Is Jimmy Stewart the right candidate for the school board if he seems like he cannot successfully work with the public?

It has come to my attention that there are multiple founded allegations against him during his time with SPD. These can be found via a quick search on Open Oversight.

One incident had a disciplinary action of suspension without pay.

Other disciplinary action included, written reprimand, oral reprimand, while others were left up to the supervisor.

In regard to his most recent incident report the complaint that he was unprofessional was sustained. “With regard to the other statements made by NE#1, OPA finds that they were unprofessional. While they did not include profanity, they were unnecessary and potentially escalatory under the circumstances. His statements were also not consistent with his stated claim that he was trying to coax the crowd away. If anything, his words made it more likely that they would stay and engage in further conflict with him and other officers.”

If this is what he sees as acceptable behavior how that will translate when an angry parent confronts him, or he is challenged by an opinion that he does not agree with?

There was also an allegation of unbiased policing. While that claim was not sustained it was found inconclusive meaning that he may have in fact done what was alleged, in this case calling a transgender individual “whatever that is” but because the other officer on scene wouldn’t corroborate the claim there was not enough evidence to sustain the claim.

The SPD states, “SPD Policy 5.001-POL-10 requires that SPD employees “strive to be professional at all times.” The policy further instructs that “employees may not engage in behavior that undermines public trust in the Department, the officer, or other officers.”

If he cannot perform his job duties that he has taken a sworn oath to do, how can we possibly trust him to be an example for our youth? Will he be able to conduct himself in a professional manner? Will he fight for the rights of all children if they do not live a lifestyle that he approves of?

No longer having children in the public school system, this still gives me pause. In any case someone with seven incident reports in twelve years and five of them having been substantiated is alarming at best.

Before you fill out your ballot ask yourself is this the kind of person who should be setting policy, goals and standards if he cannot even follow the ones he was sworn to.

Ned Williams

Enumclaw