I am a citizen of this community and I am very angry at the government of The City of Vancouver; the mayor, city manager, and city attorney. These three guys have lied blatantly to their constituents. Their level of arrogance and dictatorship is beyond belief! Our voices in the City Council Chambers the last few weeks, have not been respected by the majority of the council members. In particular the 10-06-08 City Council Meeting.
As soon as Pat McDonnell expressed his desire to purchase The Columbian building with city's money, his cronies Royce Pollard and Eric Holmes immediately jumped on the bandwagon to cheer up the idea. What does that tell you? Who actually runs the city here?
Based on my experience helping ethnic minority citizens with filing complaints against the Vancouver Police Department within the past years I can tell you that the internal affairs investigation process at the VPD is a joke, a sham and a system of abuse. Most often the complainants were ridiculed and labeled as 'having mental health problems' by the investigating officers. I have been given my own special label, "The-Fucking-Piece-Of-Work," by commander Nannette Kistler of the VPD.
Silent no more, folks! It is time for us to form a picket line in front of the city hall to educate the whole world about the injustice in "America's Vancouver."
On another note, I want to thank a person who has been leaving comments on posts on OregonLive.com and other blogs in regards to the Navin Sharma case, "RghtThing2Do". I want to thank her/him for their eloquent, sincere, and urgent messages to us all about the reasons why we all need to do the right things, especially now.
Silent no more, folks! It is time for us to form a picket line in front of the city hall to educate the whole world about the injustice in "America's Vancouver."
On another note, I want to thank a person who has been leaving comments on posts on OregonLive.com and other blogs in regards to the Navin Sharma case, "RghtThing2Do". I want to thank her/him for their eloquent, sincere, and urgent messages to us all about the reasons why we all need to do the right things, especially now.
Quan Tran
Brush PrairieIf you wish to have your open letters or commentary published or become a blogger here at Vancouver Washington Corruption Log please email me: goldiedavich@gmail.com -- Goldie
3 comments:
Breaking News!
Vancouver asks Justice Department to investigate city in Sharma firing
Posted by Andre Meunier October 10, 2008 17:13PM
Vancouver officials today requested the U.S. Department of Justice investigate potential civil or criminal violations in the firing of a police officer who later sued the city and settled the lawsuit last month for $1.65 million.
"This is an issue of significant concern to our community," Mayor Royce E. Pollard said in a certified letter to the department's Seattle office.
Since the settlement with Navin K. Sharma was announced Sept. 9, residents speaking at Vancouver City Council meetings have alleged wrongdoing in the Police Department, city manager's office and city attorney's office. Several have called for a federal investigation.
Pollard said today the city is asking for the review "to clear the air."
"We're not afraid to do this. We don't think we have anything to hide," he said. "If there are legal issues, then it's in the right system."
Sharma, a native of India and a U.S. citizen, was fired in September 2006 for making errors on dozens of police reports. The city said he violated department policies about false statements, completion of reports and competence, and it admitted no wrongdoing in the settlement.
Sharma's attorneys maintained the city had a "vendetta" toward him that began with race discrimination allegations he lodged against the city in an earlier federal lawsuit. In a 2001 settlement, the city admitted no wrongdoing but paid Sharma $287,000.
Specifically, Pollard's letter requests the Justice Department "review allegations regarding discriminatory actions that were directed at Mr. Sharma due to his ethnicity that allegedly contributed toward his termination," as well as allegations of "transgressions made during the internal investigations and disciplinary process."
Members of the community, the letter said, have charged that city employees engaged in "misconduct during the investigation and termination of Mr. Sharma" and did not tell the truth in pretrial statements.
In a phone interview today, Sharma's attorneys -- Gregory D. Ferguson of Vancouver and Scott C. G. Blankenship of Seattle -- said the city's request does not go far enough.
It does not ask for a review regarding officers who supported Sharma and are "continuing to be victimized by the Police Department ... and suffer retaliation," Blankenship said.
Ferguson said the review must be transparent.
Pollard pledged federal investigators will have access to any document or person they seek.
Emily Langlie, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Seattle, said requests for investigations into possible civil rights violations are handled by the department's special litigation section in Washington, D.C.
Kelly Harris, assistant U.S. attorney in Seattle to whom the city's letter is addressed, will consult with the unit about a preliminary inquiry before it determines whether to launch a full-blown investigation, Langlie said.
Meanwhile, a City Council workshop is scheduled Monday to discuss a request for proposals that will go to firms or organizations interested in doing a similar investigation for the city.
-- Holley Gilbert; holleygilbert@news.oregonian.com
Categories: Breaking News, Clark County
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Thank you very much! I got a phone call AND email and this comment all about the same time! :-)
Isn't this great! Please feel free to leave a comment in regards to this news on blog I posted with the story. Folow the link below:
http://corruptvancouver.blogspot.com/2008/10/vancouver-asks-justice-department-to.html
Mr. Tran,
Thank you for your kind words.
The City thought by paying off Officer Sharma it would have been 'The Grand Finale', but in all actuallity, it was the "Opening Ceremonies" to a long fight and public show that has been needed for a long time.
Vancouver Police has awesome Officers, Corporals, Sergeants, and civilians (we never give the VPD civilians the credit they too deserve).
There are also a few good junior Administrators in the upper management too.
Many people who promote up the ranks into the "Glass Palace" at VPD Admin are hindered in 'doing the right thing', because they are too busy worring about doing the wrong thing. Worried that their bosses would come down hard on them for making mistakes, things that we humans do everyday.
This commonly happens when an organization, that lacks the proper direction or leadership, have a flawed promotion process.
Ideally, in a leadership rich environment, a person would, or could promote, based on knowledge and experience of leadership principles and police work, ability and skills in leadership and police work, coupled with their motivation and desire to succeed.
This philosophy AND practice needs to be embraced from the top down. The Police Chief sets the standard, either by maintaining a well led organization, or raising the bar to get the organization led to where they need to be.
The problem an agency has with Police Chiefs leaving within 2-4 yrs, is that no continuity in the upper management is maintained.
Along with the department lacking Chief's longevity, is the poor promotional process. People are allowed to advance strickly on desire, with little emphasis on leadership skills, or job set skills.
After years of poor advancement practices, good line officers are often discouraged to promote, with the attitude of "I don't want to be like them (admin)."
Greed and nepotism also plays heavily in a poorly led organization. Granting waivers for promotional tests to one person, and then not to others, and other clear "good ole boy/girl" tactics, are also displays of a poorly led agency
When the Chiefs rotate out every 2-4 yrs, and those officers with more years on, back stabbed their way to the top, cheat on Chief's Interviews, sleep with the bosses, and who knows what other reasons advancements are granted for, there becomes a breeding ground for corruption and abuse of power.
Assistant Chief's come in and blow smoke up everyone's @$$ with the promiss to do good. They gain the trust of the junior admin and before you know it, the 'puppet master' persuades others to do their dirty work.
People in lower ranks literally get f**ked with and harassed. The good management that promoted properly and have the ability to 'do the right thing', but can't because their hands are tied also suffer. Their frustration can easily be seen, especially when they get falsely labeled, or are painted by the broad brush of 'poor leadership'. ... when in fact they are good people too.
Fear does not lead a department. Fear of 'doing the right thing' has paralyzed many organizations, subsequently ruining them.
It is sad when trust, faith, and hope gets tossed out the window, and replaced by fear.. fear of 'doing the right thing'.
Not only did VPD Admin fail this community with years of poor leadership, but the City Attorney's Office, the City Manager, as well as the Mayor, allowed and enabled a few VPD Administrators to ruin the morale or the department, and the careers of their own... that is so sick and so wrong.
Officer Sharma did not WIN is settlement. He EARNED it!!!!
He fought his battle, not only for himself, but for the entire Vancouver Police Department.
Sharma could have 'taken the money and run', but he didn't. He fought for what he believed in. He fought for what's right. He did, 'the right thing to do'.
With respect to Officer Sharma's past, present and future efforts, we all must continue to fight for what's right, and .... do the right thing.
So Mr. Tran, I accept your thanks, with great respect, but it is I that needs to THANK you, and others, for listening, for being open minded and flexible in your opinions, and for fighting for what's right and for ... 'doing the right thing.'
My hat's off to you...
Cleaning up America's Vancouver, one 'bad' apple at a time.
Be Safe, Educate Yourself, Keep the Faith.
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