SPD lieutenant involved in police reform arrested

BY Frank Shiers  on June 4, 2012 @ 5:45 am (Updated: 8:37 am - 6/4/12 )

A Seattle police lieutenant, who has had an important role in the city's police reform plan, has been relieved of his badge and gun while he's under investigation in a domestic violence case.

Police say Lt. Donnie Lowe was arrested Saturday night while he was off duty. Police are asking another agency to investigate because of the conflict of interest.

The 20-year veteran has been removed from the Seattle Police Department's 20-20 reform plan, the program that was launched after the Justice Department's report on excessive force and civil rights violations.

The Seattle Times reports that Lowe has other incidents on his record with the Seattle Police Department, including an arrest in 2008 for DUI, as well as several internal reprimands.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Comments (8)


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  • murr wrote...
    is he on paid leave ??????
    June 4, 2012 6:09 am
    Come on tell the story. If you dont like public heat, dont take a public job.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zoeller wrote...
    Woops....
    June 4, 2012 6:19 am
    Time for a lay-off!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sportsguru wrote...
    He is suppose to be
    June 4, 2012 6:26 am
    leading the department in reform and turns out that he is a criminal as well, that's why you don't let the police department investigate themselves.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • R L M 456 wrote...
    The Seattle Times reports that Lowe has other incidents on his record with the Seattle Police Department, including an arrest in 2008 for DUI, as well as several internal reprimands.
    June 4, 2012 7:04 am
    This might be the problem with SPD

    The Best officer for the "reform" team chief is a "perp" himself???

    Once More

    I bow Low with respect to the wisdom of the Almighty Lawgivers

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • myopinion wrote...
    So
    June 4, 2012 8:13 am
    Lets get the facts straight, this good cop not only has a DUI on his record, but has has "several" repremainds. This is why the DOJ needed to step in how can you have a cop on the force that not only has a DUI but apperently beats his wife most likely while drunk. How many people has he himself arrested for the very crimes that he is perpatrating himself. We need to hold cops to a higher standard, and once found guilty of any crime they need to be fired, not just pushed to a different department, or doing desk work. I think that the DOJ is doing the right thing to a department that clearly has issues that go far beyond what both the chief and the "mayor" are willing to admit. The people that put together this 20-20 plan had to know about this cops past brushes with the law yet still in light of this they put him on a board designed to reform the SPD. Really what were the chief and the mayor thinking.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • tinargun wrote...
    Here here!
    June 4, 2012 11:55 am
    My son has a DUI and has been denied regular jobs just for having a DUI, but this guy gets to drive a police car and still carry a weapon? I am sure the police guild paid for all his treatment and time off too! Why don't regular people get the same approval with a DUI on their record. The press made a HUGE deal about the school superintendant candidate having one on her record?! I think if they did an in depth report on the existing fire, police, charity and such executive/workers they would find more of this kind of thing. They have unions that protect them from harrasment for being idiots not like us regular folk.
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  • MainEvent wrote...
    Go figure!
    June 4, 2012 10:24 am
    Who would of thought the thugs in the SPD who commit crimes to the public were committing crimes in their own house. That whole department needs to be swept clean and we need to drive the union out
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Sean wrote...
    AJ McCARRELL, where are you????
    June 4, 2012 10:31 am
    I can't believe you're not here already, telling us how all cops are like this! What, are you napping????
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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