US Attorney calls McGinn's claims of DOJ reform costs 'absurd'

BY Josh Kerns  on May 15, 2012 @ 11:36 am (Updated: 1:29 pm - 5/15/12 )

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US Attorney Jenny Durkan disputes claims made by Seattle's mayor about the cost of proposed reforms to the Seattle Police Department. (97.3 KIRO FM/Tim Haeck)

A top Justice Department official says Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn's claims that proposed reforms to the Seattle Police Department would cost $41 million are "frankly absurd."

U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan appeared on 97.3 KIRO FM's Ross and Burbank to dispute the mayor's claims he made this week in a radio interview about the changes being ordered to combat the excessive force problems plaguing the department.

"The $41 million is frankly absurd. We don't know where they got it. We look forward to sitting down and talking substance. Last week, it was $5 million," Durkan said.

A confidential city memo says $18 million alone would be needed for training requirements mandated by the DOJ, but Durkan disputes that.

"If you take those trainings that we have laid out, that he credits in the memo, they're exactly what he has in his 20/20 plan that he says can be done for free," Durkan said.

McGinn also argued the Justice Department would impose a "shadow mayor" that would hinder him and the police chief from acting quickly during an incident such as the May Day violence in downtown Seattle.

But Durkan says an appointed monitor with independent oversight is far different than the mayor claims.

"Nobody wants that. The purpose here is to build the best department possible that can last into the next generation and the key to any department being successful is to have a very vital chief who's the full leader for a department," Durkan insisted.

According to Durkan, the monitor would work with the mayor and chief to make sure changes actually get implemented and have the intended impact.

"There's been no continuity to make sure we're doing the right reforms, that the reforms are having the impact we want. To have someone who is an independent person who can look and say 'let's assess what are we trying to accomplish', work with the mayor, work with the chief, work with the community."

The city faces a deadline this week to submit a counterproposal to the Justice Department. The DOJ can sue the city if an agreement isn't reached to force compliance.

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Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter
Josh Kerns is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
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Comments (30)


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  • ron prevost wrote...
    WOW - I just listened to this interview whaile I was driving,
    May 15, 2012 12:32 pm
    No love lost between Jenny Durkin and McGinn is there. Surprised there wasn't a station outage, or something. ... And she is WITH the Obama DOJ. That's it with progressives - all ultra LIBERALS, BUT 'MY LIBERAL IS BETTER THAN YOURS'.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    Thanks, Ron
    May 15, 2012 1:44 pm
    For upholding the conservative tradition and demonstrating consistency. Never miss a chance to denigrate people who see the world from a different perspective than your own.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • tlmbrt wrote...
    @Chuck Gould
    May 15, 2012 2:59 pm
    RON IS RIGHT ON!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    Any time, Chuck
    May 15, 2012 3:01 pm
    But it's always great when an Obama Administration official actually agrees with me about our wonderful mayor. .. Agree, heck, she's far more viament that I could be. .. And, yes, 'absurd' IS differently from I see things - at least on this issue.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Sean wrote...
    "Viament?" Really?
    May 16, 2012 8:12 am
    I think you meant "vehement."
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    LIke you do Chuck.
    May 15, 2012 5:56 pm
    In your own loooong winded way!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • tuleman003 wrote...
    Always placing blame on someone else
    May 15, 2012 4:20 pm
    I don't know why I have to keep pointing this out, but again, this is NOT a Federal issue. It all starts with uninformed people voting on local ballots. If you want change, tell your family and friends to do a little studying before voting!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DesertRez wrote...
    Great idea
    May 15, 2012 12:42 pm
    Lets appoint a independent fed to "monitor" Seattle's elected officials. How about you tell her to go pack sand and stay out of Washington.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • William P wrote...
    McSchwinn
    May 15, 2012 1:21 pm
    Every time he opens his mouth something absurd comes out. I also thought they were liberal buddies? Don't imagine he will be in a rush to support Obuma.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    What do you expect when Seattle elects such wonderfully wackos for Mayor
    May 15, 2012 1:30 pm
    McGinn is making many look back with nostalgia on Mayor 5 pennies days as Mayor... And he was a complete idiot...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • O-town listener wrote...
    someone needs to tell Durkin
    May 15, 2012 1:40 pm
    how amazing we are at cost overrunning here in the state.. I have no trouble believing $41 million when they think it should be doable with $5.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chris74 wrote...
    Really?....
    May 15, 2012 1:58 pm
    Didn't the Seattle Police Department ask for this? How many incidences need to occur before they feel somebody should step in to oversee changes to protect our community? I mean MY GOD!! I think McGinn is acting like a lil' brat who doesn't like that he is being told to do something. Drastic change is in order at SPD and if McGinn can't get behind it with a mature attitude then maybe he needs to throw in the towel.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Paul Kersey wrote...
    A shrill Heinrich Himmler wannabe....
    May 15, 2012 2:19 pm
    If these people ever obtain all the power they thirst for, they will be among the most vicious tyrants of history.

    Seattle and Maricopa are trial runs for the DOJ, selected for their opposing political leanings. This will provide them a good sample of what type of resistance will be encountered from both liberal and conservative focus groups. Every police force in America can be found as guilty as these two departments. It's obvious that Seattle will submit much easier than will Maricopa, where the population has a greater sense of independence and individual freedom.

    Their ultimate goal is that every police force in America is under their control. The DOJ has been purged and is now ideologically pure. They have demonstrated that they answer to no one, not even to Congress. Now the police forces can be purged, re-educated to their specifications, and federalized.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Loving Life wrote...
    Mayor McCheese is lying, again! This corrupt windbag is such a blatant manipulator. Bad Police, Bad City Counsel, Bad Mayor. Seattle, you get what you pay for.
    May 15, 2012 2:41 pm
    You elected this laughing stock, now you have to suffer the consequences of your action.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • tlmbrt wrote...
    MUAHAHAHAHA!!!
    May 15, 2012 2:58 pm
    The LIBS in Seattle get the Obama LIB Injustice Department to "help" them "reform" the "racist" SPD. They got the attention they wanted. Now they are ON THE LIB RADAR and in the spotlight, and they are getting micromanaged. It costs too much? Oh, the UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF LIBERAL PANDERING! LOLOLOL....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • myopinion wrote...
    Can People stay on point
    May 15, 2012 3:03 pm
    No one on this blog can just make a statement without it being some political B.S. This is a story about a Mayor, and a Police Department that has been in need of reform, and has been in need for a very long time. All she is doing is pointing out that the Mayor has a very short memory. This wont cost him a dime it will cost the tax payer. And it wont cost any 41 million. This is all just political posturing, but none the less, it needs to be done.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    @myopinion....everybody thinks they are on point (sadly)
    May 15, 2012 3:53 pm
    There's a drought? It's the GD liberals! (or sometimes the GD conservatives).

    There's too much rain? It's the GD liberals! (or sometimes the GD conservatives).

    You can tell its the GD liberals,(or sometimes the GD conservatives) because they all think alike, they all hate America, they want something for nothing, they wantonly kill babies (liberals before they're born, conservatives when they're unavoidable "collateral" damage).

    Some of these guys post the same nonsense regardless of topic, and they feel that as long as they're attacking the GD liberals (or sometimes the GD conservatives) that's the sole purpose of the forum

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Sean wrote...
    Hallelujah to THAT, MyOpinion!
    May 16, 2012 8:16 am
    Well stated. It usually doesn't take more than 2-3 posts for someone to steer the comments off immediately into Political Polarization Land...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • tlmbrt wrote...
    @myopinion
    May 15, 2012 3:27 pm
    This is ALL about politics and political posturing! McGinn GAVE IN to the ACLU types who claimed every incident involving minorities was racism and ASKED the Justice Dept to "help". Following the shooting of the woodcarver, he PANDERED to the Native American community, even allowing them to have a memorial totem pole placed in Seattle Center! Now he is complaining about the "reforms", and at odds with the Justice Dept. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR!!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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