? Say it ain't so.
Can anyone just do their job without corruption these days? Seems like anyone related to government has their own set of rules and ways to line their pockets. I'm sure it's the root of government's excessive costs as well as medical expenses spiraling out of control.
@NWlife If you really want to know why medical expenses are spiraling out of control read this week's Time magazine. The whole issue, other than the usual commentaries and brief notes is about why health care costs are so high. Actually we shouldn't be calling it health care, it's really an illness treatment industry.
The government tries to scare us into thinking children won't get vaccines, but tax payers have to pay for this fat slobs nonsense. Sounds like government needs to get it's priorities straight and spend the tax payers money wisely, ya right.
Looking at all the red in his face, I would think perhaps it's time to lay off the booze. It's a sign of alcholism. Of course, his could be for other reasons, but since he's trying to get us all to pay for his booze, I'm going to assume the worst.Â
Who selected this fellow and who hired him? How about reporting on that KOMO?
luke - way to rip off brandi kruse's story. give her some credit you plagerizing dbag!
If I was a Seattle resident, I'd be ticked off. Â May TSA give him the whole works before his next flight home.
Seems like he's into excess, at the taxpayers expense, and should be removed from his monitoring position! Now.
"Attorney Merrick Bobb is tasked with making sure the SPD implements a slew of federal reforms put forth after a Department of Justice investigation found officers using excessive force."
Any news to report about that KOMO? Â
Stick a crowbar in your wallet and buy your own booze and pillow cases and eat at old country buffet.Â
How come dude isn't on some type of per diem rate that can't be exceeded for payment? Since when does any government agency give free reign to a consultant to spend whatever he wants? Ridiculous!
There is standardized daily maximums that any business will pay unless it has been negotiated in the contract to pay above and beyond the minimums...but it is very rare.
Mr Bobb would be allowed on average $140 per day for hotel, $75.00 per day for per diem (includes food, incidentals, etc) and a daily car expense. Mr Bobb has not been 'schooled' by his superiors (DOJ?) and should either be fired or removed immediately.
@RightyTighty I worked for the Cityof Seattle fro, 1973 until 1979. For most of those years we had a "meal allowance" of five dollars when we worked more than ten hours during a shift. Near the end of my time it was changed to a reimbursement system. The city's position was that most people just pocketed the five dollars and the city wanted a person to actually spend the money on a meal. We had one man submit a receipt for $20 for a meal from a high-priced Chinese restaurant. The supervisor balked but finally submitted the receipt. The man got paid his $20.
It appears that program has snowballed. There is no way in hell ANYONE should be reimbursed for meals UNLESS they are prohibited from going out (or staying in) to eat as a result of their job duties. This fat slob probably eats most of his meals away from any work he might be doing for the city and he should pay for ALL his meals and especially for any alcohol. What a scumbucket!
My thoughts exactly!
isnt that fraud ?  Why no sirs, and if you keep questioning me about this , i dont see you meeting the DOJ timelines for cleaning up your police dept. Ahh ok thats what i thought. now , about that caviar.............................Â
Just the old Seattle Passive/Agressive behaviors...Let's now hire a consulting firm to really get down to the issues at hand...Right Mayor McGin...
Judging by that red face, that alcohol bill is gonna be steep!
Talk about a scam of a job. You people in Seattle have done a bang up job tearing down your much hated and feared PD.Â
Great, we've got a fox guarding the hen house.
What a greedy old fart. His requests are above and beyond what a sensible person would expect and ask for.
Sounds like perhaps Seattle needs an ethics watchdog to watch over the police behavior watchdog.
I think he needs to pay the city back for those excessive personal items.
Sounds like the city is being petty and retaliating because of his position as the court-appointed monitor in charge of overseeing reform in the Seattle Police Department.
Nice try Mr. Bobb. Nice try.
Seems like Seattle needs to ask the courts for a new SPD monitor. This guy is just out to get someone else to pay for his fun.
I just assumed the government gave free booze to all employees. How else can you explain such horrible government that is bloated and feckless .............. like a drunkard.
The court appointed him, let the court pay for the food and bar tab.  Time to send this fool down the road.
@Veteran Where do you think the court would get the money? Here's a hint, TAXPAYERS!
Has anyone every heard of a per diem?
@Anarchy Apparently Bobbles has heard of "Carpe diem."
@Papio @Anarchy HAHA! Now that was funny!
Wow...since when it is the employer's responsibility to  pay for their employees egyptian cotton pillow cases, alcohol and dinner and cable?  By the looks of this man's face, it appears he enjoys alcohol a lot. His face is consistent of the red puffy hue of an alcoholic.   My guess is that his salary is well above and beyond the average worker.   Pay your own debts. The taxpayer, nor the employer is responsible for this.   It's bad enough we continue to pay for the mouth breathers to live in prison. Â
@1opinion the red puffy hue, the bulbous red veiny nose, Yes Yes, Seattle city councilman , Right ? hello. no ?, king county councilman ?  What. well yes he is a Beauracrat, but isnt that the same thing? Oh well Happy hour at 3pm see you there with your expense account card, wink wink, nod nod.
@sportbuff01 @1opinion If you are going to use the word, at least learn how to spell it. Bureaucrat.
@sportbuff01 I also went to less than stellar Seattle schools but in my day they taught us to capitalize proper nouns such as city names.Â
Oh, I didn't learn how to spell bureau until maybe a year or two ago.
@aintno1special @Furd @sportbuff01 @1opinion Not in your lifetime aintno. and i spelled bureaucrat wrong as i went to crappy liberal seattle schools.Â
@Furd @sportbuff01 @1opinion Perhaps sportbuff01 had an attraction to him?
@1opinion You were doing fine (for me) until you put a comment in about "mouth breathers"...., the analogy may work, but is very weak.