Before work, Sergeant Rich O’Neill dons a blue Seattle Police Department (SPD) uniform, pins on a badge, and begins his commute—just like 1,250 other Seattle police officers and sergeants. But O’Neill never actually patrols Seattle streets. In fact, he hasn’t worked a shift as a cop since 2006, but Seattle residents still pay him $109,703 a year.
O’Neill, 52, is the president of the Seattle Police Officers’ Guild (SPOG), the union representing all the city’s beat cops. He retains the title of “sergeant” per the terms of the city contract that he negotiates on behalf of Seattle officers. His other primary function is speaking on behalf of these officers, who are prohibited by the SPD from commenting to the press. But as the US Department of Justice (DOJ) begins an investigation into excessive use of force and discriminatory policing exhibited by Seattle police officers, many are calling O’Neill SPD’s biggest public relations problem.
“Rich O’Neill does a great deal of damage to the community’s perception of officers,” says Nicole Gaines, president of the Loren Miller Bar Association, a civil rights group that’s working with the DOJ on its investigation. Gaines argues that O’Neill doesn’t just speak for officers—his rhetoric pits them against the public they’re sworn to protect.
Others put it more bluntly:
“The city pays Rich O’Neill to be a total dick,” says a city hall staffer familiar with current police contract negotiations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “That’s his job—being a total dick. That’s what the public sees.”
O’Neill didn’t return several calls for comment (his secretary said he would probably never call back). But his words in the Guardian, SPOG’s monthly newspaper, and his actions speak for themselves.
“It is extremely frustrating when individuals with zero police training feel qualified to voice their opinions on police actions,” O’Neill lamented in the Guardian about recent police scrutiny. What was so “frustrating”? The media “frenzy” and public outcry after several controversial incidents that led to the federal investigation of the SPD: Officer Ian Birk fatally shooting John T. Williams (the shooting was found unjustified), Detective Shandy Cobane threatening to “beat the fucking Mexican piss” out of an innocent suspect (an internal investigation reportedly has recommended Cobane be fired), an undercover officer kicking a juvenile who had his hands up (the Washington State Patrol is currently investigating the officer), and others.
The Guardian also regularly publishes inflammatory articles—joking about shooting African Americans and showing contempt for civilian oversight, for example—all written by Seattle officers within O’Neill’s fold. For example, last fall, Officer Steve Pomper wrote that city officials conducting racial and social justice training are “the enemy” and “the city is inflicting its socialist policies” on officers. Pomper is now the subject of an SPD investigation (the exact nature of the investigation is still undisclosed).
Meanwhile, O’Neill has stood behind the most controversial cops. He calls Birk “a good young man.” In defending Pomper, he writes, “Many in Seattle can be very intolerant of anyone who is not a left-leaning Democrat.”
But while O’Neill stands by his rhetoric as a matter of the union’s free speech, the department is trying to do damage control. “It doesn’t do the union any good or the department any good,” Police Chief John Diaz said at a community meeting in January. “You can’t hide and just say, ‘Well, this is my union paper.’ It’s there for anyone to take a look at. It reflects badly. It degrades trust in our police department.”
“Without trust, police officers can’t do their jobs,” says US Attorney Jenny Durkan, the top prosecutor in Washington, whose office is leading the investigation into the SPD with the DOJ. While investigating use-of-force complaints, Durkan says her team will examine issues of trust and make recommendations to the department. “Officers rely on citizens to give them good information, to let them patrol their streets,” she continues. “Trust goes to the heart of safety. They have to trust that they’re welcome—that they can get out of their cars and be safe. It’s the linchpin to good policing.”
Seattle police officers are the highest paid law enforcement officers in the state. The wages start at $64,000, and after a decade of service, most officers make well over $100,000 a year, including overtime. But instead of building community trust, their most public face, O’Neill, is overtly political and confrontational.
For example, O’Neill has used his paid position to campaign against candidates he dislikes. In 2009, he and SPOG members picketed city attorney candidate Pete Holmes, who used to serve on a police oversight panel. O’Neill and others blocked his campaign signs and accused him of “divisiveness” and “grandstanding.” And last year, O’Neill clashed with Holmes again (who won the election for city attorney despite SPOG’s campaigning), this time when Holmes suggested that cash-poor Seattle use city attorneys to defend misconduct lawsuits against Seattle officers instead of the highly priced private firm Stafford Frey Cooper. O’Neill’s response? “We will file legal action against the city,” he said.
SPD won’t directly comment on O’Neill’s behavior. But city officials are aware that he is a public relations liability. “In city hall, there’s general agreement that Rich’s comments are not helpful to his own cause,” said a city council member who asked to remain anonymous.
The DOJ investigation into SPD’s police misconduct and public trust issues has no timeline, Durkan says. And thus far, O’Neill appears to be playing nice. “[SPOG’s] statements to us have always been, ‘We’ll be as cooperative as we can be,'” says Durkan.
But whether or not the DOJ finds O’Neill and the union to be part of the problem, it’s unlikely that the city can be rid of him anytime soon. In January, union officers reelected O’Neill to his third three-year term with over 78 percent of the vote. 
“joking about shooting African Americans”
Hadn’t heard that one. Link?
They reelected this fuckwad with 78% of the vote?
What percentage of SPD actually live in the city? I wonder if it’s 22%.
Lol @ how he believes that no one is allowed to criticize the police unless they have had police training. Just like no one should be allowed to criticze politicians if they aren’t politicians themselves, am I right?
I wish I had confidence that the DOJ investigation wasn’t a toothless dog n’ pony show to appease an uneasy populace, but I just don’t see where they’re going to be able to make any kind of difference. I actually believe Diaz would be glad to be rid of O’Neill, but then we’d probably just end up with his inbred cousin, Pomper, instead. What a friggin’ joke the SPD is…don’t they have some brown-skinned jaywalkers to go taze?
This will no doubt be called a hit piece, but when no one but the subject of the story is even allowed to discuss such things with the press, it’s hard to remain objective, I suppose it’s hard to find supporters.
@4 the DOJ can legally bind the SPD into various outcomes. If this goes south, O’neill and the SPOG could be screwed in a variety of ways.
@5 – And when the subject of the story is unwilling to discuss it with the press, he kinda has a hit piece or two coming.
Rich O’Neill is a stand up man… Standing up for his rank and file while they are vilified by Seattle whack jobs. Cops have rights and due process just like you Seattle freaks… It is the 5% of “Seattle” that lashes out against the police… the same 5% that McShwinn identifies with… McShwinn is a tool! And his 5% are his tool shed!!!! Rich O’Neill’s job is to support the rank and file’s rights and contract…. He does no more than that… he is a stand up man… This I know…. very very well…… The pic the freak Ciena put on this article can be directed back to you who hate the people who keep you safe….F you!!!!
Diaz actaully asked O’Neill if he was gonna run for a third term….. Wanted him to do so….. to the 5%’ers….. Kiss the collective BLUE asses of Seattle….. but we will protect you anyway….
78% of union officers voted to reelect that piece of shit??! Well there goes the idea that it’s just this one asshole making the rest of those fine upstanding police officers look bad, doesn’t it?
You people who are excited about the DOJ investigation have your heads in the sand. Have you actually looked at the results in the cities that have DOJ consent decrees? No increase in trust, no weeding out of “problem officers,” just a huge increase in cost (millions out of our taxpayer pockets). The only effective government starts locally…never expect paper pushers from DC to fix anything!
BAD research work, The Stranger. The officers who belong to the guild pay monthly dues, and reimburse the city for Sgt. O’Neill’s salary. So he is NOT paid by tax payers dollars (especially since many officers choose to live OUTSIDE the city). Retraction from The Stranger? I highly doubt it.
I’m reading the Agreement between Seattle and the SPOG at http://www.seattle.gov/personnel/resourc…
Section 1.4 states:
All compensation (including salary and the cost of all Citypaid benefits) shall be paid by the City.
Don’t see any clauses about reimbursing the city for his role.
I’m also concerned by the extortion/coercion clause (2.1) requiring all police officers to either join the guild, submit the equivalent of monthly dues toward the Police Charity Fund or to the Guild itself, without any rights of representation. The city has no responsibility for this section apart from mandatory extraction of this monthly fee from officer’s paychecks.
I think O’Neill is actually a savvy politician. He has a very specific constituency–the guild membership–and he keeps them happy by always backing them up and advocating for them. I don’t like the stuff that comes out of his mouth, but I’m not surprised that he is so well-supported. The patrol officers want someone who has their bck.
Cienna, what about proud policewoman’s point?
It is clear cultural change is needed at SPD. That will not happen until O’Neill is outta there. He is too much of a lightning rod and is completely out of touch with the public for which SPD serves.
Hmm, I wouldn’t really consider the stranger or the author of this terribly written article the press… after all they are so horrible that they are forced to give out their “newspaper” for free.
Of course it is bad research… it is the stranger after all. They are a free publication… free because nobody would pay a dime to read the crap that they produce.
ehhhh this is a pretty awful article. was this pieced together from google searches and 2 unanswered phone calls?
@ 18 & 19) Interesting comments. They’re almost exactly what Rich O’Neill wrote about The Stranger in February. “I do wonder though why, if it such an important piece of literature, it is given away for free,” O’Neill wrote. But if any of the research is wrong, we’re happy to run a correction.
“Proud Policewoman”@13/14: Right, the Guild pays O’Neill. Where does the Guild budget from from? Police salaries. Who pays police salaries? Taxpayers. Ergo, who pays O’Neill’s salary? Taxpayers.
@8 fuck you y chinga tu madre tambien. “This I know”. now crawl back to the tavern you call home in kent. keep me safe? FUCK YOU, safely. always wear a condom.
Wait… I thought that we love love love Unions… ?!?! I’m confused.
@22 – that’s ridiculous. Once a government worker is paid a salary for doing their job, the money is that worker’s, not the taxpayers’.
That said, if O’Neill is still on the SPD payroll, regardless of the actual source of the dollars for his salary, I think the public has a say in his behavior.
Funny, the setup that SPOG has with the City of Seattle is most likely illegal, as it is an unconstitutional gift of public funds and a violation of Chapter 41.56 RCW, the collective bargaining law that the City of Seattle police officer’s operate under.
Under Public Employment Relations Commission law, the only time that a union offical can be released from duty to operate the union is if the labor organization (in this case SPOG) pays the employer for the salary of the employee.
City of Burlington, Decision 5840
http://www.perc.wa.gov/Databases/ULP/584…
Examining this case and the other cases cited therein as it relates to facts presented in the article, if O’Neil is campaigning on city time, then the contract provision that allows O’Neil to be “released from duty” is illegal under Chapter 41.56 RCW because campaigning on company time is not a matter that is directly related to the administration of the contract.
Of course, the City is just as guilty for this setup because they allowed the contract provision to exist in the first place, and did not question its legality during contract negotiations.
@13
“It is extremely frustrating when individuals with zero journalism training feel qualified to voice their opinions on journalistic actions,”
Proud policewoman lamented in the Stanger about recent media scrutiny.
Kenny Stuart President of Local 27, Seattle Fire Union has his full salary paid by the City as well!!! Negotiations baby!
The comments that appear to be from police or police supporters which essentially say “screw you, Seattleites” don’t exactly engender deep trust that these are the people we should have “protecting” us.
@25
It seems you missed the part about officer’s monitary contributions to the SPOG being compulsory.
Officers get paid by taxpayers via the city. A percentage of their wages goes straight to the SPOG. That’s kinda like money laundering, isn’t it?
It’s perfectly clear that the SPOG is funded by tax payers.
On another note, it’s really, really stupid to assume it’s impossible that a Seattle police officer could be guilty of use of excessive force, racial profiling, brutality, or murder. Of course it could happen. It HAS happened. Why defend these criminals? ‘Cause they’re cops? Idiot.
PS – the “Idiot” wasn’t directed at you, shabadoo.
It’s directed at the obstinate hicks who insist on clinging to their absurd convictions.
Speaking of convictions …
@34: If you are referring to the deletion of the comment @28, you’re full of shit. It wasn’t censored because it contained facts that “contradict their naive egalitarian fantasies,” it was censored because a commenter – me, and possibly others – reported that it contained a gratuitous racist slur.
Now fuck off back to Stormfront, you ignorant racist douchebag.
I’ll ask again: When did the Guardian publish a piece “joking about shooting African-Americans?” I’ve been following this thing pretty closely and don’t recall that.
@ 39 Maybe aware of facts amenable to your worldview. Maybe not so aware of the benefits conferred on you by white privilege.
Also, if you’re going to comment, maybe have the decency — and balls — to register with the site.
shabadoo@25: As noted repeatedly, here and elsewhere, contributions to the Guild are mandatory. Taxpayers pay this guy’s salary, full stop.
Since when did a newspaper have to cost money to be valid? I’m pretty sure the local news you hear and watch on TV and radio is free. You can get any and all literature at the library for free. You can read just about any newspaper in the world on the internet for free. But just because the Stranger doesn’t charge .25 cents for a printed copy, it’s not real “press”? How much does a copy of the Guardian cost?
Also, I think it would be good to clarify whether union members or the city pays O’Neill’s salary. I don’t see anything wrong with members’ dues going to pay their union leader’s salary (by which I mean this seems the only ethical way to do things). I do see a big problem if taxpayers are paying it.
@13, you’re wrong–the city pays O’Neill’s salary. Please see the union’s contract with the city, section 1.4, which specifically addresses the function of the Guild president. It states, “All compensation (including salary and the cost of all City- paid benefits) shall be paid by the City.”
Wow! The SPD has sure done an about-face in its attitude toward the citizenry since the mid/late ’80’s!
During those years, the SPD was a model of working with the public, rather than antagonizing them, and there were none of these ridiculous ‘force first, questions/restraint later’ incidents.
I moved to Portland in ’88 and was shocked at the difference in PD’s. Portland cops always blew away the person first, then found out they had a fake gun (or none) later.
It’s great to see that SPD has now become a vicious, right-wing organization like other major cities- Atlanta & Dallas come to mind with their bogus ‘raids’. We haven’t seen that here *yet*, just innocent street persons gunned down without cause. Give it time.
@41 All union dues (in a closed shop) are mandatory, by definition. Since every worker benefits from the collective bargaining process, they are obligated to pay something for the service. It’s also what gives the union leverage at the bargaining table (claiming to represent the entire workforce).
If union dues are going to pay this guy’s salary, that’s a very different story than taxpayer money. You wouldn’t say that when a teacher buys groceries, it’s really the taxpayers doing the purchasing, would you?
@45 There are no such thing as facts amenable to your worldview? Clearly some facts would be amenable to the worldview you are putting forward and some facts would contradict it, or undermine it, or complicate it in some way. Right?
But I don’t see any place in this article where that fact would be relevant. And you still haven’t answered the more difficult questions I’ve thrown at you. Which makes me think you’re not so interested in facts, per se, as much as you are in scoring some kind of political point against progressives. Which is difficult, frankly, to respect.
When new officers are hired they have the option of either joining the Guild or not joining the Guild.
@47, 50 has is correct. You cannot have a “closed shop” in the state of Washington. RCW 41.56.122 states “A collective bargaining agreement may: (1) Contain union security provisions: PROVIDED, That nothing in this section shall authorize a closed shop provision[.]” A closed shop is where all unit member HAVE to be a union member, and pay full union dues. An “agency shop”, which is allowable in Washington, provides that no employee shall be required to be a union member or pay full union dues. Public sector unions in washington cannot discriminate against employees who do not want to be full union members.
Rather, the employee is required to pay only the amount that is nencessary for the representation costs specific to that bargaining unit. While this sum may not be that different from what a full dues paying union member pays (usually around 90%-95%), the distinction for legal purposes is important. Additionally, the union is REQUIRED by law to tell the employees how much the agency fee is.
@49 because the facts prove that “racial profiling” is valid and necessary.
“which is difficult, frankly, to respect”
That’s funny because I find it completely impossible to respect anyone who ignores or censors facts of any kind, which makes it impossible for ms to respect so-called progressives.
@ 36: As I reported in January, the Guardian joked about shooting at members of African American advocacy and service organization the Urban League:
@ 53 except that is not an actual quote. What you “quoted” in no way proves that they “joked about shooting African Americans”. That is your interpretation of some text that you failed to include for some strange reason. Try again!
@53, Dom…your link points back to this article not your report in Jan.
#13’s a meter maid.
Akbar @55) Thanks, here you go.
@15:
Section 2.1 of the SPOG Agreement is a standard “Union Security Clause”, that can be found in most, albeit not all, union contracts outside of so-called “right to work” states.
Under the terms of the National Labor Relations Act (NRLA), the union (or in this case guild) representing employees in the Bargaining Unit can contractually require those employees to become members of the union/guild at the end of 30 days employment when their “Taft-Hartley window” closes, UNLESS (as described in sections 2.1.B, C & D) they express a specific religious (and/or political) objection to such membership. If they make such an objection, they would then be classified as a “dues-paying non-member” of the Bargaining Unit, and would be required to either pay dues and fees equivalent to the “Financial-Core” costs the union incurs for the purpose of collectively bargaining agreements on their behalf with management, and excluding any costs pertaining to objectionable activities in which the union may engage, or to pay an equivalent amount to a specified non-religious charitable organization. IME, such religious objections are extremely rare, and I would imagine only a handful, if that, of SPD officers would either elect to make such a declaration, or request to make a payment to a secular non-profit organization.
In any case, so-called “Fi-Core” employees are NOT members of the union according to the provisions of the NRLA, and thus do not derive certain benefits associated specifically with union membership, such as the right to vote for officers of the union, or to hold office themselves, but they do retain all other rights specified in the contract, including the right to have the union represent them in grievance hearings, for example.
Sally@47: yes, in your example, the taxpayers are paying for the teacher’s groceries. That’s what a salary is: the money that buys your food and shelter. If you pay my salary, you are paying for my groceries, which is the reason I work for you, not your innate awesomeness.
For the record: I’m not opposed to teachers buying groceries or to police officers having strong union representation. I think those are both good uses of taxpayer money. But I do think that those selfsame taxpayers have a right to be aggrieved when the union rep they pay for espouses policies and positions that are openly hostile to the interests of his employers, ie the people who live in Seattle.
@55:
Try this link. (And you know, finding this stuff is really NOT that difficult.)
I actually sort of agree that the reference is bad, @53. You’ve done a paraphrase and not provided a link to the closed publication from which you are quoting. This is compounded by this paraphrase of the paraphrase in the present article.
Unless I am missing the link to Leyba’s letter in the sidebar?
@51 I am a public employee in WA and “Union membership is required within thirty (30) days of employment.”
So, does this article imply that Rich O’neill does private union business using City of Seattle resources? Such as any .gov email addresses, his hours worked as a city employee, or with official city vehicles?
Ok, stand corrected, sorry. I found the letter. It’s sort of confusing to my half-attentive self.
Also I am pretty sure Mr. Leyba doesn’t understand double jeopardy with respect to grand juries doesn’t exist. You’d think law enforcement officers could be better trained, huh?
@54 “except that is not an actual quote. What you “quoted” in no way proves that they “joked about shooting African Americans”. That is your interpretation of some text that you failed to include for some strange reason. Try again!”
here is the full QUOTE:
“To some extent, I want to propose an
unusual thought to you. Perhaps there
are ways in which civilian oversight
does benefit us. Wait! Please don’t
break leather on those guns, ladies and
gentlemen! I’m not an ACLU hipster
or Urban League lackey in disguise, I
assure you. I am just attempting to
give you something to ponder over for
a second.”
Is your reading comprehension that poor? Chris Leyba is joking about confusing him with an “ACLU hipster or Urban League lackey in disguise” and “break[ing] leather on those guns” because of such confusion.
Maybe “breaking leather” and “those guns” is a metaphor for something else? Maybe “ACLU hipster or Urban League lackey” is code for white people? If so, my bad.
http://www.thestranger.com/extras/images…
@8/9 and all others who are pissy that us liberals “vilify” police officers: We don’t hate police officers in general. We hate crooked cops, racist/discriminatory cops, unnecessarily violent cops, and those who defend them. There has been a rash of incidents featuring these awful sub-species, and it doesn’t foster goodwill between the SPD and the people of Seattle.
The problem with O’Neill is that, whether explicitly or implicitly, he’s defending these douchebag cops, rather than acknowledging that the force has a few bad eggs and reassuring us that the rest are still trustworthy, stand-up folks. He’s supporting Guild members, yes, but at the expense of public trust, and in that he’s doing the entire SPD a disservice. This is an example of when “one for all and all for one” is not the best policy.
“the union rep they pay for espouses policies and positions that are openly hostile to the interests of his employers, ie the people who live in Seattle.”
I was born and raised in the City of Seattle, attended Seattle public schools throughout my life. So, I figure I have a little insight into the “culture” and the “interests” of O’Neil’s employers.
The culture of this City is one of ideologically hen pecked men and brackish, chilly women who both don’t want to know, or acknowledge the truth about this City (humanity). We are all animals with base desires and needs, and we are willing to lie, cheat and hurt our fellow citizens in order to fulfill those desires. Civilization isn’t kept by mayoral decree or a new SMC passed by the City Council. Black ink on white paper won’t keep the red from spilling from your nose.
What keeps all of us in line is violence, and the threat of it. The police are our paid bullies. We need them, because we as a citizenry have become frail and fearful.
Oh, and the interest of this city is to ignore all that I said above, because, come on! We’re Seattle!
@67 Thanks for making the case to arm the Urban League and the ACLU. I can see it now: Urban League Militia or the Really New Black Panthers.
Also, go read some Margaret Mead on the necessity of war and violence in humanity.
Yeah…war is an invention…hahahahahahahaha…mother nature doesn’t do war.
@47:
Why not? In principle that’s Capitalism in a nutshell: someone exchanges something of value (e.g. currency) they received in exchange for their own labor or their capital stock, for a good or service they are either unable or unwilling to provide out of their own labor. That currency is likewise distributed to those who created the good or provided the service, and which they also exchange what they receive for other goods and services. Lather, rinse, repeat.
In other words, in a Capitalist System we are ALL continuously “paying each others’ salaries”, either directly, by choosing to purchase specific goods and services ourselves, or indirectly, by providing the means for others to purchase someone else’s goods or services NOT of our choosing.
So, it’s not inaccurate to say “I am purchasing that teacher’s groceries”, because I am contributing tax revenue that pays the teacher in exchange for their labor, that in turn provides them with the currency to purchase those groceries in the first place. Conversely, it would not be inaccurate for the teacher to say, “I pay COMTE’s salary, because I purchase a product, the manufacturer of which hired an ad agency to advertise their product, which in turn hired an actor to perform in the ad, who pays dues to the union that pays his wages.”
It’s all interconnected; is HAS to be, otherwise the system wouldn’t work. The only question, really, is: How MUCH of any one person’s salary do you pay, and how much influence does that give you as an individual with regards to how that person does their job – all of which is a subject for a future discussion on the subject.
@71 it’s a better theory than your “base desires” bullshit from the 19th century.
re that letter your ran in a followup item, from a policewoman, she says in fact the city pays his salary – but REIMBURSES the city. It appears you are half right, and failed to make that distinction.
Then, @74, it should be a simple matter for the union and the city to produce parallel documents showing that the union has issued regular payments to the city equalling his salary/benefits, and the city has received and deposited same.
@60,
Eat a bag of dicks COMTE. I fucking know how to look up shit. I was merely pointing out that Dom made a small mistake in his link. I wouldn’t expect the douchbags he was addressing would know how to look it up and thought he might want to correct it (which as you can see he did and thanked me)
Just as, @76, I wouldn’t expect the douche-crouton who pointed out the mistake to be able to post a proper link in their response either, so there you go.
The brown rice and collard greens I had for lunch were quite filling, but thanks for showing concern. Besides, even though there’s a Dick’s just up the street, greasy burgers and French fries are off my diet for the time-being.
It will be a fight to take this sucker down (Rich O’Neil). But squash him we will, nice and legal like to be exact.
Call me crazy, but I believe this man to be a clear and present danger to a civilized society. A growing malignant tumor that must be stopped!
We are living in perilous times that may last a long time.
Do you want your 20 something child gunned down by some extremist cop? I think not!
Cienna, thanks for stepping up and writing this, and writing it well.
So, if this guy is paid by the city, he can be fired by the city, no?
Sure, he’ll still be union president, but no longer employed by Seattle.
I have my own criticisms of SPD, but I’m sorry – this headline is a lie. As The Stranger is a non-union shop, you clearly don’t know how unions work.
O’Neill may be a “dick” (I won’t address that here), but the taxpayers don’t pay his salary – the members of the Police Officer’s Guild do. POG members pay monthly dues – dues which are used to pay the expenses of the union, including salaries of the Guild Executive members.
O’Brien’s status is likely on leave from the POG, but retaining his title (but not his salary) paid by the City of Seattle.
In short – taxpayers aren’t paying this “dick’s” salary – police officers are, out of their own paychecks.
Get your facts straight. I’ll be looking for a future correction.
Who pays your salary? This article sucks.
@75 Neither the City nor the Union needs to produce any such documents. They’are available to you (and the author of this article with the lying headline):
http://www.guidestar.org
http://www.dol.gov/olms/regs/compliance/…
Can’t wait to see The Stranger publish that correction to this HUGE LIE.
Looks like Cienna Madrid is a “dick” as well. Or maybe just a shitty journalist.
@22,
Where do YOU work? Unless wherever (if) you are employed is outside the Country, then your salary too is “paid by the taxpayers”.
Ok hold on folks. Regardless of who pays O’Neill’s salary, is 109k really an excessive amount for a 30 year vet?!?!
For those who says he should acknowledge there are a few bad apples, consider this: he does not work for you. his job is to represent the cops. So even if there is an instance where a cop messes up, its his job to defend them whether he believes they were right or wrong. That’s his job. Just like a public defense attorney has to defend criminals whether or not they are innocent or guilty. He’s just a man doing his job.
And for all you who hate the police (most of you). Let’s talk about the wood carver incident. Let’s say the officer saw this man with a knife on the street and chose not to confront him…and then lets say that man walked 2 more blocks and stabbed someone to death. You all would want his head for not confronting the man.
How bout you all recognize that being a cop is not easy, and you have to make split second decisions and you dont have time to gather all information and sit at your computer like us and dissect the situation. It’s a tough job. These guys are all doing their best. And all of you should shut the f*** up because you really sound ignorant.
All you loud fucking mouth mother fuckers who wnat to bash O’Neill…… why don’t you bash the fucking defense attorneys who defend criminals.. criminals such as child rapists… teachers who fuck their students, filthy theives, piece of shit gang bangers? Why not bash them? All they are doing is defending their clients? That is all O’Neill is doing… more to the point he his ensuring due process rights of his members and that the contract that the city negotiated, and which is binding IS FOLLOWED…… He was overwhelmingly re-elected, along with some other heavy hitters by the membership to fight for them!!!
Get over yourselves already!!!!
@82, 84 Prove it please. Prove all of your assertions that are contrary to the writer’s “lies.”
if you’re going to come on here and call somebody a liar, produce better links than the specific agreement between the City and the Guild referenced earlier…not the lameness you pilfered.
#88,
The proof is all online – and why aren’t you asking Madrid for proof? Here are ethe links again:
http://www.guidestar.org
http://www.dol.gov/olms/regs/compliance/…
Do your own fucking homework, you lazy-ass. You’re as bad as Madrid. It’s all public record.
This situation is extra sad because it plays directly into what the TeaBaggers, Republitards, etc. are spewing in Wisconsin.
I want to believe in labor unions and labor representation, I really do. But people like O’Neill hobble labor unions.
@89: Physician, heal thyself. “Articles presented on PSTO are not intended to tell the entire story – but rather to start a conversation. Help fill in the blanks, provide alternate perspectives, correct errors or just join in the conversation by adding and responding to comments. Your participation is welcome and necessary…”
Cienna pointed out, quite precisely, THE CONTRACT stipulation that O’Neill’s pay comes from the city. Your gesturing vaguely in the general direction of aggregated information doesn’t cut it. I can’t point to my tax return and say it’s proof that I gave disposable income to homeless people rather than spending it on booze and rentboys. If you have proof that SPOG makes or made regular, unambiguously identifiable reimbursements to the city for O’Neill’s compensation, trot it out, or pipe down.
I’m baffled as to why you would pick a fight with The Stranger, one of the best advocates in the whole region for public transit and working people, on behalf of a small group of rogue cops.
Nice try 84/89, but if you’d actually bothered to READ SPOG’s tax reports on GuidStar, you’d see that in 2009 (the latest reporting year on-file) they directly paid O’Neill only $31,177 (cit ref Pg. 7, Part VII, Column D).
So, since I’m guessing your math skills are about on a par with your research skills, let me break that down for you: assuming only a slight adjustment to the the $109,709 salary reported by Cienna (which I’m guessing were earnings from 2010) that means more than 2/3 of his annual compensation comes, as has been demonstrated at least two separate occasions in this thread, from the City of Seattle (i.e. the taxpayers) per the terms of the SPOG Agreement.
And that’s assuming the compensation reported on SPOG’s 2009 Form 990 is included in the salary figure Cienna cites, which I’m not at all certain is the case. In other words, it’s entirely possible that O’Neill’s TOTAL compensation currently stands at around $140,000 per year, roughly 3/4 of which is paid to him by the taxpayers of this City.
Breathlessly awaiting YOUR correction (and apology to Cienna) for YOUR BIG LIE…
#91,
I’m not a journalist – I’m a bus driver. My blog isn’t a profit-earning enterprise, The Stranger is.
Miller, in posting outright falsehoods in her article violates journalistic integrity, spreads misinformation, exposes her ignorance and (regrettably) detracts from the very real issues surrounding how SPD is viewed, and distracts from focusing on attitudes that most would find disturbing in public servants in law enforcement.
By all means call O’Neill a dick. By all means, call the POG on their shit. By all means, expose the ignorant, racist, teabagger (paradox) mentality of many active duty officers. But don’t do so by starting out with a lie.
@24 “Wait… I thought that we love love love Unions… ?!?! I’m confused.”
You’re confused because you’re stupid. We want the ability to have organized labor, that’s all.
@87 “All you loud fucking mouth mother fuckers who wnat to bash O’Neill…… why don’t you bash the fucking defense attorneys who defend criminals.. criminals such as child rapists… teachers who fuck their students, filthy theives, piece of shit gang bangers? Why not bash them?”
Because the article isn’t about them. And only a mouthbreather like yourself would need a lengthy article to tell him that rapists are bad.
#93,
Actually I did read the Guidestar report.
The number you cite doesn’t represent his salary.
For real info – dig up the LM-2.
Union Presidents are not paid by the City.
@91,
“I’m baffled as to why you would pick a fight with The Stranger, one of the best advocates in the whole region for public transit and working people, on behalf of a small group of rogue cops. “
I’m not “picking a fight with the Stranger”. In fact, it’s one of my favorite reads, contains some of the best writing (reporting as well as humor and satire) since the National Lampoon, and Lindy West is a stone cold hottie.
I’m not even disagreeing with the gist of Cienna’s article – which is regrettably buried behind this concept of “this douchebag is on YOUR payroll”.
See – the President of my own labor union earns way too much IMO. He’s paid over $130K a year with another $67K in bennies. Thing is – King County doesn’t pay him. I do, as well as my other union members. That’s how unions work – their officers are paid through the dues of the members, not the employers that the Officers are paid to negotiate with. Sometimes those officers as part of the labor agreement with the employing body remain on the payroll of the employer in name only – with expenses like salary and insurance premiums paid by the labor union (reimbursed to the employer). This allows union Officers to return to their former employment when they leave office (voluntarily or if they lose the election) and to continue to participate in the benefits pool (heath care) while they hold office.
So by all means, The Stranger – do your expose’s on police dickhood. But this “these shitheads are on our payroll” thing isn’t the way to go. As President of the POG, this guy is accountable ultimately to those who elected him – and who pay him, and that’s the cops themselves.
@67: “hen pecked men and brackish, chilly women
…
What keeps all of us in line is violence, and the threat of it”
You literally want Fascism, congrats.
So @96, if you DID in fact read the 2009 990, what part of “Reportable Compensation From The Organization (W-2/1099-Misc.)” in the section I cited is still unclear to you?
(And BTW, there does not appear to be an LM-2 on-file for SPOG on the U.S. Department of Labor web site; in fact, SPOG doesn’t even appear to have a listing there. Odd, no?)
Additionally, Article I, Section 4 of the SPOG/City of Seattle Agreement clearly states: “Guild Presidency – At the Guild’s option, and after reasonable notice to the City, the Police Officer or Sergeant who serves as the elected Guild President shall be assigned to the Guild office for the purpose of administering the collective bargaining agreement. The Guild President SHALL SUBMIT A TIMESHEET WITH APPROPRIATE NOTATION OF VACATION, SICK LEAVE, HOLIDAY LEAVE, OR OTHER TIME BALANCE WHICH HE/SHE HAS USED DURING THE PAY PERIOD.” (emphasis mine)
Furthermore, Section I.5.D states: “Police Guild officers WILL NOT BE PAID BY THE CITY (emphasis mine) during negotiations.”
So, please tell us again WHY the SPOG President is submitting payroll information to THE CITY, and why the CITY would require such language as above be codified in the contract if he was NOT BEING PAID BY THE CITY?
@PTSO Wow, you are a fucking trolling asshole. Congrats on making yourself a less credible source on your own pet issue now.
Who’s lazy, the person who asks for real proof of a journalists alleged lies (Guidestar doesn’t prove what you purport) or the person who posts a couple of links (AGAIN) and then ignores the specific agreement between the city and SPOG [not to mention the actual filing]?
As I reported on Slog: I talked to SPD Sergeant Sean Whitcomb, asking who pays O’Neill and whether the city is reimbursed by the union.
“Cienna was spot on,” says SPD’s Whitcomb. “The city pays Rich O’Neill’s salary as per the SPOG contract. None of it gets reimbursed.”
Yo, PSTO,
Why can’t I look at any information on the links you provided? One is requiring me to register and the other is a dead link.
Got anything else?
PSTO’s links are full of crap. He or she thinks that some generic page of labor-management boilerplate trumps the union contract the cops have with the city. That contract says O’Neill gets paid by the city.
Cienna is right, PSTO is wrong. End of argument.
ha, ha, fucking HA, PTSO!
But he’s in a UNION.
Shouldn’t that be more than enough for the Stranger to support what he’s doing.
When has the Stranger ever criticized a Union?
I’m going to get the SEIU on this. They pay you good money for unions to get a pass from you guys.
Grats on your epic trolling PSTO
It takes skills to get on the front page of Slog via trolling, I’ve only pulled it off once myself, and I had to troll the hell out of editor@thestranger.com (and all the staff members that took the bait) to do it.
I don’t get why conservatives think that those of us who like government and regulations and unions are good are willing to put up with people who SCREW this system.
Listen, I like the government, the military, police, unions, taxes, regulations, yada yada, but NOT individuals are FUCKING things up!
I like when they work well and I dislike when they don’t.
Who, in their right mind, would think its an entirely all-in concept? It is easily possible to like parts of something.
If anything, I (and possibly we) understand that these things aren’t fool-proof and therefore need to be watched and brought into line occasionally!
Geesh.
Comte, @ 77, I just wanted to give you some big internet props for ‘douche-crouton’.
That one literally made me L.O.L.
🙂
@97: Sorry about the low-brain power affliction. Good luck with the bus driving. Just stop wasting everyone’s time, mmmkay?
Let’s see if PTSO has the balls to say he’s wrong now that the SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT has stated he’s wrong.
So, where’s your apology PSTO?
C’mon douche-crouton, we’re waiting.
Not man enough to admit your craven stupidity, eh?
Typical, but not surprising.
Hey POST (Piece Of Shit Troll) — sorry! I meant PSTO… — So, when can we have our apology??
I gotta say that I don’t mind checking back on this article over and over to see if there are new comments because I love, love, love that illustration so much. Thank you Garrett Morlan, whoever you are.
@112 PTSD may be on his or her route right now.
Epic troll.
@114: Beg to differ, Fnarf. I appreciate that it is a skilled illustration, but it gives me the fucking heebie-jeebies. I load this page with a finger on “page-down”.
(No disrespect to the illustrator; I expect that giving people the willies was probably his intent.)
PTSO? Hello? *cricket chirp*
SPOG will never bow, never break, never back down and never yield in supporting, protecting or otherwise taking care of it’s members. In America you are innocent until proven guilty. In America each lawful resident has rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution,Bill of Rights and court decisions. Unionized workers have contract rights. The brave women and men of the SPD, represented by Rich O’Neill and his top Lieutenants are entitled to, and will always have rights. If you hate the pigs, so be it. SPOG will always flex their muscles… muscles backed by a huge war chest!!!!
Everybody light up and chill…. the cops will reign supreme!!!
@119: ” In America you are innocent until proven guilty.”
Tell that to John T. Williams.
@109,
I too will advance props for “douche crouton”, other issues under discussion notwithstanding.
@112,
Yes, some of us do work for a living. Too many of us do so in split shifts.
And I don’t believe that I was/am wrong.
Time (and better researchers than I) will tell.
Still loving the “douche-crouton” thing. Beats my own “douche-nozzle” fave, without leaving the vaginal reference behind – and adding a bit of crusty-crunchy. Well done.
Photos from the SPD rally in West Seattle on friday: http://ohpamphleteers.blogspot.com/2011/…
Interesting (or revealing) that Dominic disabled comments on his Slog post attacking me as a “limp dickbag” etc.
What fucking – what was it? “Douche crouton”?
Sheesh, Dominic – if you’re going to attack me publicly on the Slog, at least be man enough to let people respond like other articles there, you fucking pussy.
@101,
If you’re going to attack me with juvenile missives on SLOG – why disable comments?
No balls?
They happen to do this with all Slog posts that refer to Stranger articles, I believe. Comments are open on the article, so I don’t see your point anyway. So a direct quote from someone in SPD and the contract doesn’t satisfy you as better research?
Come on PSTO, can you get anything right? You were wrong as fuck about the main issue (though you can’t admit it or apologize for it), and now you’re accusing Dominic of “disabling comments” on his post when it clearly points to this here comment thread — right here — (where he originally called you out on your bullshit in the first place.) That’s how it works, dude. A Slog post that’s all about a comment thread for another post just points to the original thread, and that’s where the continued commenting goes down. Get it?
@127,
Actually a post calling me among other things a “limp dickbag” qualfies as a new thread. Looked at the Slog (which as a Stranger fan I read regularly), and couldn’t find any other posts with comments disabled.
Time will tell on the wrongness thing, at which time I look forward to apologizing, complete with a ceremonial licking of Cienna’s undoubtedly fashionable shoes. Dominic can suck my cock regardless. Unwashed and post-coital, of course.
Oh – and for Dominic, you might consider a letter to Dan. Something along the lines of:
“Dear Dan,”
“I am obsessed with penile references. Anytime someone pisses me off – I accuse them of impotence. I guess for me, that’s the ultimate shame. Could it be that I’m projecting some inner fear? Maybe a personal experience or two of humiliation in the sack? Nah. My penis is always erect when needed, and this is never more evident than when I’m at work – where it REALLY counts!”
“Sincerely,”
Been Overtly Nihilist Everwhere Required (BONER)
You’re a pathetic, puerile little piss-ant PSTO. You’ve been wrong in your assertions from your first comment on this thread, everyone here (including I suspect even you) KNOWS you’re wrong, but you don’t “have the balls” (to use your own words) to own up to it. Instead, you’re desperately grasping at any gossamer-thin strand you can find in an attempt to shift focus away from your own willfully obtuse refusal to acknowledge the facts. Nobody’s buying it.
Instead, maybe you should try being a MAN, for once in your sorry, misbegotten life, apologize for your stupidity and unwarranted vitriol, and accept the shame you so richly deserve. Seriously, it’ll make you a better person in the long-run, and if nothing else, perhaps you’ll learn to get your own facts straight, before malignantly impugning those of other people.
Otherwise, fuck-off in perpetuity.
@130,
Wow. You must have known me for a very long time to come to such a view. You must be well acquainted with my wife, my child, my Grandparents and hey – even my pets for such a sweeping condemnation. Naturally you’ve only come to such a conclusion after we’ve broken bread together; shared conversations, laughed, cried, and discussed one another’s dreams about life, career, love and philosophy.
I guess you must be right then.
P.S. I love you, too. Still highly admiring the “douche crouton” thingy.
-J
All I know about you is what you’ve posted here in this thread. And if you can’t muster up the humility and decency to apologize to those you’ve attempted to besmirch with your egregious, unfounded, and thoroughly rebuked accusations, then really, there’s nothing more I need to know about you, is there?
@132,
“All I know about you is what you’ve posted here in this thread.”
And yet you think that’s enough for sweeping condemnation for all that I am, ever was, and ever will be.
Here’s the deal: The Stranger publishes on Thursday. It’s now Saturday – neither the SPOG nor any number of others have really had time to respond, just me and you and your pal who thinks that the status of my wiener not being erect represents some sort of malfunction in intellect.
So tell you what – if nothing has changed, or if my view or Cienna’s claim has been verified (or vilified) by next Thursday – lets have a conversation then about my legitimacy/trollhood/penile ability then.
OK? I promise, I’ll come back. Meanwhile – unlike you – I’ll wish you and your family well, and avoid a complete condemnation of the entirety of your experience and very being, ’cause I’m thinking maybe in reality you’re a pretty cool person.
Sorry to be so nice. Must throw a monkey wrench in your hateful works. So be it.
-jw
@131 God that’s desperately ignoring the fact that what got you grief was that you called Cienna a liar and had no REAL evidence to show for it. Now once it’s confirmed that you’re wrong, you still can’t just admit it and move on–but now it’s up to “better researchers” than you and “time will tell.” Oh, and Dominic is a coward because Slog posts that point to Stranger posts don’t have comments open! God what a deflection.
It’s OK to be wrong, PTSD. I am all the time. Just be honest about it.
“Cienna was spot on,” says SPD’s Spokesman Sean Whitcomb. “The city pays Rich O’Neill’s salary as per the SPOG contract. None of it gets reimbursed.”
PTSO still can’t believe that because HE’s in a UNION and they all have to be the same in his little universe.
Rot in hell John T. Williams…. another boil off the ass of society!
@128 — first off, I read your personal blog post about this, and I do want to tone down the vitriol of my past comments here, sorry about that — however… I still think you’re totally wrong, and on this issue of “disabled comments”, check here, here, here, here, and here (and that’s just for Friday.) Notice a pattern? That’s the way it works, dude. Or, why does Dominic lack the balls to accept comments about the condo boom???!!!
“Please see the union’s contract with the city, section 1.4, which specifically addresses the function of the Guild president. It states, “All compensation (including salary and the cost of all City- paid benefits) shall be paid by the City.”
———-
Two questions.
1. Does someone have a link to the text of the SPD’s contract? I couldn’t find it online.
2. If the city does pay his salary, does the union reimburse the city? If so, how much?
There have been some assertions made in the comments, but I don’t think the issue is settled.
@136… oooooh projection!
Oops, wrote too soon. Found the link in comment 15. I’m not seeing anything about a reimbursement. Would “Proud Policewoman” and PTSO please provide it? (Those flinging epithets at them, please don’t offer them in response to this. I want to hear from those two posters.)
@140:
They won’t, because they can’t. A reimbursement provision doesn’t exist in SPOG’s contract with the City, and SPOG’s own tax records provide evidence refuting the claim of reimbursement.
@133:
Your assertions about who pays O’Neill have ALREADY been refuted several times in the past two days, as have your allegations against Cienna; waiting another 4 or 5 days isn’t going to change those FACTS one iota.
So, as far as I’m concerned you have two choices: either, man-up and apologize, or STFU already.
@135,
If you’ve read my blog at all, you’d know that I am of the position that being in “a union” ain’t all that.
-jw
@128,
Thanks for the links. You rock.
PSTO, just provide the evidence of a reimbursement. I have no preconceived ideas here. Either you have the evidence or you don’t.
Hey PSTO, you obviously saw the comments from the Seattle Police Department themselves crediting Cienna for correct reporting–that Rich O’neill is paid his salary by the city, and our taxes.
So, ergo, you were wrong on that point, no?
@143 Didn’t say you were happy with the union, just that your solipsism led you to call Cienna a liar even with all evidence to the contrary.
Fer Jeebuz-sakes PSTO, now you’re reponding to your own posts? If you can’t even get such a fundamentally simple thing as comment numbering correct, how do you expect to pull off something considerably more complicated – like disproving multiple verifications that your wild assertions are full of shit?
The illustration of O’Neill is a perfect blend of fear and hatred – well done.
I love it. Everyone is pissed that the City officials agreed to pay the SPD guild rep. to represent the Police officers. Yet we keep electing the same morons to run our city. O’Neill is a stud. If I were him, I would frame the picture and hang it in my office. It just proves how stupid the voters in Seattle really are. Maybe we should get rid of unions?
Holy Cow! I just looked up the 2009 compensation list for the City of Seattle. 2496 Employees of the City of Seattle made a base salery of over $100,000.00! That doesn’t include overtime! No wonder our parking rates are going up.
After looking closer, 7093 Employees earned over $100,000.00 in 2009. I should get a job w/ the city. The other 4086 earned less than 100k.
PSTO and Proud Policewoman, where are you with the evidence that the union reimburses the city?
Hrrm how about all you wannabe lawyers actually ask a SPD COP how that guy gets paid. They could probably tell you. Oh and as for why this guy has the ability (Note: ability. Nobody has shown that he does or did) to put in timesheets to the state? Maybe he has some vaca on the books that hes saved for a few years that hes cashing in to take care of his mom or something. And as far as this guy being a dick goes (to who? the state when he negotiates or handles issues between officers or when payroll screws someone outta their 2 hours overtime on their paycheck?) honestly… Its his job to be a dick to the state if thats what it takes to protect/represent the officers. And telling some journalist to suck it when they badger an officer about an alleged (innocent till proven guilty remember?) misconduct is definately warranted. Oh he supported someone politically? Wait so supporting someone who wont try to rape your union contracts “because the state is outta money” instead of actually taxing huge businesses? Thats totally out of the scope of his responsibilities huh?
All this stuff he does, good for him, he is representing the people HE works for. And Cienna really needs to back up that income source statement before putting out statements like that. Half-truths and decieving statements only hurt the readers.
Sienna Madrid = Suzannah Frame?
Check out this link if you like to dig for nuggets of info.
http://twitter.com/InjusticeNews
Cops lie, cheat and steal. They are human. They need to be policed very very very very closely. Keep and reward the good ones, dump or incarcerate the bad ones.
@154:
> Hrrm how about all you wannabe lawyers actually ask a SPD COP how that guy gets paid.
Christ almighty, man, could you pay attention just a little bit?
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/mobile/…
The rest of your rambling comment doesn’t even seem to relate to O’Neill as far as I can tell.
from lbloom.net 2009 City of Seattle Employee salaries (sorry if this has already been posted):
Oneill R Pol Sgt-Patrl Police Department 109703.92 6/11/80
The city pays O’Neill’s salary directly.
http://lbloom.net/
So PSTO and Proud Policewoman are nowhere to be seen. Looks like the Stranger got it right, then.
So, we live in a city and state that vote’s Pro Union over and over again. Yet we are upset when we find out we are footing the bill for the Union Rep? Then the Stanger writes a piece on how bad it would be for unions if McKenna were elected Gov. Of course if elected, some laws could be changed and maybe we wouldn’t have to pay for the Union Rep. Of course, that would be bad for Unions, and we wouldn’t want that. Right? So which is it? Are we for collective bargaining or against it? If you are for it, then you get to pay for O’Neill or whomever the Police Guild elects to represent them. If you are against it, you can get rid of O’Neill.
@160, this isn’t an article that argues for or against unions or collective bargaining, and if you’re boiling it down to those two simple-minded perspectives, you’re missing the point entirely. Here’s a boiler plate for you: “Rich O’Neill Never Works a Policing Shift but Gets $109,703 a Year in Taxpayer Money to Run the Citizen-Antagonizing Police Union.” Or restated *yet again* for your reading comprehension: we’re paying his salary and as a beat cop’s main mouthpiece, his inflammatory rhetoric is pitting cops against the public, and that is bad for everyone.
@PSTO, proud police woman, I really don’t give a shit if you apologize. I try to report as accurately as possible and I will correct mistakes as quickly as possible. That is my job. It takes guts to admit when you’re wrong but I don’t necessarily expect that from you.
And to everyone defending me here (*blush*) thanks!
Cienna, That you were accurate about the one fact doesn’t mean that I (for one, for what it’s worth) was “defending you.” In my world, you get to have opinions, but the facts are independent entities.
As for your story, I think it took the easy path, which was to look at O’Neill strictly on the surface. It gave me very little insight into the police department. Probably the most salient fact, even more so than the one that was at issue, is that he was elected for a third term with 78% of the vote.
I’m interested in why. Knowing the Stranger, your explanation will be to draw a caricature of racist, brutal cops voting 78% for a fellow racist, brutal thug. Maybe that’s true, but would I trust that coming from you guys? I can say this much: The report will need to be a lot deeper than this story was.
And no, I’m not a Republican jerk. I’m someone who has built a life in Seattle, and who anticipates living here until I am carried out feet first. I’m in for the long haul, and that simple fact makes me look at all of these stories with a certain perspective.
So keep digging, but dig deeper.
@162, it’s hard to get under the surface or “dig deeper,” as you put it, when someone won’t return your phone calls. O’Neill hasn’t returned a call of mine in over a year–even though it’s his job to represent the union to the public.
So yeah, nice sentiment.
And I wasn’t trying to provide insight into the dept–I was, as I’ve stated a few times now, I was illustrating how one man can destroy the public’s trust in the department with his rhetoric.
O’Neill’s popular because he’s a bulldog at defending cops. No one needs to “dig deeper” to figure that out–it’s pretty apparent. However, I think a man with more finesse and tact could do his job while not pitting cops against the public or eroding public trust.
That was the point of my article. But thank you for at least being polite with your criticisms.
Well, it’s been 4 or 5 days. Have your “better researchers” shown up, PTSD?
“it’s hard to get under the surface or ‘dig deeper,’ as you put it, when someone won’t return your phone calls. O’Neill hasn’t returned a call of mine in over a year–even though it’s his job to represent the union to the public.”
—————
From his point of view, I can understand why. How far off the mark would he be if he thought, “Why the heck should I talk to anyone from The Stranger? All they’ll do is make me into the devil anyway.” What possible interest does he have in speaking with you?
Frankly, as a reader who has lived here for 10 years and expects to live here at least another 30, maybe 40, depending on whether or not by the time I’m in my 80s they are paying doctors to kill the elderly, I have only limited interest in boilerplate sparring. Come on, what would your telephone interview with the guy really tell us?
Instead, you should try getting to know the cops on the beat. Look at the street through their eyes. Really do it, not as some condescending anthropology exercise but for real. There isn’t any need to write about it, although it would be kinda-sorta interesting to have a cop’s perspective of the movable fungus that is turning downtown into a ghost town after dark.
More importantly, just try to understand why 78% of the police vote for the guy. The way to do that is to get to know the cops, while retaining your independence. I didn’t say it was easy, but it sure would be valuable.
@CM
I was just pointing out that with our Collective bargaining laws that our community deems “good” comes what you perceive as negative. You quote city hall staffer who states the “The City pays Rich O’Neill to be a total Dick.” Are these not inflammatory comments from our city leadership? Should this city hall staffer not be paid? We have different parts of government and society. Mr. O’Neill and the Guild have a point of view, just like you, I, and the city hall staffer. Freedom of speech is vital to our society. You may not like the manner in which Mr. O’Neill operates, but I would argue he has been very effective representing his fellow members of the Guild. You want change? Then change the collective bargaining laws. Oh and another thing. Next time you quote a city hall staffer, quote one willing to put their name behind it.It might add a little credibility to their statement.
We also pay the salaries of those treasonous high-ranking corporate officers!Note to the Rabble:Stop paying for your own oppression,you masochists!
MY DAUGHTER AND MYSELF ARE VICTIMS OF SGT RICH ONEILL’S LACK OF PROFESSIONAL TRAINING IN 1999. SGT RICH ONEILL IGNORED VITAL BASELINE DATA-MY DUAGHTER IS A VICTIM OF LK-LEGALIZED KIDNAP. FILED LAWSUIT IN 2000-HID BEHIND IMMUNITY. CONTACTED JOURNALISTS- WELL IN THOSE DAYS NO ONE WAS INTERESTED IN A SGT RICH ONEILL-JOURNALISTS THAT WORKED FOR THE STRANGER,PI,ETC. (REMEMBER JOURANLISTS YOU ARE THE THE LINK THAT EXPOSES WHAT IS HAPPENING TO CITIZENS -BUT WHEN JOURNALISTS IGNORE-MY CASE WOULD HAVE EXPOSED SGT RICH ONEILL-OVER 10 YEARS AGO).
I MADE 2 YOU-TUBE VIDEOS THAT WERE REMOVED-THE FIRST WAS UP FOR OVER 10 MONTHS THE SECOND OVER A YEAR- BOTH VIDEOS ARE INFORMATIVE.
MY DAUGHTER AND MYSELF ARE VICTIMS OF SGT RICH ONEILL’S LACK OF PROFESSIONAL TRAINING IN 1999. SGT RICH ONEILL IGNORED VITAL BASELINE DATA-MY DAUGHTER IS A VICTIM OF LK-LEGALIZED KIDNAP. FILED LAWSUIT IN 2000-HID BEHIND IMMUNITY. CONTACTED JOURNALISTS- WELL IN THOSE DAYS NO ONE WAS INTERESTED IN A SGT RICH ONEILL-JOURNALISTS THAT WORKED FOR THE STRANGER,PI,ETC. (REMEMBER JOURANLISTS YOU ARE THE THE LINK THAT EXPOSES WHAT IS HAPPENING TO CITIZENS -BUT WHEN JOURNALISTS IGNORE-MY CASE WOULD HAVE EXPOSED SGT RICH ONEILL-OVER 10 YEARS AGO).
I MADE 2 YOU-TUBE VIDEOS THAT WERE REMOVED-THE FIRST WAS UP FOR OVER 10 MONTHS THE SECOND OVER A YEAR- BOTH VIDEOS ARE INFORMATIVE.
How come Holmes hasn’t’ charged the cop that kicked the guy outside the nightclub? City Cover up? One more thing. I apologize for my mom above. She started drinking again. Mom! Call Pat O’Day. He will help you out.
TO ‘MIC’ THE INDIVIDUAL THAT MADE THE COMMENT #171: THE LAWSUIT IS ON RECORD. THE LAWSUIT BROUGHT A FEW CHANGES IN PROCEDURE-6 YEARS LATER. I THINK WHAT YOU MEANT TO TYPE IS ‘THE CITY OF SEATTLE PROSECUTORS OFFICE NEEDS PAT O’DAY’! AND MIC SPD ACCOUNTABILITY IS A SERIOUS MATTER- EVERYWHERE. IF YOU HAD GONE THROUGH WHAT I DID DUE TO SGT RICH ONEILL, YOU THEN WOULD NOT BE TYPING THAT MORONIC COMMENT.
Well why the hell are the tax payer dollars being spent on an out of tune police Official….he stirs up problems in the communities he serves…he is a racist…he is female gender bias especially BLONDE FEMALES…he destroys families…you said it yourself O’Neill is a DICK..so why are the tax payers paying him more then $40.000 yearly he is not even worth that…GET RID OF HIM SEATTLE.
EXCELLENT VIDEO: BASELINE DATA IGNORED IN SEATTLE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaXINizSj…
The last thing you want to give to an absolute power, like police and judges in this country, is a union!
We pay money to this system but have no rights to control them, or even defend ourselves from them! It’s amazing how hypocritical this country is. We only preach about freedom, but when it comes to us, we become sheep! We pay salaries for the most violent and most legally protected police force in the world and submit to their demands… It’s pathetic. We talk about a single police department, or a single officer for hours, yet we do not talk about the system that provides incentives for corruption and police brutality. There is absolutely no 3rd party oversight of what the police is doing! NONE in this country!
The police union(guild) is normalizing things that even a child knows is wrong. The whole system is absurdly corrupt.
Getting rid of O’Neil won’t even change anything, because there will be another more careful and sneakier O’Niel after. The system is wrong. The system has conflict of interest written all over it…
There can not be a union for an organization that has so many extra legal rights over people!!! Anything an employee of a police department say can not even be credible when they have extra rights like that. We created a monster and the time has come to understand it and push for the police reform.
Hey Mama, turn off the caps key or people will call you a HYSTERICAL BITCH. Just sayin’.
THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE CAPS KEYS TO OFFEND- THAT IS SEATTLE FOR YOU-WHO CARES ABOUT CAP KEYS. i have been quietly working for years. so ‘mister g’ please chill. we as citizens have a serious issue to discuss and that is police accountability,which includes sgt rich oneill-the president of the police guild in seattle.
EXCELLENT STATEMENT MIKEY. (oh sorry, i don’t want to offend the seattle citizens that are ‘offended’ by caps and not the ssystem-yes 2 ss)
excellent statement mikey.
Mother in Seattle I feel you only a jerk would be sayN junk here; Moving on @Milky I love your statement it is right on point…Sargent O’Neill does not have a reputable relationship with the citizen’s of Seattle I have heard complaints about him before…He is racist..He is a Jerk…He is over paid..Good Cop NO Bad Cop gotta GO…KICK HIM IN THE ASS, KICK HIS ASS OUT. Mister G are you tryN to get a sniff of the Sargents dung I see shit on you mustache:))
opps; I meant @MIKEY
Wow! There sure is a lot of riled up angry little piggies in here. Guess what you prick pig bastards? You can be as arrogant as you want but shits starting to roll back your way. You overpaid brute gangster fuckwads. Fuck you SPD Pigs!!!
THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE CAPS KEYS TO OFFEND- THAT IS SEATTLE FOR YOU-WHO CARES ABOUT CAP KEYS.
The entire internet, not just Seattle. That’s who.