Schrammie: Thin blue line perhaps a bit thinner now
SEATTLE -- Seahawks home opener. Sold out game. 12th Man raring to go.
Too bad Bellevue police didn't get the memo on how to behave.
A Seattle police officer confronted a group of people who threw what's reported as a plastic beer cup into the street as they made their way to the stadium. The SPD officer asked the litterbugs to retrieve their trash.
At some point, members of the group started flashing Bellevue police badges and began giving the SPD officer a major load of grief.
The situation became hostile. The SPD officer was suddenly surrounded and backup was called.
SPD supervisors arrived. The Bellevue cops began taunting them.
Reports are the Bellevue officers appeared intoxicated.
Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?
In the end, the Bellevue officers were sent on their way without so much as a ticket.
The thin blue line perhaps a bit thinner.
But the Bellevue police chief called SPD to apologize and the Bellevue Police Department has launched an investigation.
I’m not waiting for the results.
Right now, Right here, I want those Bellevue police officers to take a bow, because this "Schrammie", for so many reasons, is for them.
Have something to say to Ken? Login or signup below to post a comment. Just be sure to read the rules and keep things civil. You can also e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com. You can also connect with Ken on Facebook.
Too bad Bellevue police didn't get the memo on how to behave.
A Seattle police officer confronted a group of people who threw what's reported as a plastic beer cup into the street as they made their way to the stadium. The SPD officer asked the litterbugs to retrieve their trash.
At some point, members of the group started flashing Bellevue police badges and began giving the SPD officer a major load of grief.
The situation became hostile. The SPD officer was suddenly surrounded and backup was called.
SPD supervisors arrived. The Bellevue cops began taunting them.
Reports are the Bellevue officers appeared intoxicated.
Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?
In the end, the Bellevue officers were sent on their way without so much as a ticket.
The thin blue line perhaps a bit thinner.
But the Bellevue police chief called SPD to apologize and the Bellevue Police Department has launched an investigation.
I’m not waiting for the results.
Right now, Right here, I want those Bellevue police officers to take a bow, because this "Schrammie", for so many reasons, is for them.
Have something to say to Ken? Login or signup below to post a comment. Just be sure to read the rules and keep things civil. You can also e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com. You can also connect with Ken on Facebook.
a few officers from an Olympic Peninsula agency did the same thing to a Seattle Officer at a Mariners game about ten years ago and the Seattle Cop kicked their arse good. They were then punished by their own agency for provoking the Seattle Officer. Alcohol is a wonderful thing.
For once, something we can all agree on.
add an extra Schrammie for whatever wad decided to not issue tickets with fines attached to the disruptive Bellevue cops. professional courtesy should only go so far.
@jerseygirl Yeah, I think I can agree with that. There ought to be a rule in the police CBA's that if it involves alcohol the 'blue wall' goes out the window and, cop or no cop, they get charged just like a citizen.
There better be 3 job openings on the Bellevue Police Department.
If not then every Defense Atty should bring this up as a indication of the cop's character when (s)he testifies.
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I mean they flashed their badge over a plastic cup? Are you frigging kidding me? What kind of a person would flash their badge over a 'littered' plastic cup? And while they were sh*tfaced drunk to boot.Â
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Would you trust a person who would do that with a badge?Â
I'll drink to this schrammie. But I don't drink out of plastic cups. Only chilled glass for my microbrews.
Ok, I understand 'professional courtesy'. I understand that police have [with some justification] an 'us against the world' mentality.
I also understand that if this had involved a random group of guys who had surrounded and drunkenly harrassed an SPD officer, they would have been pepper-sprayed, locked up, and spent several days in the drunk tank at the county jail. They would have had problems with their paperwork and not been arraigned until, say, Wednesday so as to provide the maximum amount of embarassment to them. And to be honest, they'd deserve it.
So why aren't these punk-arsed idgits from the People's Republic of Bellevue not sitting in holding cells? As Ken said, I'm not holding my breath on the results of the BPD 'investigation'. But if these officers are found, they should be suspended without pay for a couple weeks AND have to do the whole Alcohol Diversion Court thing... 90 AA meetings in 90 days, breathalyzer key locks on their cars, the whole stinkin' nine yards.
I don't think this editorial belittles the Bellevue Police Dept, but the actual officers involved in this confrontation.
These dingleberries think themselves above the law. Â Flashing badges to excuse their own infraction in their off-duty hours? Â Disgraceful! They should lose their badges for their unprofessional conduct. Â A well deserved Schrammie Ken!
Awesome comments...I encourage everyone to continue down...
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I don't think all cops are bad becasue of this article.  What I can say though is that these guys were acting like bad boys on that "I got the power" buzz that resonates with an atypical cop attitude.  Simply put, power corrupts.
im not sure what this article is trying to do. do they want us to start hating on the Bellevue PD? just the way everything is worded and downgraded. sure those guys were being idiots but that surely doesn't mean that the whole department are a bunch of baffoons
 @DylanJ Given the level of trust these guys are given by the public the impact of this article is in the who did what.  To another cop no less.  No respect gains no respect for me.
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My primary concern at the moment is all the media hype seems to be aimed at fomenting blind public rage. I want to know if the off-duty officers indeed did pick up their litter. If it was a public street, they would be subject to the same treatment and potential fines as the rest of the populace. Were they fined for littering, or did they comply with the SPD officer's request? I would also like to know if it is okay for the rest of the public to harass  a police officer without fear of fines, or incarceration, or any other form of punitive retaliation. Off-duty cops are, for all intents and purposes, civilians subject to the same laws as everyone else. If these intoxicated boors received especial treatment because they are "law enforcement" officers, then yes, there is reason to foment public rage ... at both the Bellevue Police Department for housing such riff-raff, and the Seattle Police Department for once again turning a passive blind eye to the criminal element within law enforcement.Â
 @Ab Not to sound picky, but "civilian" means "non-military personnel." *All* cops that are not military police are civilians, in uniform as well as out. But, we don't have a really good, widely recognized, *short* word meaning "person who is in most ways normal, but charged with extra authority and powers to enforce the law," other than the acronym of LEO (law enforcement officer, which includes both police and sheriffs / deputies) and ODLEO (off duty LEO).
@RN1 @Ab
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My most abject apologies ... I had no idea a simple, straightforward response to the less than professional conduct of law enforcement officers at a ball game during their off hours in Seattle would be less pertinent than a question of semantics. In my estimation, law enforcement officers who are entrusted with weapons and given the responsibility of protecting us civilians are, in fact, placed into a military environment and entitled to the same respect as any other "soldier." They also have a moral code by which they should conduct themselves, and acknowledging the fact the members of the Bellevue Police Department, as well as the Seattle Police Department,  deserve the same respect as any of our troops who put themselves in jeopardy in order to protect "civilians" at home, we can reasonably expect they would conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the values for which we as a nation would hope the rest of the world could respect us ... whether abroad or at home.
 @Ab I believe the topic here is the standards of conduct to which we wish to hold our police forces and police officers - not their "patriotism".
 @32jim2 @JLS1950Â
I stand corrected. I mistakenly thought that all of the "civilian" cops who have assumed the responsibilities of the Military Police and the Shore Police in order to free up more troops for war efforts abroad were still warranted the same respect as their military counterparts. I guess the fact they served their country in a military capacity prior to their working as "civilians" for the Department of Defense in a law enforcement capacity now relegates them to a much less respected position in this country than when they were soldiers. And all of this discourse detracts from what is actually the point of what is politically incorrect about what occurred when Bellevue off-duty cops considered themselves above the law, and the Seattle Police Department seems to have concurred.
 @Ab The problem, Ab, is that when military personnel in combat get heated and bullets start to fly, there is usually some actual enemy to "play catch". Aside from that, there is (too often, but still pretty rarely) "collateral damage" - civilian non-combatants who get caught in a crossfire or mis-directed fire.
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But when civilian police get heated up and bullets start to fly, it is ALWAYS citizens - law-breakers or not - who pay the price.
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Soldiers fight WARS. We do not WANT wars fought on our streets: we want law-breakers captured just as safely as can be accomplished. Different task - different rules.
 @Ab I don't think it is just about this incident.  The taxpayers have found out that Millions were spent on systems of accountability when there was none in both Seattle Police Department and the King County Sheriffs Department .  I consider that fraud but they have a badge so its not.  Â
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We have also had so many examples of officers falsifying reports yet they are still allowed to take peoples freedom based on their reports. Â Officer Lee, Shandy Cobane, etc etc. Â Â I consider that perjury but they have a badge so its not.Â
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Thousands of peoples lives have been effected by officers proven to lie. Â
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It feels like our entire city and county are being held hostage by the very people we pay to uphold the law. Â What they have perfected is organized crime.
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The business of prosecution is very profitable. Â Why else would our judges continue to take these officers at their word in court.Â
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Why else would our Mayor and city council allow this corrupt system to go on to the point of a federal investigation and now having a federal judge babysit the Entire police department? Â I mean Kathryn Olson the hired Civilian oversight director of the OPA reports directly to the mayor and city council. Â They knew all alone and allowed the tax payers to be gouged. Â Â
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Other cities have their issues but here the corruption is so blatant and in your face is ridiculous.Â
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I don't know why everyone is acting so surprised. Every week there is an article in the paper, radio or on TV about another rogue cop, or a corrupt cop or a wife beating cop. They are all the same; they think they are above the law. We are probably better off without them.
@AS400GURU I take offense to your comment. I am a retired deputy sheriff and we are NOT all the same. Most police officers/deputy sheriff's are excellent role models and citizens. I never felt I was above the law. My only contact with officers during my off duty time was if I was stopped for a minor traffic violation. I NEVER "badged" them or identified myself as a cop. I never put a bear sticker on my car to identify myself as a police officer. I never felt that was appropriate. I agree there are rogues and bad apples our there, but they are in all occupations. As police officers, we must hold ourselves to a higher standard than the average citizen, and I did that. I still do, even after being retired for a year and a half. The reason we only hear about the bad cops is because that is what is reported. You never hear about a cop who goes out day in and day out, works hard, and goes home and behaves during his/her off time.Â
 @kboard306 I tend to agree that most LEOs are responsible and ethical people and true public servants. The problem is that there are indeed rogues and other LEOs do tend to "protect" said rogues when the latter come under attack by words and complaints even as if under physical attack. That is the issue: favoritism and closed-rank protectionism that allows rogues to persist.
Now, I am perplexed that you say you did not identify yourself as an LEO during a minor traffic stop. Last I heard, failing to identify oneself as an LEO during ANY contact with another LEO is considered an actual offense: stories of officers getting into all sorts of trouble for that. Could you clarify?
 @kboard306 Deputy sheriff of where?  Because it turns our the King County Sheriffs Department is so corrupt thanks to our recent audits.  Years and Years of taking Millions in tax payer dollars for a system of accountability that wasn't there. Â
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Where were YOU a sheriff?Â
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I'm disappointed in a couple of things.
1. They littered. That bothers me. I know it doesn't bother some, but it bugs me. The fact that they littered in front of a cop only shows their lack of respect for the laws that they uphold.
2. They purposefully taunted a fellow officer. I wonder, if it was because she is a woman? Did they view her as being weak? As someone that is not due the same respect as male officers? Or was that an action that they would have taken with a male officer. In any context, it is highly unproffessional to taunt a fellow officer in that manner. Â
3. Their chief had to apologize for them. What happened to taking personal responsibility for your actions.
4. If they truly surrounded her, that sounds rather threatening. Are we allowed to threaten officers? Or is that right only reserved for fellow officers?
5. She should have tazed them. Taught them to respect the badge a little. Geez.Â
6.  And they were allowed to leave. After threatening an officer, littering, I'm assuming drinking in public. Nice.
Like I said. I'm disappointed in a couple of things.Â
The Bellevue Officers involved will probably be censured more after an internal investigation by BPD than any "punishment" they may get in the courts.
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Don't paint all Cops as buffoons and idiots based on the moronic actions of some. I don't consider all citizens to be idiots and liars and criminals based on the 10 % in society... The majority of the Officers I work with are good, moral, honest and dedicated to protecting the public from harm. Some, yes, are idiots.Â
 @ButtercupSprinkles It may be true that they will be censured, but will the public know of it?
We don't WANT to paint all officers as buffoons: the problem here is the close-rank protectionism among cops on the street - even when some are acting very badly. It erodes public respect for police and even for law itself. Law enforcement is a public trust: when police do wrong, they need to be called out PUBLICLY even by their fellow officers, so that trust can be restored. This doesn't need to be a crucifixion: it is merely a matter of demonstrating openly that the behavior is NOT tolerated or approved by other officers.
@ButtercupSprinkles  I hope the slap on their hand is hard enough to at least sting a little.
As do I.
 @ButtercupSprinkles Good post.
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Any collection of humans will include some people who either are idiots when sober or can't handle their booze and are idiots when they are drunk. But they are really the exceptions that prove the rule.
Unbelievable how many thugs our law enforcement agencies employ these days
Did the cops drive home drunk?
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 @Hagar Cops driving drunk? Unheard of!
The Bellevue cops were dirtbags that day. SPD cops are dirtbags every day.
It's not their fault, really; it all rolls downhill from SPD management.
Whoa, go overseas for a week and miss all kinds of good stuff! Â Why is the police chief apologizing? Â Why aren't the cops taking responsibility and apologizing themselves?
Maybe the Bellevue officers involved should call the SPD officer and apologize instead of hiding behind their chief.Â
That is something that real men would do. They have proven they aren't real men when they gang up and bully a woman.Â
 @caphillkid True cowards are usually little boys who never apologize. Â
When human filth gets a badge everyone pays.  The corrupt Bellevue Police Department is as bad as the Seattle Police department which is as bad as the King County Sheriffs department which is as bad as the State of Washington Police Department. Â
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One more example of the poor standards in this states police departments and the poor training they receive.Â
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Talk about making fools out of yourselves. Â The problem is the tax payers are paying a great deal for the incompetence statewide. Â
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As I said, Â When Human FILTH gets a badge EVERYONE PAYS $$$$$
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@Andrew Bush  While I think that are more than just a few bad apples in the SPD, KCSO and BPD, I have seen too many WSP officers that I respect to agree with your statement completely. WSP DOES have a higher standard.
 @scared_citizen Higher standard???
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We just paid almost 418 THOUSAND dollars to one student who Washington state patrol officers in cahoots with local police departments planned to kidnap a student because he was seen putting a protest sign in his car.
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They lied on their reports, They arrested him saying he was drunk. Â They held him in a cell. Â
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All the radio communications proved this plan to kidnap the student yet not one of these officers faced charges for the crimes they committed. Â NOT ONE OF THEM!!!Â
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These officers are all still out there and anyone's son or daughter could be next.
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http://www.aclu-wa.org/news/government-agencies-pay-418000-political-surveillance-case
Um, I've never heard of the "State of Washington Police Department". If you are going to make a sweeping (and false) statement like you just have, perhaps you should get the basics down first. I believe what you are attempting to say is "Washington State Patrol". So, how many of those agencies have you been arrested by, Mr. Chip-On-My-Shoulder?
Anyone else would have been arrested.
Police are just an abomination
Alternative headline: "Cops break law, hassle other cops, walk away, because some pigs are more equal than other pigs"
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It is a pathetic commentary on both the SPD's failure to arrest for drunk&disorderly & intimidating a police officer, AND a sad commentary on Bellevue PD. Charges, fines, and disciplinary actions all around, I should think, as well as public humiliation. Then, MAYBE we can forgive them. Otherwise, you are just enforcing the negative stereotypes, punks, er, I mean, "officers."
 @RN1 the bellevue cops are just sore cause they didn't get the football stadium in bellevue so all their cops could get the overtime. maybe they have mommy issues. but don't worry they won't get punished they got their union behind their misbehaving.Â
This story is about police officer dealing with police officers , wear they really going to challenge each other and get into an altercation ?? No of corse not, it's like family. they all have a good time and walk away. However if you or I jaywalk and are not totally submissive and obedient to the whims of that officer we know what will happen . And what ever you do DON"T FILE A COMPLAINT with the OPA . just bow your head down and except it , you can fight your case in 2-3 years after they destroy all video evidence . that sound fair . Seattle PD and surrounding dept's know they are untouchable even with in their own ranks
Why didn't they just pick up the cup. They would have expected as much from me. Hypocrites.
They are bored because they deal with stolen bikes and kittens in trees.
They all walk around acting like they're Judge Dread. All they really are, are a bunch of "revenue collectors".