NEWS > 19 June 2007

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KOMO - Seattle,WA,USA
19 June 2007

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Seattle Police, WA

Seattle police chief calls inv

Seattle's police chief says a report by a public accountability group that is sharply critical of him is a despicable, political document.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels says Chief Gil Kerlikowske has his full and complete confidence.

The report was issued by a civilian fact finding group, The Office of Professional Accountability, which is independent part of the police department but reports to the chief.

The group says Kerlikowske interfered in a fact-finding investigation and his actions threatened an impartial investigation.

The report is preliminary and was labeled "Draft - Not for Publication."

The chief's reaction to the suggestion that he might have threatened an independent investigation: "I am incensed beyond words and I am incensed not just for myself but for the 1,200-1,300 officers in the Seattle Police Department."

The report looked into the January arrest of George "Troy" Patterson -- an arrest caught on videotape. Patterson complained the officers used excessive force and planted narcotics on him.

There was a witness; a woman who was identified in April and who refused to talk to the investigators unless she was released from jail. The public accountability investigators refused. But the report says that after Kerlikowske intervened, she was released.

The report says "the chief perhaps unwittingly sacrificed the integrity of the fact-finding mission for the sake of desired outcome."

The chief bristled saying the whole process, including the release of a draft report, has been despicable.

"I would resign before being told that I can't direct men and women in the Seattle Police Department to uncover every piece of evidence and look into every allegation," Kerlikowske said.

But Seattle City Council president Nick Licata insists there are questions about the chief's conduct.

He says the council needs the power to reconfirm a police chief every four years.

And, he had some advice for Nickels: "I would advise him to set down and talk with his chief."

Licata is pushing for a City Charter amendment, which would require a reconfirmation hearing for the police and fire chiefs every four years. He says he plans a hearing soon and on inviting Kerlikowske to appear.

Both Nickels and Kerlikowske called the report political.

Nickels didn't name names. The chief accused attorney Peter Holmes, the co-author of the report and a one time council candidate, of playing politics.

Holmes told KOMO 4 News: "I am not a candidate for office and I am hoping for a serious discussion on policy issues, not personalities."

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Article sourced from

KOMO - Seattle,WA,USA19 June 2007

Seattle police chief calls inv

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KOMO - Seattle,WA,USA
19 June 2007