"They're Gonna Kill Again! Then Beat The Mexican Piss Out Of Us! Anger At Seattle Police Town Hall" (video)

MOXNEWS, with video from KING5 News (02:42).

"Seattle police meeting draws tense, angry crowd"

Audience members cheer after a statement was made during a panel discussion on police accountability at Seattle City Hall on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011.

Casey McNerthney (seattlepi.com):

The meeting Thursday night at City Hall was intended to de-escalate a tense situation regarding police accountability, but in less than an hour the dialogue broke down.

Two men had already been removed from the overflow meeting after launching expletive-laced tirades at Police Chief John Diaz. Next to the panel of eight speakers was displayed a poster calling for officer Ian Birk, who fatally shot John T. Williams last August, to be jailed.

Then people dressed in black, including some who distributed anarchist material before the meeting, marched inside, chanting "cops, pigs, murder, murder."

Rick Williams, the brother of the Native American carver, went outside the meeting room, grabbed two of them and insisted they leave. Back inside, Williams overturned the sign calling Birk a murderer.

"That's how you de-escalate," one woman said.

Seattle police have been criticized for several recent high-profile incidents, some of which were recorded. MORE...

"Submachine Guns Drawn, Seattle Police Break Down Door of Medical Marijuana Patient, Push Him to the Floor, and Raid His Home—for Two Tiny Pot Plants"

UPDATE: Kirk Prindle tried to leave the following comment:

“How much public-endangering malfeasance and unnecessary violence must the people of Seattle endure before we see real change at SPD signalled with a change of leadership?

Under Diaz the people of Seattle have been terrorized with daily stories of police brutality and the murder of innocent civilians. The police did everything possible to endanger an innocent patient, an apartment complex, and an entire neighborhood with the wanton use of submachine guns. It is only shear luck that we do not have yet another Seattle resident dead or injured as a result SPD incompetency.

Mr. Mayor, the people of Seattle should not feel threatened by their police force: Get a new police chief that understands and respects the values of our Seattle communities.

What an absolute embarrassment.”

Dominic Holden (SLOG):

The Seattle Police Department and the mayor's office have repeatedly insisted that marijuana possession, per city law, is the lowest law enforcement priority. They also adhere, they say, to a state law that makes it legal for authorized patients to use and grow marijuana.

But last night provided evidence that Seattle police are willing to invest tremendous resources in the smallest of pot cases—even cases where the pot is legal—and the mayor’s office will remain silent.

Just before 9:00 p.m., officers at SPD’s East Precinct held a briefing about the complaint of marijuana at a four-unit apartment building in the Leschi neighborhood. One week earlier, officers applied for a search warrant from King County Superior Court, sent an officer with a K9 to sniff at the door, confirmed the scent of marijuana, and were in the process last night of planning a raid. “Once the briefing was completed, officers donned their raid equipment clearly marked ‘Police’ on all sides,” according to a draft incident report filed by police.

A cadre of between six and nine officers ran up the stairs; some carried MP5 submachine guns, others held pistols, and at least one held the battering ram. They pounded on the apartment door and said it was the police. MORE...

"SPD Numbers Game: McGinn’s Initiative Edition"

Sable:

There have been a lot of questions, concerns and confusion about Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and the Seattle Police Department’s efforts around policing across the city, particularly since beefed up patrols in trendy Belltown began via the new Nightlife Initiative was announced in mid-July.

The eight point plan focuses on everything from flexible liquor service hours, noise ordinance enforcement and upwards of 20 extra police from the SWAT, anti-crime, and DUI sectors of the department, patrolling the neighborhood every weekend.

Both Chief Diaz and Mayor McGinn have said the residents of Seattle expect a strong response from the department when and where violence happens as justification for the plan. The problem was that in doing so, they set a standard of response- but only applied it to one neighborhood, not to Seattle as a whole.

The initiative gained high praise from residents in Belltown with legitimate safety concerns- and sharp criticism from other neighborhoods around Seattle, including the Central District and Rainier Beach. The overwhelming cry: what about the rest of us?

As reporters, journalists and community members began comparing policing levels across neighborhoods and asking questions, the mayor’s office adopted a talk-to-the-hand response style, often refusing to respond or provide information. MORE...

Howie P.S.: Long story short: More double-talk from Hizzoner.

(Seattle) City attorney on jaywalking punch: 'Our Police Department is capable of far better' (with video)

seattlepi.com with video (02:28):

Announcing the charging decision, Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes faulted Levias for failing to follow Walsh's instructions while chastising police handling of the incident. Holmes said the incident "underscore(s) the void in leadership at the top."

"Our Police Department is capable of far better than we have witnessed in recent months," Holmes said in a statement Thursday.

"This dangerous intersection near Franklin High School is a known public safety problem," Holmes continued. "Despite that knowledge, SPD leadership essentially 'planned to fail because it failed to plan.' I trust that we will not see this ongoing problem addressed in the same shortsighted manner that occurred Monday."

Holmes continued, asserting that Police Department management insist its officers undergo cultural-sensitivity training currently being taken by assistant city attorneys under Holmes' direction. MORE...

Sable: "As Seattle City Hall Turns: The SPD Chronicles"

Sable:

Seattle has been without a permanent police chief since President Obama snagged former chief Gil Kerlikowski to be our nation’s drug czar over a year ago.

The responsibility to fill the job fell to first time Mayor Mike McGinn. He looked to a 25 person panel to for recommendations. The list of eleven finalists was finally reduced to 3; Interim Chief John Diaz, Sacramento Police Chief Rick Braziel and East Palo Alto California Police Chief Ron Davis.

People in the Mayor’s office say hizzoner was leaning heavily towards Sacramento’s Chief Rick Braziel, who was also recommended by SPD’s Union, along with Diaz.

But then, without much explanation or warning, last week Braziel withdrew his name for consideration, leaving Mayor McGinn in a lurch. Insiders say the city’s top brass is devastated that Braziel withdrew, and that clearly he was the Mayor’s top choice.

The union quickly stepped forward and said 30 year vet and department insider Interim Chief John Diaz should be immediately named the new Chief. They point to his leadership during one of the most difficult years in the department’s history, and say his ability to lead is unquestionable. They also say the 3rd finalist, Chief Davis, isn’t nearly qualified for the job.

But if the decision seems like a no brainer for the union, it apparently is a little more complicated for the Mayor. MORE...

Howie P.S.: I call it "Amateur Hour," but you get the idea.