To: ltaylor@spokanepolice.org, mcotton@spokanepolice.org
Ms. Taylor and Cotton:
According to news reports:
‘Our information is that the individual fought back and that may have made this, you know, a worse situation,’ said Spokane Police Chief Frank Straub in a Monday press conference.
Has the Police Chief retracted this remarkably stupid “Blame The Victim” statement yet? If not, I highly recommend he stop blaming innocent victims in his jurisdiction, place blame on perpetrators where it belongs, and work on preventing crime rather than commenting vapidly after the fact.
Sincerely,
Further, the Chief’s statement doesn’t pass the laugh test:
“I would like to make it very clear - the motive for this attack was robbery. Race was not a factor. Additionally, there was no gang activity regarding this incident.”
Really? The investigation is complete? All possible avenues for establishing a racial motive or gang activity as a factor have been closed down? So quickly?
That’s an obvious whitewash. Little of complexity in this life proceeds so quickly and decisively.
Have any of the alleged perpetrators every had a cross word about Caucasians? Has each of their Facebook and email accounts been reviewed to make sure, a la George Zimmerman and the DOJ? None has ever used the word “cracker?”
The Chief is by available indications a politically correct hack. The honest citizens of Spokane deserve a higher quality police department that can investigate thoroughly before jumping to conclusions, and blaming the victim.