‘I don’t know what she’s referring to’: SPOG president questions Katie Wilson’s claim of having ‘different window’ into SPD

Seattle Police Officers Guild President Kent Loux told “The John Curley Show” on KIRO Newsradio he didn’t know what Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson meant when she said she had a “different window” into the Seattle Police Department. Wilson made the comment in response to her lack of alignment with city council members who sharply criticized her decision to push out then-Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes.

“I don’t know what she’s referring to,” Loux said. “Maybe who she’s referring to. Maybe she’s got a source, somebody she trusts, somebody that she feels, at least, feeds her decent information. But as far as a different viewpoint or window or whatever she said, I’m not sure what she’s referring to. I’d imagine it’s maybe an individual, or a few, that maybe feed her some information.”

Loux said he expects the city council to unite against Wilson, making it difficult for her to advance any agenda.

“What does she get passed?” he asked. “Is the city council going to do anything for her? And I don’t know that those relationships have been worked on. I think that’s what’s most interesting here.”

Wilson did not provide the city council with her reasoning for pushing out Barnes, which Loux said is required under the city charter when a mayor removes a police chief.

“I don’t know why they’re so hesitant not to find reasons,” Loux said. “According to the city charter, if a mayor is going to relieve, or get rid of a police chief, they’ve got to provide reasons to the council. So I think that again, this just puts Wilson, the administration, and the council further at odds.

“‘You didn’t run this by us. You didn’t provide us with reasons. We really don’t have any insight into what’s going on here,'” he continued. “They’re upset, and now you essentially kind of squeeze out this resignation in lieu of a firing, because you don’t want to supply reasons. And then all these suspected reasons start to come out, but then why not define those reasons?”

Loux noted dismissing a police chief doesn’t make a city less safe, but it does affect morale within the department.

“When a chief leaves, or resigns, or something like that, I mean, ultimately, it does affect morale,” Loux said. “I mean, there are some impacts to it. It’s just not going to immediately [make] officers and detectives stop doing their job. That’s not what this is. So it’ll be interesting to kind of see what happens as this goes along.”

Can Katie Wilson survive the next three years?

KIRO host John Curley asked: Will Wilson be able to survive the next three years?

“That’s a long time to get eaten at,” Loux responded. “I think day to day that starts to add up. You get done with your day, and you go home, and at some point you need some successful days. You need some wins. And I think the problem that perhaps — and I’m speculating that the council sees, and kind of the city in general, and one of my biggest concerns — is business flight.”

He said it appears Wilson’s only idea to produce more revenue is to raise taxes, which will ultimately push out businesses.

“I think the council and some other people at play probably get a little nervous,” he said. “And I think you have an obligation. Probably, like the city council, I don’t have confidence in this. I don’t see where this is going. And then what is she going to be able to pass over these next three years?”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

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