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LETTER EMAILED TO 1500 WORLD and NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS + 500 in US government |
Current rating: 0 |
by Kenneth G. Dzaman
Email: kennspace (nospam) hotmail.com (unverified!)
Address: Just is as Just does - Witness Society Of Seattle: (JJWSOS) PO Box 85503, SEA WA, 98145-1503 |
27 Aug 2001
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...SEATTLE A Call to Seattle RESIDENTS - WITNESS'S NEEDED; To Seattle Police officers - crashing into Seattle police officer's, and shooting 20 to 39(?) bullets at Seattle Police officers; July 10th, 2001; 1:32 AM; [Just North of - the crest of the hill - at east Roanoke St and Harvard Ave East - (on Capitol Hill).]. If you live in the area and have felt, (or feel), any "endangerment" (or fear) due to this event; (or if you feel you have any information you would like to witness); Please contact: ..... WITNESS, PO Box 85503, SEA WA, 98145-1503 ... ...
[Email: kennspace (at) hotmail.com] |
Dear Editor, August 27, 2001
(This email is long - but is explained in the first few pages. The rest is for research of articles recently being published in Seattle Washington on the story and allegations I am making. ).
This ad, placed by me, has appeared and will continue to be placed in Seattle media.
I feel this "incident" in Seattle Washington is being "white-washed" because of recent killings of unarmed motorists and civilians in Seattle, - by Seattle Police. Please help me - as I try to - press-urge - the Seattle government this week to do something about the incident explained in this email. (I feel - I am almost doing this alone - Seattle is in fear: -+- On duty; - in uniform; - in Seattle police cars; - Seattle police "shootout"; - between Seattle police;; July 10th, 2001. Please offer some support, with press.).
Dear Editor - this is keeping me awake at nights. I find it so very disturbing I am moving from Seattle. I grew up in Littleton Colorado close to the "Columbine Tragedy". I feel this same intolerance and rage being created in Seattle now, - that created that "mistaken tragedy" at Columbine high school. I moved to Littleton Colorado in 4th grade from Canada; - It was enough difference, - I do not like Littleton Colorado and do not understand why most of my family still lives there. That place was so intolerant they just beat me up and made my life hell, cause I said "mom" and "about" differently? (I don't anymore. I even pronounce my name differently - after ten years of teachers abuse in how I pronounced it.).
I went to a small protest downtown last night in Seattle and I saw the Seattle police chief; - so I introduced my self and invited him to the meeting I am having. (I have a hard week of work ahead of me as I pressure "Seattle" to attend...).. (This web site - open letter - explains the "experience" I had...
http://seattle.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=6140&group=webcast
This letter you are reading is published here:
http://seattle.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=6170&group=webcast
I feel this email is self-explanatory and a no-brainer. A no-brainer Seattle is trying to "white-wash".
(Following this email are statements from the three others filing this complaint, I am working towards 100..).
Please help in reporting on this Seattle Police Department "shootout" on capitol hill July 10th, 2001; - The Seattle Police Department broke laws and it is being "white-washed" and ignored in Seattle. I am sending this letter around the world tonight, (August 26, 2001) in hopes the "press-ure" will come from somewhere. It is being emailed to 1,500 international and national - newspapers, - web sites, - activists, - and individuals, PLEASE HELP!.).
I feel when Seattle police officers, - start shooting at Seattle police officers, - while on duty as Seattle police officers, - in the uniform of a Seattle police officer, - driving a Seattle police car; LAWS HAVE BEEN BROKEN!
SEATTLE IS IGNORING THIS!
I am moving. (But not before I do all I can to see this investigated - the Seattle police department's internal firearms review board is the only "agency" now investigating this "incident"; - I find that disturbing.).
Sincerely,
Kenneth G. Dzaman
AD:
.................SEATTLE A Call to Seattle RESIDENTS - WITNESS'S NEEDED; To Seattle Police officers - crashing into Seattle police officer's, and shooting 20 to 39(?) bullets at Seattle Police officers; July 10th, 2001; 1:32 AM; [Just North of - the crest of the hill - at east Roanoke St and Harvard Ave East - (on Capitol Hill).]. If you live in the area and have felt, (or feel), any "endangerment" (or fear) due to this event; (or if you feel you have any information you would like to witness); Please contact: ..... WITNESS, PO Box 85503, SEA WA, 98145-1503 ... ...
[Email: kennspace (at) hotmail.com]
(The following is also published at:
http://seattle.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=6140&group=webcast
From : "kenn dzaman" <kennspace (at) hotmail.com>
Reply-To : kennspace (at) hotmail.com
To : nbrodeur (at) seattletimes.com, robertjamieson (at) seattlepi.com, randerson (at) seattleweekly.com, gparrish (at) seattleweekly.com, publiceducation (at) aclu-wa.org, legal (at) aclu-wa.org, senator_murray (at) murray.senate.gov, maria (at) cantwell.senate.gov, jay.inslee (at) mail.house.gov, City.Action (at) ci.seattle.wa.us, lwvseattle (at) aol.com, mark.sidran (at) ci.seattle.wa.us, jim.compton (at) ci.seattle.wa.us, richard.conlin (at) ci.seattle.wa.us, jan.drago (at) ci.seattle.wa.us, nick.licata (at) ci.seattle.wa.us, richard.mciver (at) ci.seattle.wa.us, judy.nicastro (at) ci.seattle.wa.us, margaret.pageler (at) ci.seattle.wa.us, peter.steinbrueck (at) ci.seattle.wa.us, heidi.wills (at) ci.seattle.wa.us, ron.sims (at) metrokc.gov, governor.locke (at) governor.wa.gov, owen_br (at) leg.wa.gov, mail (at) secstate.wa.gov, Mayors.Office (at) ci.seattle.wa.us, mavia (at) aol.com, jen (at) mavia.org, michael (at) mavia.org, Paper (at) indypress.org, webmaster (at) nwjustice.org, dwashington (at) afsc.org, delilaleber (at) prodigy.net, dannyboy259 (at) home.com, leonardpitts (at) mindspring.com
CC : paulr (at) u.washington.edu, seleahcim (at) aol.com, kennspace (at) hotmail.com, cstewart (at) urbanleague.org, jenny (at) mavia.org, maviausa (at) aol.com, sgonsalves (at) capecodonline.com, questions (at) wsba.org
Subject : Just is as Just does - Witness Society Of Seattle: (JJWSOS) Meeting - September 1st, 2001.
Date : Fri, 24 Aug 2001 23:40:44 +0000
Dear Members of the Seattle City Council,
Dear Mayor Paul Schell,
Dear Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske,
Dear Seattle FBI Office,
Dear Journalists,
Dear Senator Murray,
Dear Senator Maria Cantwell,
Dear Kathleen Taylor - ACLU,
Dear Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle,
Dear City Attorney Mark Sidran,
Dear Washington State,
Dear City of Seattle,
Dear Mothers against Violence in America,
Robert L. Jamieson JR. - The Seattle Post Intelligencer
Jerry Large - The Seattle Times
Nicole Brodeur - The Seattle Times
Rick Anderson - Seattle Weekly
Geov Parrish - Seattle Weekly
James Kelly - The Urban League
Cha'ron Stewart - The Urban League
Dan Devine - Seattle Resident
Kenn Dzaman - Seattle Resident
Paul Richmond - NW Regional Vice President of the National Lawyers Guild
Ophelia Ealy - Michael Ealy Social Justice Foundation
Micheal E. Shupe - Michael Ealy Social Justice Foundation
Tony Granillo - The Citizens Human Rights Commission
Pat Champion - The Citizens Human Rights Commission
Dustin Washington - People's Coalition for Justice
Delila Leber - People's Coalition for Justice
Coordinated Legal Education and Referral Service
Pamela Eakes - Founder and President of Mothers Against Violence in America
Jenny Leland and Michael Harrington - of Students Against Violence Everywhere
Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske
FBI
Mayor Paul Schell
City Council Members
[( I added a couple quotes on perception I found recently....
enjoy.
The mark of your ignorance is the depth of your belief in injustice and tragedy. What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly.
With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, let US strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle -- to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.....
( [] ) ...............
Abraham Lincoln...............................)]
[( I will be calling and delivering this email next week in person to all the government officials listed above - in Seattle offices. I am also trying to call everyone listed above. )].
I could not find an appropriate email address for Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske or the FBI;; - Mr. Schell, or Mr. Sidran, could you please forward it to them. - I will be in your (and their) offices next week, looking forward to meeting you.
Sincerely,
Kenn
Just-is as Just-does - Witness Society Of Seattle. (J.J.W.S.O.S.)
Meeting 1; Peace Cafe; 5828 Roosevelt Way NE.; September 1st, 2001; 12:n00n.
(Starting at 12:noon, September 1st, 2001; @ the Peace Cafe; 5828 Roosevelt Way NE.; please call to reserve your spot; (Kenn Dzaman; 206-271-8562; If I do not speak with you - please leave a message as to your intentions, and/or questions. I will return calls and/or send an email...thanks,, Kenn.).- Seating is limited to twenty for this first meeting. I am planning Saturday meetings for the next 5 weeks - locations will be announced to interested people in advance. Please be present, I need help and advice! And there is free coffee cake! - Plus Full coffee bar service is available.). (If you would like to know who will be there, I will let you know as I do, if you request. I am presently inviting 20 people, plus four are already attending. If you are planning on attending - please share something of yourself - and why you would like to be there: kennspace (at) hotmail.com ; - I feel it will help in introductions -prior to the meeting,- so the meeting can be more productive...). Kenneth G. Dzaman
Meeting Agenda and Goals:
AGENDA:
Exploring Charges: Racism; Justice; and The Seattle Police Department.
I am holding this meeting to discuss and explore criminal charges against the Seattle Police Department. The charges being explored are in reference to the Seattle police departments "internal" problem that created a "public" shootout between Seattle police officers, on Capitol Hill on July 10th, 2001 at 1:32AM.
I feel laws were broken by the Seattle police department; - and I feel laws were broken by the Seattle police officers involved in the "shootout". It seems, by media accounts; The Seattle police department "allowed" (did not stop) a Seattle police car to be stolen, with a shotgun, - to "patrol" the streets of Seattle. They "allowed" this to happen multiple times, without informing the public of the danger they were in. I feel an FBI investigation needs to be started into charges of conspiracy to with-hold information from the public, and negligently putting Seattle residents, and Seattle police at risk. I also feel the three Seattle police officers broke laws in shooting at Seattle police officers, while on duty and in uniform, driving Seattle police cars.
GOALS:
FBI investigation into the internal affairs of the Seattle police department as to how and why this "shootout" happened; - With the FBI filing charges - if the FBI or a grand jury finds laws were broken by the Seattle police department.
discussions:
1). Discuss options and ways to approach this in the most positive way possible.
2). Try to have a "compilation" of witness's and "charge's" to file in 39 days. (October 10th, 2001). (I have a personal goal of 100 signatures on filing these "charges".)
3). This meeting is all about love for humanity and justice, if you feel otherwise, please do not attend.
4). How to - not - lose your sense of humor.
5). Is the coffee cake any good?
Kenneth G. Dzaman
JUST-is as JUST-does - WITNESS SOCIETY OF SEATTLE (JJWSOS)
PO Box 85503
Seattle WA. 98145-1503
email: kennspace (at) hotmail.com
phone: 206-271-8562
There's no blame on the path you've chosen.
Blame is a form of manipulation that you no longer require.
Dan Millman
Responsibility to your experience is what you will feel. There is no blame.
Kenneth Dzaman
..............................--------=-+=-==+-+-==+-==--+-+
(Three (I am the fourth) (so far) signing the "complaint":
From: paul david richmond
Subject: Filing Civil and Criminal Charges against the Seattle Police
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2001 14:46:33 -0700 (PDT)
It was predictable really
The recent episode where a few cops tried to ram each other off the road and then emptied a few dozen live rounds at each other without a scoring a hit is indicative of some of the very real problems that pollute the promise of decent quality policing.
The underlying causes, that are curable, is that we have hired to many police too
quickly, and equipped them with weapons that they do not need.
As with police forces around the country we are the victims of the 1995 Federal Crime Bill. This was the law that sponsored putting 100,000 new cops on the street. The result was in the words of Philadelphia Chief Ed Timoney "we hired too many too quickly." Standards dropped for hiring. There were insufficient resources for adequate training. This is why as the SPD prepared for the WTO Ministerial, fully one third of the department had been officers for two years or less. The underlying cause for this was the mass hires that took place in the aftermath of the civil unrest of the 1960's and early 1970's. It was during this time that there was a rush to hire new officers. Even liberals like Robert Kennedy promoted a "troops to cops" proposal that reached a new fruition in 1995. And so what we were left to deal with 25 years later was a mass of retirements and vacancies. Hence the rash of new hires. What exacerbated the damage done by these new hires was a rise in armaments. Fueled by fears of "Crack Cocaine," police moved away from smaller capacity firearms, such as revolvers, that typically carried six bullets, to firearms that carried several times that amount, often of higher caliber and hence deadlier. The old training method with the revolvers was fire two shots and evaluate. The post-Crack method is to fire until the threat is gone. The threat of "Crack" receded. The level of armament and new methods of training remained. What has not been fundamentally questioned is whether rehires were necessary. Even the most optimistic surveys do not show there is a substantial reduction in crime when more officers are placed on the street. (There is a rise in the number of the arrests. There is an overtaxing of the jails. But there is no drop in crime.) And the most cursory look at the annual reports of our own police department's annual reports demonstrate that the dollar cost of stopping this crime, exceeds many times the actual dollar value of the damage of the crime.
The fundamental question is, are the police a microscopic, local example of the support of bloating we have come to accept in looking at in government and military budgets - budgets where a project is put in place as a possible responsible for a specific need, but then never reduced, only maintained at its expanded levels or even further expanded? The answer seems an obvious yes. And with the higher capacity firearms, the answer is the same - high capacity semi-automatic weapons are not a reasonable response to the current policing needs.
The solution to this is to slow down, even halt the number of hires in our own police force, at least till the time we have balanced out the requirements of training. And for the high-capacity semi-automatic weapons, they should be phased out in favor of more appropriate weapons.
Ironically, in Seattle, our current police chief, in his position with the Department of Justice, played a leadership role in placing these 100,000 new cops on the street. It would be a wonderful thing if this same chief could be a leader in providing some of these same police adequate training.
Paul Richmond
July 16, 2001
Paul Richmond has worked for over a decade as a reporter covering issues of police misconduct. He is the main author of the National Lawyers Guild Report on the WTO and NW Regional Vice President of the National Lawyers Guild
From : To : kennspace (at) hotmail.com
Subject : Police Shootout on Capitol Hill
Date : Sat, 18 Aug 2001 18:39:54 EDT
On the morning of Dec. 17 I was attacked by Officer Rick Traverso and Officer Rick Garniss and they filed a false police report about the incident alleging that I was the aggressor. That morning Traverso was driving the car and approached me at a high rate of speed and then Garniss came running out of the car yelling dirty names at me as the lights from the car were in my eyes. I didn't know who it was so I knocked Garniss down as he ran up to me. Then I saw it was a cop so I stopped and they proceeded to beat
me up. I spent 31 days in jail and was tortured at the King County Jail because of their false accusations. Later it went to trial and they both lied about what happened and I was found guilty of two counts of assault three because of their lies. A security guard who saw the incident did not agree with their testimony but I was still found guilty. I went to internal affairs to report them and absolutely nothing was done. I warned them that they were dangerous and would cause more trouble but they did not listen. This was in the summer of 2001, long before the Capitol hill shootout.
Traverso, the police officer that was driving the car that rammed the other car on the morning of July 10, has a very bad reputation. Rick Traverso was involved in the killing of Michael Ealy in Dec. of 1998 at Denny Park. Michael was beaten with a flashlight and died from asphyxiation after being beaten by the police and medical personnel. I was at the trial for the wrongful death of Michael Ealy and watched as the lies were being spoken on how the police responded and their actions that led to Michael's death.
Because of Traverso and Garniss and their lies my 5 year old son was taken away from me and placed in foster care by CPS. Traverso and Garniss are not people that can be trusted to be law enforcement officers and they belong off the street. I feel very threatened by them because of how they operate.
They are a disgrace to the Seattle Police Department and trouble was in the air long before the shooting incident of July 10, 2001.
Contact me at: Michael E. Shupe
P.S. I belong to the Michael Ealy Social Justice Foundation and the October 22 Coalition to stop police violence, we are trying to curb the activities of Officer Traverso and other rogue cops who have proven themselves to be a disgrace to the Seattle Police force. We need police we can trust not a bunch of cowboys who are out of control.
From : Mike
To : kennspace (at) hotmail.com
Subject : Re: Thanks! keep wokin! Re: Police Shootout on Capitol Hill
Date : Sat, 18 Aug 2001 21:05:55 EDT
Call 264-5527 to get updates on October 22 Coalition Ch 77or 29 on TV and call 685-1797 to speak with Ophelia Ealy, Michael Ealy's mother who is in charge of the Michael Ealy Social Justice Foundation. Also Tony Granillo who is working on the Citizens Human Rights Commission for control over the Seattle Police Department. Call Tony at 206-444-8229 Also Pat Champion works with Tony, watch ch 21 on TV and get on Tony's E-mail list also Mrs. Ealy has an E-mail address.
Together we shall overcome. In Struggle Mike
From : Dan Devine
To :
"governor.locke (at) governor.wa.gov" <governor.locke (at) governor.wa.gov>, "gparrish (at) seattleweekly.com" <gparrish (at) seattleweekly.com>, "indypress (at) indypress.org" <indypress (at) indypress.org>, "jim.compton (at) ci.seattle.wa.us" <jim.compton (at) ci.seattle.wa.us>, "letters (at) nytimes.com" <letters (at) nytimes.com>, "mark.sidran (at) ci.seattle.wa.us" <mark.sidran (at) ci.seattle.wa.us>, "Mayors.Office (at) ci.seattle.wa.us" <Mayors.Office (at) ci.seattle.wa.us>, "owen_br (at) leg.wa.gov" <owen_br (at) leg.wa.gov>, "randerson (at) seattleweekly.com" <randerson (at) seattleweekly.com>, "sgonsalves (at) capecodonline.com" <sgonsalves (at) capecodonline.com>, kenn dzaman <kennspace (at) hotmail.com>, Seattle PI editor <editpage (at) seattle-pi.com>, Seattle Times <opinion (at) seattletimes.com>
Subject :
One concerned citizen's plea for peace and accountability.
Date :
Sun, 19 Aug 2001 23:20:29 -0700
To: The Editors of the Seattle Times, The Seattle
Post-Intelligencer,
The Office of the Mayor: Paul Schell, The City Council, et. al.
During the last few weeks, I've been pondering this question and a great few more about the Seattle Police department. I had been working on the letter that follows for more than a few days when I read the Sunday Post-Intelligencer, "P-I Focus: Police discipline system won't repair disconnect" piece written by Terrence Carroll. I respect the piece, and I am glad to see that there are members like that on the force. In fact, I've been feeling a little more sympathetic towards the Seattle police in the last few days and his point really hit home. I can't help but think though, that his case would be easier if the citizens of Seattle didn't have to see the endless string of mishaps, settlements and shootings..... perhaps he can take this hand from the "disconnected" side in order that we all can live in peace. I am however, going to need some to see some type of improvement in order to believe.
I agree with his point, perhaps things have gotten a little out of hand. I am afraid of the police. I attempt to have as little contact with them (the police) as possible. It just seems easiest that way and also less expensive. My attitude toward the Seattle Police has
become one of "dangerous money collector" for the city and state. This isn't right. There really is a "Disconnect" going on here.
I also agree with him, in understanding that the any police officer needs to have the respect of the community at large in order to be effective. It's just that with all the shootings, well, I've really started to think of the Seattle police as the enemy. You see,
the disconnect has really grown pretty large.
Anyway, here is the letter as I wrote it before I read the article, I'll conclude after with some new thoughts afterward.
=====================================================================
"Car 54, where are you?"
Recent police mishaps in Seattle could well make any resident ask that question and a few others. The recent shootout between three Seattle police officers comes at the heels of a nearly endless string of police/citizen shootings, and raises serious questions about the use of firearms by Seattle officers. This incident provides demonstrable proof that Seattle police officers are reckless with their weapons and have a ?shoot first? policy, even when they cannot see the person they are shooting! As a resident of Seattle, I am dumbfounded at the lack of critical attention this incident has generated, and wish to
bring this incident to the forefront of ALL discussions surrounding the ?use of deadly force.? This incident has implications that stretch well beyond other police shootings of average citizens, this incident raises questions about the type of people charged with our protection, and their ability to adequately assess the risks presented by anyone they come into contact with. I am a law abiding resident, and I have become fearful that any contact with SPD officers will lead to my death and the subsequent smearing of my reputation as they attempt to justify the shooting.
As a resident of Seattle, I am not especially interested in the events surrounding the theft of a squad car. Both the Seattle Times and PI have reported on this tragic case of misguided youth. I am convinced that as a result of this incident, only SPD officers will have access to vehicle keys in the future. In my eyes, this part of the story is a smokescreen and diversion from the real issue that this incident raises. As a resident of Seattle, I am concerned about the ?use of deadly force? employed by 3 SPD officers during the shootout that ensued after one SPD officer rammed the vehicle of another SPD officer. This incident provides the best opportunity in years to ask critical questions of the Seattle Police Department and to demand accountability for police use of force.
Unlike the WTO riots, Marti-Gras riots and Aaron Roberts cases, there is no ?criminal? firing back or ?threatening? SPD officers. There are no "protesters" at the scene to pin the blame on, there are only three SPD officers shooting at each other. Had the youth who stole the vehicle been at the crash scene, I fully expect he would have been shot and killed, depriving us of the ability to ask these questions. Fortunately the officers involved were unhurt, demonstrating either poor aim or that they could not see their respective targets when they were firing.
As a resident, here are some of the questions that I would like to ask of our SPD, as a voter I expect an answer from our mayor and/or police chief.
1) Isn?t it standard procedure for an officer on the scene to identify himself/herself as such? Did all three officers do this? How could three trained officers, properly identify themselves to the others and then open fire? Had the officers properly identified themselves, they would have known that the suspect had eluded them and avoided the dangerous "gun-play" that they seem so fond of.
2) Did the officers involved visually identify their targets? How did they do this? It seems clear that this did not happen. If any of the officers had clearly identified their target, they would not have fired their weapons.
3) What exactly constitutes a threat upon an SPD officer? The chief of police stated after the shooting that it was justified because they were in fear for their safety. So what constitutes a threat? Is it a look?
How about a gesture? Perhaps having a video camera inside your car is a threat, as demonstrated by two women during WTO. These incidents of massive over-reaction seem to be happening with disturbing frequency, so let us investigate what constitutes a "threat" and what does not.
Officers who shoot unarmed citizens should be removed from the force.
Sorry, that?s just the way it?s gotta be....drink and drive, loose your license. Shoot/kick/beat an unarmed civilian, get kicked off the force, nothing personal, that?s just the way it is. Permanently removed.
Period.
4) How many shots were fired ?at the shootin? match?? Was it 20 as was reported in the Seattle Times, or was it 39 as it has been reported in the PI. It should be fairly easy to determine, how many bullets were missing from each officer? More important, did the officers empty their clips? Did they go for the shotguns? How long did the actual shooting last? I?m hoping that they were still shouting at each other, still trying to avoid a potential death. Was it more than one minute? More than two? Here?s a quote from the Seattle PI after the incident....
".......In the early Tuesday morning darkness, with steam from the damaged radiator of a police cruiser obstructing their views, three confused officers searching for a police impersonator fired as many as 39 rounds at each other along a North Capitol Hill street,
police sources say. Sources also say that only when a supervising officer arrived and -- with a clear view of the scene -- shouted alerts to the shooting officers of their mistake, did the firing stop....."
5) What are the consequences of firing a weapon at an SPD officer? Are these officers subject to these consequences? And if not, why not? It seems clear that each officer was meaning to do harm to another human being. If I were to fire on an SPD officer, even in fear for my physical safety, would I be able to escape from accountability through retraining? I think not, my full expectation is that I would be incarcerated for ?Assault with a deadly weapon,? or more likely dead with my reputation smeared. I believe that this incident warrants such an investigation as the demonstration of negligence has been
shown. Intent to cause harm has been shown. Use of a ?deadly weapon? has been shown. All of the legal elements that would be applied against a ?civilian? should be applied to the people whom we charge with our safety.
I bring up these questions because it seems that events of nature have been occurring with increasing frequency and there has been no resolution or effort to curb them. It seems that public officials wish to duck responsibility for a ?monster? of their creation.
While I applaud the great many good officers on the force, the recent settlement payments to the two women who were pepper sprayed at WTO and the subsequent re-instatement and payment of back wages to the officer who perpetrated the crime, demonstrate that the system of accountability is out of control. A certain lack of control is evident in the case of Zack Davis and the shootout on Capitol Hill too. It is my belief that we should first tackle the ?no-brainers.? This shootout is such a ?no-brainer.? These officers should be charged as a civilian would be if he/her shot at an officer.
At this point, I should give you some information about myself. My name is Dan Devine, and I have lived in Seattle since 1984. I am married, with a son to arrive soon. I own a house and work at a professional job. I am an upstanding member of the community, donate to charity and pay my taxes. I have never been a member of any communist or anarchist type groups, I?ve been non-political all my life.....until now.
I am concerned enough about the situation that I am moved to action.
I am also afraid of the police.
1) I will try to initiate legal action against these officers in the same fashion as would be applied to any citizen who would shoot at an officer. I am disgusted at the current situation and find the general ?white-wash? around the event to be the most disturbing of all. There are simply too many cases of police misconduct to ignore. Too many innocent people are being killed at the hands of our police force.
2) I will be working and voting against our current mayor Paul Schell, prosecutor Mark Sidran and city council members, as I hold them responsible for the current situation. I invite other residents of Seattle to join me in attempting to end their terms as soon as
possible.
==============================================================================
Wow....pretty strong stuff. That's what I'd been working on up to this Sunday. How can you help me Mr. Carroll? Are you working on this case? Who is? I hope that they (the people working on the case) are as good as yourself. When will we hear about the charges....could you put it on the evening news....with helicopters hovering.....and
lights too....
In researching this essay, I re-read both official paper coverage and the letters to the editor following the shooting. During the incubation of this letter, there was another shooting in Bellevue. Unarmed citizen reaching for his wallet. I know that Bellevue is not your jurisdiction, but it happened none the less.
I had independently come up with an idea similar to one printed on Sunday July 15th by Chris Martin regarding clear numbering on squad cars, although I would go farther and have "team uniforms" with random numbers for each officer/each day. That way, it would be really easy to "make the call" at the crime scene. What voter could be against
that....Clear numbering makes for better witnesses....."yeah, then officer 57 comes over and starts to pummel the guy...no, 21 didn't have anything to do with it...." .I think that will be my cause this November.... Mayor and City council...jump on now, you remember what happened with the Monorail, these things work best for you if
you jump on early!
Anyway, I'll conclude this really simply. I want to live in peace. I want to be able to look up to those people who are in authority. At the minimum, the bare minimum, I need to be able to feel like I won't be shot when you need me to pay for "expired tabs" or whatever infraction/charity you need to collect for. I imagine that your job should get easier with "Photo-Cop". From a business stand-point it should allow you to separate "accounts receivable" from the hardcore job of "order maintenance." Now if we could just get down to the nuts and bolts of the "dollars spent/shot fired" we would really be on a fiscally responsible course.
I'm not crazy because I'm thinking this...by my reading of the situation, a great few in Seattle are asking similar questions. Shouldn't you all get "out-in-front" of this one, and answer some of the peoples questions before it really goes too far. A disconnect
is a dangerous thing.
Dan Devine.
---------------------------------------------
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Please contact these people in Seattle and the USA, and let them know how you feel!!!
Please keep it "civil" and "just", thanks...
............................................
Washington State Victim-Witness Notification Program (toll free!)(1-800-422-1536)
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(Seattle) King County Prosecutors office of Norm Melang, (1-206-296-9000)(criminal division) (1-206-296-9015)(civil division)
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Seattle City Attorneys office of Mark Sidran, (1-206-684-8200) Seattle City Prosecutor: (1-206-684-7757)
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Seattle City Council (1-206-684-8888) (1-206-684-880? - last # is 1-8 for individual council members).
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Seattle City Directory information: (1-206-386-1234)
Seattle Complaints, Information, Citizens Service Bureau: (1-206-684-8811)
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Seattle Mayors office of Paul Schell: (1-206-684-4000)
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Seattle City Human Rights Commission: (1-206-684-4500)
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[{( SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT::
Internal Investigations: (1-206-684-8797)
Chief of Seattle Police: (1-206-684-5577)
Seattle Police Media Relations: (1-206-684-5520)
Seattle Police Officers Guild: (1-206-767-1150) )}]
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Governor of Washington Gary Locke: (1-360-753-6780)
Washington State Senate: (1-360-786-7550)
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EMAILS::
.........
....
[{( Seattle and Washington Government:
Mayors.Office (at) ci.seattle.wa.us, mark.sidran (at) ci.seattle.wa.us, questions (at) wsba.org, jay.inslee (at) mail.house.gov, jim.compton (at) ci.seattle.wa.us, richard.conlin (at) ci.seattle.wa.us, jan.drago (at) ci.seattle.wa.us, nick.licata (at) ci.seattle.wa.us, richard.mciver (at) ci.seattle.wa.us, judy.nicastro (at) ci.seattle.wa.us, margaret.pageler (at) ci.seattle.wa.us, peter.steinbrueck (at) ci.seattle.wa.us, heidi.wills (at) ci.seattle.wa.us, ron.sims (at) metrokc.gov, senator_murray (at) murray.senate.gov, maria (at) cantwell.senate.gov, jay.inslee (at) mail.house.gov, City.Action (at) ci.seattle.wa.us, vfmail (at) vf.com, governorowens (at) state.co.us, chopp_fr (at) leg.wa.gov, kohl_je (at) leg.wa.gov, sommers_he (at) leg.wa.gov, dickerso_ma (at) leg.wa.gov, governor.locke (at) governor.wa.gov, owen_br (at) leg.wa.gov, mail (at) secstate.wa.gov, letters (at) nytimes.com, opinion (at) seattletimes.com
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(Please feel FREE to edit and distribute this email in any way you choose too, or not to!)!
Thanks,
Sincerely,
Kenneth G. Dzaman - Space 2001!
A list of recent media articles from Seattle used for "reference" in this letter:
(For complete articles please see web links..)...
(Too best research the Seattle police shooting 39(?) shots at each other; Go to the Seattle Post Intelligencer and the Seattle Times web sites and search: "Zachary Davis" (The Seattle police department's "mascot" that stole the Seattle police car for patrols and repeated it for weeks (or longer??)? Did the Seattle Police department think they were hiding something from the residents of Seattle? Or were they trying to cover and hide an internal error? - Or did the Seattle police department not feel at risk, until they almost killed each other? - Why was the public not informed an armed imposter was patrolling Seattle streets? Why did the Seattle police department allow for this to be repeated, again, without informing the public? How many shots did the Seattle police shoot at Seattle police? Who shot first? What identification process did they go through? When the shooting started between Seattle police, what was the "threat", and how was it determined?
I do not believe these questions can be answered by a Seattle Police department internal investigation.
I feel it was a Seattle police department conspiracy that created this shooting.).
....................................................
SEATTLE TIMES
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/
[( Results for search of "zachary davis"
Your search found 10 records. Matches 1 through 10. )]
...........................
"Thief slipped onto I-5, out of cops' sight";
[( By Ian Ith and Nancy Bartley; Seattle Times staff reporters; Local News: Friday, July 13, 2001;
If it wasn't so potentially deadly, Tuesday's police crash and shootout by cops chasing a stolen patrol car would sound like an overused slapstick-comedy routine:
Two guys throw punches at a third, but he ducks just in time for the flying fists to hit the wrong jaws.
In less than five minutes, 18-year-old Zachary Davis eluded pursuing officers from downtown Seattle to the north end of Capitol Hill. Then he slipped onto the freeway at just the right moment, ditching the two pursuing police cars that then crashed into one another. The officers in the pursuing cars mistook each other for the car thief and began shooting at one another. )]
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis/web/vortex/display?slug=cops12m&
date=20010712&query=zachary+davis
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"Mistaken identity: Cops fire at cops";
By Dave Birkland and Ian Ith; Seattle Times staff reporters; ;Local News : Wednesday, July 11, 2001;
The 18-year-old son of a slain Seattle policeman was in jail yesterday and three patrolmen were placed on desk duty after the teen stole a police car and then fled from officers who ended up mistaking each other for the suspect, crashing their cars and firing more than 20 bullets at each other.
Remarkably, no one was hit by the gunfire or otherwise seriously injured. )]
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis/web/vortex/display?slug=copcars11m&
date=20010711&query=zachary+davis
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"Officers chasing stolen police car exchange gunfire - with each other";
[( By Ian Ith and Dave Birkland; Local News : Tuesday, July 10, 2001; Seattle Times staff reporters;
The 18-year-old son of a slain Seattle policeman was in jail today and three patrolmen were placed on desk duty after the teen stole a police car and then fled from officers, who ended up mistaking each other for the suspect, crashing their cars and firing more than 20 bullets at each other. )]
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis/web/vortex/display?slug=police&
date=20010710&query=zachary+davis
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"Fake officer safety risk; stays in jail";
[( By Nancy Bartley; The Seattle Times; Local News : Friday, July 13, 2001 )]
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis/web/vortex/display?slug=davis13m&
date=20010713&query=zachary+davis
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"Officers helped, trusted son of slain colleague";
[( By Ian Ith; Seattle Times staff reporter; Local News: Wednesday, July 11, 2001;
Seattle police Lt. Roy Wedlund was jangled awake early yesterday morning by the kind of phone call any parent would dread. At first, the North Precinct commander didn't understand the officer's hurried voice on the other end of the line. )]
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis/web/vortex/display?slug=kid11m&
date=20010711&query=zachary+davis
........................................
"Timeline";
[( The Seattle Times Company;Local News : Thursday, July 12, 2001;
Less than five minutes passed from the moment officers spotted Zachary Davis downtown in a stolen patrol car to the shootout on Capitol Hill early Tuesday morning.
1:32:35 a.m. Officers Traverso and McLaughlin spot a patrol car at Third Avenue and James Street. "We believe it is the vehicle they have been looking for," one of them tells dispatchers.
1:33:18 a.m. Dispatchers broadcast that a pursuit has begun.
1:33:34 a.m. Radios are patched so officers from the West and East precincts can communicate as the chase runs along Capitol Hill.
1:33:54 a.m. Traverso and McLaughlin broadcast: "This is the guy that we believe has been taking a city police vehicle."
1:35:16 a.m. They broadcast: "Be advised this is a police vehicle."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1:36:05 a.m. Traverso and McLaughlin transmit, "We are crashing into him."
1:36:11 a.m. Officer Anderson transmits, "He just hit my vehicle."
1:36:33 a.m. Unidentified officer transmits: "Shots fired."
1:37:10 a.m. Unidentified officer: "Shooting at him."
1:37:25 a.m. Unidentified officer: "Got shots fired, radio."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seconds later: Officers realize the suspect is not there.
About 1:45 a.m. Davis is arrested after returning the stolen patrol car to the North Precinct. He is wearing parts of a police uniform, including a bullet-proof vest. )]
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis/web/vortex/display?slug=timeline12m&
date=20010712&query=zachary+davis
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"Police shootout"
"Friendly fire"
"Situation critical'
"No surprise"
[(Letters to the editor; The Seattle Times Company; Editorials & Opinion: Friday, July 13, 2001; Letters to the editor
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis/web/vortex/display?slug=frilets13&
date=20010713&query=zachary+davis
"Situation critical'
What the hell is going on at Seattle Police Department? ("Officers fire 20 shots at each other; no one hurt," Times, July 11.) Thank God no one was hurt (though, morbidly, one has to question why our elite can't hit a stationary target in 20 shots).
So now we are expected to rest assured that the usual parties will investigate and fix what went wrong here? Forget it! Implement a civilian review board now like the citizens of this city have been demanding and give both our citizens and the officers who make up the SPD the tool necessary to fix the problems within the SPD.
- Mike McCormick, Seattle
"Friendly fire"
It is now clear that Seattle Police not only shoot "threatening" unarmed black motorists in the Central Area, but that they are so on-edge and trigger-happy that they even shoot at each other! For some strange reason, this does not make me feel particularly safe.
- Steve Habib Rose, Seattle
"No surprise"
As I said to my friend Rick today, I'm shocked, truly shocked that our trigger-happy police did not shoot Zachary Davis for engaging in the felony of stealing a police car, impersonating a police officer (mental illness here?), eluding officers, and possessing a weapon (which came with the police vehicle) while putting the public and police at risk.
But then again, he's not African American, so why should I be surprised?
- Keith Gormezano, Seattle )]
...........................................................
"One for the record books"
"Chief: Officers who fired shots were 'extremely lucky'';
[( By LEWIS KAMB AND TRACY JOHNSON; SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTERS; Thursday, July 12, 2001;
In the early Tuesday morning darkness, with steam from the damaged radiator of a police cruiser obstructing their views, three confused officers searching for a police impersonator fired as many as 39 rounds at each other along a North Capitol Hill street, police sources say.
Sources also say that only when a supervising officer arrived and -- with a clear view of the scene -- shouted alerts to the shooting officers of their mistake, did the firing stop.
By then, West Precinct Officers Rick Traverso and Tom McLaughlin already had exchanged multiple shots with East Precinct Officer Chris Anderson, whose patrol car, deliberately rammed by the other cruiser, was riddled with bullets. )]
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/local/31018_davis12.shtml
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"Youth charged with theft of patrol car, eluding police";
[( By TRACY JOHNSON; SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER; Friday, July 13, 2001;
Zachary Davis, 18, befriended by officers, could face more counts
Workers at a Seattle nightclub noticed the police car parked outside a couple of weekends in a row.
Sometimes the officer inside the car would shout at jaywalkers, they told police; sometimes he would walk through the dance club carrying a can of pepper spray.
Yesterday, King County prosecutors charged 18-year-old Zachary Davis with stealing that patrol car and eluding police. Police say he impersonated an officer on several occasions, the last time leading to a shootout Tuesday among officers mistaking one another for an impostor. )]
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/local/31180_davis13.shtml
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"Not-guilty plea in case of stolen police car that led to mistaken shootout";
[( SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER STAFF; [Northwest]; Wednesday, July 25, 2001;
An 18-year-old Shoreline man accused of impersonating a Seattle police officer pleaded not guilty yesterday to charges he stole a patrol car and eluded police.
Zachary Davis, who is free on $25,000 bail, appeared in court yesterday with his attorney and a group of relatives and friends. )]
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/local/32631_stolencar25.shtml
...............................
"SEATTLE POLICE"
"Episode shows how trigger-happy force is";
[( Letters to the Editor; Wednesday, July 18, 2001;
The Thursday editorial trivializes the recent police fiasco as "The Keystone Kops Do Seattle" or "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight -- Thank Goodness." I am not laughing. In fact, I am horrified.
To me, the situation reveals again how absolutely out of control, determined to be violent and trigger-happy much of our police force is.
Of course, the police killings of multiple unarmed African American men and the overreaction to peaceful, non-violent WTO protesters in recent years already vividly illustrate the para-military orientation of our municipality.
Police are accorded enormous state-approved power to engage in violence. It is clear that the Seattle Police Department has abused this macho power time after time after time.
Minimize city-sponsored violence. Maximize police accountability.
Sarah T. Luthens
Seattle )]
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/opinion/31641_ltrs18.shtml
...............................................
"POLICE CHASE";
"Event worthy of a page in 'Believe It or Not' ";
[( Melissa Westbrook; Seattle; "Letters to the Editor; Sunday, July 15, 2001";
So our police chief wants us to not think of the latest SPD misstep as a "Keystone Kops" incident, but really it's a page for "Ripley's Believe It or Not."
So, in that spirit, here's the page:
"Be amazed! A city that invites a world organization (WTO) to town and thinks it will be a Shriners' convention, despite all evidence to the contrary.
"See a drunken Marti Gras party escalate and watch the very people (officers of the Seattle Police Department) who are sworn to stand between law-abiding citizens and bad guys stand and do nothing as people beat each other senseless.
"Finally! Believe that in 2001 Seattle police officers have no way to communicate with one another in times of crisis and, when all else fails (like common sense), they fire away."
All this aside, someone could have been killed. I am sorry the young suspect is troubled and grieves the loss of his father. However, that is no reason to give him access to unauthorized areas and equipment. And there is no reason that cops should be firing meaninglessly at one another.
The police do the hardest job in the world; why they want to make it any harder is beyond me. )]
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/opinion/31239_ltrs15.shtml
"Numbers, please, clearly marked on police cars";
[( Chris Martin; Seattle; "Letters to the Editor; Sunday, July 15, 2001;
"A close call for Seattle cops" (Thursday editorial) asks, "Did no one get the license number of the suspect vehicle?"
A better question for the Seattle Police Department is why our marked patrol units do not have any clearly identifiable numbers on them? Seattle police cars have tiny unit numbers on the back window that are color-coded by precinct and are unfamiliar to all but the closest department observers.
Lack of clear unit identification is an accountability and safety concern.
The accountability concern is twofold. First, citizens who feel that police have driven by a situation that warrants police action have no idea who the offending officer was. Second, and of huge importance, is that a motorist who believes he has been the victim of an unwarranted traffic stop has no way of knowing the offending officer if he is afraid to ask for a badge number or, as is often the case in profile stops, he is not issued a citation.
By now the safety point should be clear. Officers opened fire on one another because they had no method to differentiate the suspect police vehicle.
License plates are not visible from the side and in this case the suspect had a radio, too.
With fewer than 100 cars per unit, SPD should have large reflective alphanumeric numbers denoting cars by precinct and unit. It is hard to imagine that if officers were chasing a North Precinct car clearly labeled N39 that they would have opened fire on an East Precinct unit with a large reflective E28 on all sides.
Fire and medic units are all clearly labeled by unit number; it's time the cars with guns are, too. )]
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/opinion/31239_ltrs15.shtml
"Given recent history, SPD surprised us all";
[( Keith Gormezano; Seattle; "Letters to the Editor; Sunday, July 15, 2001;
I'm shocked, truly shocked that our trigger-happy police did not shoot young Zack Davis for engaging in the felony of stealing a police car, impersonating a police officer (mental illness, here?), eluding officers and possessing a weapon (which came with the police vehicle) while putting the public and police at risk.
But then again, he's not African American, so why should I be surprised? )]
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/opinion/31239_ltrs15.shtml
"Makes you wonder who trained the police";
[( Brian Sutton Edmonds; "Letters to the Editor; Sunday, July 15, 2001;
The recent incident with three Seattle police officers firing as many as 39 rounds at one another strikes me as the final proof that this organization is out of control. It was also proof that they are not profiling; they are shooting at anything that moves, including one another. Who trained these guys, the Hatfields or the McCoys? )]
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/opinion/31239_ltrs15.shtml
"So now they shoot first and ask questions later?";
[( Mike McCormick; "Letters to the Editor; Sunday, July 15, 2001;
What the hell is going on at SPD? In the latest of a long string of questionable incidents, two SPD patrol cars crash into each other while chasing a believed stolen SPD cruiser and members of each car (believing the other car was the stolen vehicle) open fire on one another, shooting at least 39 times.
Since there were no citizens present at the actual incident to blame this time around, it's obvious that it was police who fired the first shot (and the 38 that followed). I'd like to know when it became policy at SPD to shoot first and ask questions later?
So now we are expected to rest assured that the usual parties will investigate and fix what went wrong here? Forget it.
Implement a civilian review board now like the citizens of this city have been demanding and give citizens and the officers who make up the SPD the tools necessary to fix the problems within Seattle's police department. )]
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/opinion/31239_ltrs15.shtml
(THIS IS ALL THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED (as of August 26,2001) IN THE SEATTLE MAINSTREAM PRESS ON THE SEATTLE POLICE SHOOTOUT BETWEEN SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS JULY 10th, 2001. What follows are other Seattle mainstream media articles that I feel are the reason this incident is being ignored in Seattle.).
..........................................
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"Promoting civility on the streets of Seattle";
[(by Patrick Fitzsimons; Seattle Police chief from 1979 to 1994; July 27th, 2001; The Seattle Times;
We cannot teach children that there is nothing that is wrong or dishonorable and that nothing is worth standing up for. The abuse and lies of elected officials made public in recent times cannot be accepted because they are claimed to be merely personal or commonplace. These acts are disgraceful examples for our children and, if condoned, destructive of our society. )]
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=134322575&
zsection_id=268448410&slug=fitzsimons27&date=20010727
................................................................
"Inquest system shouldn't be controlled by police";
[( By Kathleen Taylor; Guest columnist Editorials & Opinion; Special to The Seattle Times;
Thursday, August 23, 2001;
In October, an inquest will begin into the shooting death of Aaron Roberts. The inquest will determine the cause of death, the circumstances leading to the use of deadly force and whether the force was justified. It should be the occasion for an objective and independent assessment of all circumstances surrounding the death. But the current inquest system is out of date and rife with conflicts of interest. It gives too great a role to the agency responsible for the killing and too little role to the representatives of the deceased. )]
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis/web/vortex/display?slug=inquest23&
date=20010823&query=inquest+system
.............................................
"Diversity still major challenge for media";
[( Robert L. Jamieson JR.; SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER COLUMNIST; Tuesday, August 21, 2001;
During a recent appearance on a radio show, police Chief Gil Kerlikowske touched on racial diversity -- and struck a nerve close to home.
He suggested that the Seattle Police Department is doing a good job in hiring people of color. By comparison, he said, newspapers are struggling to reflect the increasingly diverse communities they cover.
The chief is right -- and numbers tell much of the story. )]
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/jamieson/35945_robert21.shtml
...................................................
"Seattle grad settles discrimination suit";
[( By Tan Vinh; Seattle Times staff reporter Local News; Wednesday, August 15, 2001;
A Rainier Beach High graduate who filed a reverse-discrimination suit against the Seattle School District has received a $40,000 settlement and assurance that every high-school teacher will receive mandatory anti-harassment training in the coming school year.
For four years, said Rebecca Porcaro, a 1999 graduate, she endured insults and innuendoes from some African-American students who called her names such as "white trash," and that teachers and the administrative staff at the predominantly black school did nothing to stop the harassment. She sued shortly after she graduated.
Porcaro, 20, said she felt vindicated by the mid-July settlement, especially with the mandatory one-time training requirement, because she didn't "want this to just go away."
"I want people to know that (racial discrimination) can happen both ways. I want to make the school accountable," she said.
The district has apologized to Porcaro. )]
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis/web/vortex/display?slug=settlement15m&
date=20010815&query=seattle+grad+settles
...........................................................
"Shooting witness gets a lesson in citizenship";
[( By SUSAN PAYNTER; SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER COLUMNIST; Friday, July 13, 2001;
Kim Daisy went out for a cheese steak sandwich with peppers on the side just before 11 the night of Thursday, May 31, and she got a taste of what it can mean to be a citizen.
A day passed before Daisy realized that what she saw after coming out of the sandwich shop, what she thought was just a man under arrest being pulled from a car, would turn out to be the tragic incident that has split this city ever since -- the fatal shooting of Aaron Roberts by police. )]
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/paynter/31054_paynter13.shtml
......................................................
"Power and the police: A balance is needed]";
[( By ROBERT L. JAMIESON Jr.; Friday, August 3, 2001; SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER COLUMNIST; )]
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/jamieson/33772_robert03.shtml
................................................
"Race does matter -- we must face it";
[( By ROBERT L. JAMIESON Jr.; SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER COLUMNIST; Tuesday, July 24, 2001;
Talking about the Mardi Gras violence without giving weight to race is like baking bread without yeast.
Nothing rises.
But Seattle leaders, it would appear, are comfortable with discussions that are predictable and safe.
Flat.
They fear that adding race to the mix might leave a bad taste in mouths accustomed to a steady diet of political correctness.
So I did not exactly do an "Exorcist" head spin last week when I heard about the city panel looking at the causes of February's thuggery.
So far, the panel has come up with a recipe that has the following ingredients: poverty, school trouble, alcohol, a hard-knock life at home.
In other words, the same old, same old.
But what caught me by surprise was the downplay of the "R" word. )]
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/jamieson/32496_robert24.shtml
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"Police discipline system won't repair disconnect";
[( By TERRENCE CARROLL; INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS AUDITOR; P-I Focus; Sunday, August 19, 2001;
Having served the last few years as the internal investigations auditor for the Seattle Police Department, I am saddened by the apparent polarization between the police and parts of our community.
To me, the current debate over the citizen complaint process is primarily the result of a misperception and misunderstanding of the role of the police and the discipline system within the department.
In short, we are placing far too much emphasis on the internal discipline system as the focus for redressing broader societal problems. What- ever lack of trust exists between the police and citizens has its roots far deeper than a displeasure with the police discipline system.
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/opinion/35626_carrollop.shtml
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"President of Urban League Calls for Review of Inequity";
[(By ROBIN TONER [W] ASHINGTON, July 29 ; July 30, 2001; New York Times
(This article also appeared in the Tacoma News Tribune titled;
"Racism probe asked for legal system"; [(It did not appear in Seattle mainstream press - and very little was said about it. I couldn't find it on the internet..).)])]
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"Bush does about-face on race";
[( By CLARENCE PAGE SYNDICATED COLUMNIST; Seattle Post Intelligencer; Thursday, August 16, 2001;
CHICAGO -- In its first opportunity to take a stand on affirmative action, the Bush administration is taking a U-turn by deciding not to change directions. If that sounds a little wacky, just remember that we're talking about politics. )]
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/opinion/35319_page16.shtml
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"Claiming victim status will do little to eradicate racism";
[( By CHI-DOOH LI; SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCE; Thursday, July 26, 2001;
Here in Seattle we need to take a deep, collective breath and call a moratorium on hurling racist accusations at the police.
This city is reeling from such accusations in four high-profile cases in the past 15 months: David Walker, the Mardi Gras riots, Aaron Roberts and the recent Asian American youth group jaywalking incident.
The loss of perspective from all quarters is as palpable as it is disturbing. )]
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/opinion/32775_skipcol.shtml
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"A bridge across troubled waters";
[( By CANDY HATCHER; SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER COLUMNIST; Friday, July 20, 2001;
It's called "community building," this figurative bridge across Lake Washington, and we all could learn from it.
A bunch of white suburbanites drives across the water every other month to share a meal and a prayer and an honest discussion with a group of black people they've come to love.
The other months, the group from the Central District travels to Bellevue or Kirkland for fellowship with their Eastside friends.
These members of First Presbyterian Church in Bellevue and Mount Calvary Christian Center in Seattle have been doing this since 1992, when their ministers met, forged a bond and determined God wanted them to bring their churches together.
It was during the Rodney King riots. Seattle, like so many other cities, was full of anger, resentment and tension. Dr. Richard Leon and the Rev. Reggie Witherspoon swapped pulpits. They held forums on weekends to talk about racism and attitudes and respect.
The monthly "community building" meetings began. Members of the two churches began to trust each other, to share their experiences. Blacks didn't just see the economic disparity in the two communities; they saw common problems.
Whites didn't just hear the "R" word. They heard about families and dreams. They talked about faith.
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/hatcher/32029_candy20.shtml
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"Reader's Soapbox: Working together could end racism";
[( SHERYL MCKAY GUEST COLUMNIST; Seattle Post Intelligencer; Saturday, August 11, 2001;
It's a real shame that the post-Mardi Gras Youth Safety Task Force is unable to discuss race as a factor in the Mardi Gras debacle, but I can understand why.
Both sides are afraid to open this can of worms for different reasons, but until we face some truths, we are not going to make much progress. At the risk of being called a racist, I'd like to point out a few things.
Whites a |
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