The money will be used to pay for the punitive portion of a $15.1 million verdict levied by a federal civil-rights jury against the city, its police chief and two officers for the 2013 shooting death of an unarmed black man in front of his 4-year-old son. Lakewood is appealing the verdict.
John Arbeeny says
What? Police malfeasance and individual punitive damages are going to be paid by the citizens of Lakewood out of their taxes? How about the police officers held responsible pay for their own punitive damages out of their own pockets as was intended in the court judgment. How about the estimated $4,000,000 in legal fees it will cost the City of Lakewood be paid out of the city council members and the city manager pockets who, though responsible for the actions of the police department, did not provide proper oversight to a police department that shoots first and asks questions later? Are any of these police officers still employed by the city? No wonder the city council thinks it needs the tax money from pot shops and gambling! What’s next: legalize prostitution to add to the “tax base” to cover their butts? The price we pay for incompetence!
Marty says
Mr. Arbeeny, well said. This is a farce. So, in lieu of devoting our taxes to uses (like street repairs) that benefit the residents as a whole, they’re reserved for this. Had the council made this decision prior to elections, three of them likely would have lost.
David Anderson says
Joan Mell, Attorney, Fircrest, Washington, asked Council to do what is just and urged that Police Chief Zaro step down and that Council thoroughly review U.S. District Court Judge Rothstein’s order. – public comment 1/16/18, City Council meeting, p.005.
www.cityoflakewood.us/documents/city_council/city_council_agenda_packets/2018_02_05_Council_Agenda.pdf
Marty says
Mr. Anderson, Chief Zaro should step down without having to be asked, and for no other reason than if he is in fact a true professional and a man of conscience, it would be the proper thing to do. Moreover, his actions for which he was found guilty and the penalty dealt by the court have now placed a large burden on the taxpayers. I know, I’m dreaming.
Betsy Tainer says
I’m assuming that Lakewood has a contract with Fife to provide police/swat assistance. Otherwise, I don’t understand why Lakewood swat was even in Fife. A contract would certainly hold Fife harmless, otherwise, what is Fife’s responsibility here for not handling their own police activity? I’ve read the Lakewood budget reports in the past. They brag about providing services to other cities and generating revenue for those services. Seems to me it’s time for Lakewood to rethink what services they want to provide under contract or EVER to other cities in the region. Doesn’t Pierce County have a swat team? Where were they when this was going down? I think Lakewood’s just gotten too big for their britches, and now might be a good time to rethink how much they want to expose themselves to liability via their services offered outside of Lakewood.