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“backing blue,” continued...
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slew of misconduct allegations against Spokane officers has forced the police guild into fighting many unpopular battles in recent years. Gately acknowledges some of the public frustrations, but says the union’s bylaws mandate it must represent its members during disciplinary conflicts. “There’s certain things that we have to do,” he argues. “We have officers that make mistakes. Let’s deal with the mistakes they’ve made and whatever punishment they deserve. If it’s fair and just, then let’s move on. But … some of the stuff we were battling, we didn’t have a choice in the matter because of the way it was done.” Gately hopes people understand the guild does not take any position in criminal matters. The union only gets involved with internal disciplinary conflicts, working to ensure any employee reprimands or terminations abide by labor laws. It only disputes actions from management that it views as inappropriate or premature. Criminal allegations arose again last week after Spokane Officer Timothy Moses was charged with lying to federal investigators during the Zehm case. Moses has reportedly agreed to resign and plead guilty to a misdemeanor. Gately says the guild has not been involved with the case. In previous disputes, the guild repeatedly clashed with former Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick, who oversaw the department from 2006 until 2012, over disciplinary actions and proposed policies changes. Both parties blame the other for
a lack of cooperation and communication. Now serving as King County undersheriff, Kirkpatrick argues guild leaders too often pursued the wrong priorities and worked against long-overdue reforms at the department. “They need to align their values with the community,” she says now. Gately acknowledges union officials struggled to work with Kirkpatrick’s administration. They had different philosophies, he says. Conversations deadlocked, with both sides feeling bullied or rebuffed. “There was no communication between us and the department,” he says. “All of that stopped. … That hurt our department. That hurt the guild’s reputation and I believe it hurt the citizens of Spokane. I don’t ever want to see that again.” Kirkpatrick says Gately is “very nice” personally, but she worries his history with the guild leadership could mark a continuation of old attitudes. She hopes he proves willing to lead the union in a new direction. “Maybe they’ve had a change in position,” she says now. “A lot of things can change in a year and a half.” Public questions have also surrounded Gately’s friendship with former Spokane Officer Karl Thompson, who was sentenced to four years in federal prison in November for using excessive force in the 2006 arrest of Zehm. Outrage erupted last fall when Gately and his wife organized a potluck in support of Thomp-
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