Waterbuffalo
07-31-2008, 11:22 PM
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/07/07312008_Vancouver-denies-vendetta-against-fired-police-officer.cfm
Jeffrey Mize, Columbian
Vancouver officials are standing by their decision to fire a Vancouver police officer on the grounds that he included false information in drunken-driving reports.
City officials had a muted reaction Wednesday to a Willamette Week story portraying the police department as targeting former officer Navin Sharma because he had the temerity to challenge the city establishment.
The Portland newspaper’s story alleges that Vancouver waged an eight-year “apparent vendetta” against Sharma, a former officer who won discrimination awards against the city and Clark County’s dispatch agency prior to his firing in September 2006.
Sharma, a native of India, has filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging discrimination and retaliation based on his race. A trial is scheduled for Oct. 20 in Tacoma.
City Manager Pat McDonnell declined to comment Wednesday, because he is named as a defendant in Sharma’s lawsuit, except to send The Columbian a three-paragraph statement describing the Willamette Week article as “one-sided” and “inflammatory.”
“I have complete faith and confidence in the Vancouver Police Department’s integrity and professionalism and the leadership of Chief (Cliff) Cook and his command staff,” McDonnell wrote. “This article mischaracterizes the outstanding work of the department by focusing on one very complex legal matter. It is not a fair and accurate portrayal of the entire agency.”
Dan Lloyd, an assistant city attorney involved in the Sharma case, said ethical rules prevent him from discussing the lawsuit in detail.
Lloyd was, however, willing to say there was no vendetta on the city’s part and that Sharma knowingly included false language in his police reports.
“He took language from another officer’s actions and put that language in his reports,” he said.
The city not only fired Sharma, it sent letters out letters to defense attorneys saying the officer had falsified his reports. It also asked Clark County Prosecutor Art Curtis to file criminal charges against Sharma. None were filed.
The Columbian and other newspapers have previously reported on many of the circumstances involving Sharma, along with other former problems inside Clark County’s largest police department that were mentioned in the Willamette Week story.
Greg Ferguson, a Vancouver attorney who represents Sharma along with Seattle attorney Scott Blankenship, called for an outside investigation or for the city council to provide more oversight.
“The city council has the ability to take a real hard look at this situation, on behalf of the citizens of Vancouver, and conclude that changes ought to be made,” Ferguson said. “It starts with the council, and we think there are good people on the council.”
Three council members contacted Wednesday said they were dismayed by Willamette Week’s article, written by Pulitzer Prize winner Nigel Jaquiss.
“I am shocked by the information that is in there,” Councilwoman Jeanne Stewart said. “That’s pretty much all I can say abut it. It’s very disturbing.”
“Reading the article was gut-wrenching,” Councilman Pat Campbell said. “I had been advised during my career with the (Washington) Department of Corrections on a couple of occasions to talk to Greg Ferguson … because of problems I had in DOC.”
The Sharma case is a legal matter, Campbell said, “and I’m sure the courts will deal with it satisfactorily.”
Councilman Tim Leavitt said the Sharma case is “a truly disappointing and somewhat disturbing situation.”
“The WW article details a lot of finger-pointing and laying blame,” Leavitt wrote in an e-mail. “On its face, the article is quite inflammatory. However, it’s fair to state that the WW has a reputation for sometimes sensationalized story-writing.
“Regardless, I am looking forward to hearing about how the city, VPD and the police guild have improved operations in the wake of the Sharma case.”
Jeffrey Mize, Columbian
Vancouver officials are standing by their decision to fire a Vancouver police officer on the grounds that he included false information in drunken-driving reports.
City officials had a muted reaction Wednesday to a Willamette Week story portraying the police department as targeting former officer Navin Sharma because he had the temerity to challenge the city establishment.
The Portland newspaper’s story alleges that Vancouver waged an eight-year “apparent vendetta” against Sharma, a former officer who won discrimination awards against the city and Clark County’s dispatch agency prior to his firing in September 2006.
Sharma, a native of India, has filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging discrimination and retaliation based on his race. A trial is scheduled for Oct. 20 in Tacoma.
City Manager Pat McDonnell declined to comment Wednesday, because he is named as a defendant in Sharma’s lawsuit, except to send The Columbian a three-paragraph statement describing the Willamette Week article as “one-sided” and “inflammatory.”
“I have complete faith and confidence in the Vancouver Police Department’s integrity and professionalism and the leadership of Chief (Cliff) Cook and his command staff,” McDonnell wrote. “This article mischaracterizes the outstanding work of the department by focusing on one very complex legal matter. It is not a fair and accurate portrayal of the entire agency.”
Dan Lloyd, an assistant city attorney involved in the Sharma case, said ethical rules prevent him from discussing the lawsuit in detail.
Lloyd was, however, willing to say there was no vendetta on the city’s part and that Sharma knowingly included false language in his police reports.
“He took language from another officer’s actions and put that language in his reports,” he said.
The city not only fired Sharma, it sent letters out letters to defense attorneys saying the officer had falsified his reports. It also asked Clark County Prosecutor Art Curtis to file criminal charges against Sharma. None were filed.
The Columbian and other newspapers have previously reported on many of the circumstances involving Sharma, along with other former problems inside Clark County’s largest police department that were mentioned in the Willamette Week story.
Greg Ferguson, a Vancouver attorney who represents Sharma along with Seattle attorney Scott Blankenship, called for an outside investigation or for the city council to provide more oversight.
“The city council has the ability to take a real hard look at this situation, on behalf of the citizens of Vancouver, and conclude that changes ought to be made,” Ferguson said. “It starts with the council, and we think there are good people on the council.”
Three council members contacted Wednesday said they were dismayed by Willamette Week’s article, written by Pulitzer Prize winner Nigel Jaquiss.
“I am shocked by the information that is in there,” Councilwoman Jeanne Stewart said. “That’s pretty much all I can say abut it. It’s very disturbing.”
“Reading the article was gut-wrenching,” Councilman Pat Campbell said. “I had been advised during my career with the (Washington) Department of Corrections on a couple of occasions to talk to Greg Ferguson … because of problems I had in DOC.”
The Sharma case is a legal matter, Campbell said, “and I’m sure the courts will deal with it satisfactorily.”
Councilman Tim Leavitt said the Sharma case is “a truly disappointing and somewhat disturbing situation.”
“The WW article details a lot of finger-pointing and laying blame,” Leavitt wrote in an e-mail. “On its face, the article is quite inflammatory. However, it’s fair to state that the WW has a reputation for sometimes sensationalized story-writing.
“Regardless, I am looking forward to hearing about how the city, VPD and the police guild have improved operations in the wake of the Sharma case.”