Seattle council: Police union ‘would be wise to relieve itself’ of Mike Solan as president
Jan 11, 2021, 12:15 PM | Updated: 5:09 pm
SPOG President Mike Solan speaks to rally goers in Aug. 2020. (Photo: Jason Rantz)
(Photo: Jason Rantz)
Seattle City Councilmembers joined calls Monday, pushing for the Seattle Police Officers Guild to remove Mike Solan as the union’s president.
Calls for SPOG president to apologize or resign
Shortly after a mob laid siege the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., Solan sent out tweets that appeared to blame Antifa and Black Lives Matter supporters. That saw the likes of Mayor Jenny Durkan, retired city police chief Carmen Best, and former safety advisor Scott Lindsay calling on Solan to resign.
On Monday, city councilmembers echoed those sentiments, implying that Solan’s ability to negotiate a new contract for Seattle’s police officers is now compromised.
“The current president of the police union has in my view disqualified himself to be a fair partner in negotiating that contract, which will become the most important tool for sustaining reform, saving money, maintaining safety, and delivering justice,” Councilmember Alex Pederson — who in the past has opposed efforts to reduce police department funding — said during Monday’s morning briefing.
“(SPOG) would be wise to relieve itself of that divisive leadership, which has done nothing to advance the cause or issues of that union,” Councilmember Andrew Lewis agreed.
During briefings, Councilmember @CMAndrewJLewis said he shares his Council colleagues' concerns, and believes it’s time for SPOG members to move forward with new leadership. pic.twitter.com/sUGoVKgKrj
— Seattle City Council (@SeattleCouncil) January 12, 2021
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Councilmember Lisa Herbold voiced additional concerns over two Seattle police officers recently placed on leave, after it was discovered they were reportedly in Washington, D.C., when Trump supporters breached security and entered the nation’s Capitol.
“I cannot help but wonder whether the actions of these officers were influenced by the rhetoric of their leader [Mike Solan],” Herbold said.
The Office of Police Accountability is currently investigating what role those two officers might have played in the insurrection. If it’s found they were directly involved, interim Chief Adrian Diaz has vowed to terminate their employment with the department.
