Saturday, May 8 will be a busy day for the 26-member Seattle Police Chief search committee, and the 11 semi-finalists now on the list to become the Jet City’s next top cop.
The Seattle Times published short biographies of each candidate, which immediately came under some criticism from the Seattle Weekly for not being complete and for alleged subconscious sexism in how each candidate was described. Biographies of the male candidates seemed to be glowing while those for the three females on this list included some brickbats, especially Spokane Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick, who was recently the subject of a now-disputed no-confidence vote by members of the Spokane Police Guild. Yet, there are questions, for example, about Adam Burden, former Miami, FL deputy chief.
A Seattle police chief search committee will interview the 11 semifinalists on May 8. It is scheduled to meet the following week to discuss and select its three finalists for the mayor's review.
As I wrote earlier here, there is concern in the firearms community about who will be selected, with no small suspicion that Far Left Mayor Mike McGinn – a liberal’s liberal – will choose someone with a preconceived bias against armed private citizens.
Evergreen State gun rights activists would probably like to grill each candidate, considering that they come from across the country. They might ask John Romero, chief of police in Lawrence, MA about his attitude towards concealed and open carry; in Massachusetts, top cops have broad latitude to deny gun permits while in here in Washington, they do not. Likewise, the same question might be tossed at Rick Gregory, former chief of the Newcastle County, DE police, and to East Palo Alto, CA Chief Ron Davis, who is also a candidate to become the next Police Superintendent in New Orleans.
Here are some questions the firearms community might ask of the candidates:
Q. If hired as Seattle police chief, would you support or lobby to overturn Washington State’s model preemption firearms statute, which, among other things, prevents cities from adopting their own gun ordinances?
Q. Why would you want to leave your present position to become Seattle’s police chief?
Q. There are approximately 260,000 citizens licensed to carry concealed handguns in Washington State under our shall-issue law. How do you feel about that?
Q. Please give us your definition of a sensible gun law.
Q. What is your definition of an extremist gun law?
Q. A small but growing community of open carry advocates is active in Washington State. Would you be willing to meet with them occasionally?
Q. Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of or contributor to the National Rifle Association, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms or Gun Owners of America?
Q. Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of or contributor to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence or any affiliated CeaseFire organization?
Q. Tens of thousands of Washingtonians own semiautomatic sport-utility rifles. Do you have any concern about that? Do you own one for personal recreation?
Q. Do you currently have a hunting license issued by your state wildlife agency?
Q. What was your score on your last qualification?
Q. If you were to testify in Olympia on firearms-related legislation, would you testify in uniform?
Q. Do you think stronger gun laws are required to reduce gang violence?
Q. In the aftermath of a natural or man-made disaster, where emergency services are crippled or virtually non-existent, would you order your officers to disarm private citizens?
Q. If you are hired as chief, do you plan to carry a sidearm, or leave it in your car?
Others may have additional questions. They can be listed below.
For more info: Washington State Gun Rights and Responsibilities.
More from Gun Rights Examiners
Atlanta: Ed Stone | Austin: Howard Nemerov | Boston: Ron Bokleman | Charlotte: Paul Valone | Cheyenne: Anthony Bouchard | Chicago: Don Gwinn | Cleveland: Daniel White | DC: Mike Stollenwerk | Denver: Dan Bidstrup | Detroit: Rob Reed | Fort Smith: Steve D. Jones | Knoxville: Liston Matthews | Los Angeles: John Longenecker | Minneapolis: John Pierce | National: David Codrea | Seattle: Dave Workman | St. Louis: Kurt Hofmann | Tucson: Chris Woodard
And Don’t forget to visit:
Comments
Sounds like they are trying to load the deck in favor of the anti-gun Mayor and groups here in Seattle.
Q. If you are hired as chief, do you plan to carry a sidearm, or leave it in your car?
ROFL
I am sure McGinn will choose the most liberal anti gun candidate as Chief. This state is going to hell with the increase in crime. How many home invasions in the past 2 weeks? And our Governor continues to reduce LEOs to protect the communities while she spends millions on useless projects like suicide fences. If they have strict gun control added to that we will have a disaster.
And since you could potentialy be hired to uphold these laws, qualify your answers with an example.
Q. Please give us your definition of a sensible gun law. "example"
Q. What is your definition of an extremist gun law? "example"
Q. Do you think stronger gun laws are required to reduce gang violence? "example"
Do you think an exposed handgun in a holster is brandishing?
Do you think an exposed handgun in a holster is intimidating?
Will you tell your police force in Seattle to honor all Concealed Weapons License's from any state in the uniion?
Will you tell your police force to refuse to trespass any CPL holder from state university property?
Will you be able to tell the Mayor of Seattle No if requested to enforce an unenforceable law or rule as an example the debunked Parks Gun Ban?
As the Police Chief of Seattle will you uphold the Constitution, Washington State Constitution, State Law and then the Cities Ordinances if they comply with the aforementioned?
Suggested additional questions:
[1] How familiar are you with our (Washington's) state constitution?
[2] Washington's constitution says in part: "The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, [...]"
Do you think it proper to regulate and/or license a right so expressly enumerated, and if so, why?
[3] Relevant to [2] above, and the state's preemption law, would you agree that any local ordinance which contravenes either is legally unenforceable?
[4] Would you seek to enforce a law which you knew to be illegal on its face?
[5] If the President of the United States —or other person— ordered the confiscation of all privately held firearms regardless, would you comply with that order, or would you adamantly refuse and impede every such effort?
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!