Posted on 09/17/2004 8:20:19 AM PDT by Horatio Gates
SEATTLE -- A day after winning the Republican primary for the 8th Congressional District, King County Sheriff Dave Reichert helped chase down a stolen car.
It wasn't until the sheriff's office sent out a news release about the chase and subsequent arrests, mentioning it happened a day after "his big win in the primaries," that Democrats started complaining.
"It's unbelievable," Kirstin Brost, spokeswoman for the state Democratic Party, said Thursday. "This is not an appropriate use of his office. This is using his official office to do campaign activity."
State law bars the use of taxpayer funds to support or oppose -- directly or indirectly -- any candidates or ballot initiatives.
Sgt. John Urquhart, the sheriff's office spokesman, defended the news release, saying, "This is pure police business. Nothing more than that. We would've done it whether he was running for office or not."
Reichert did not immediately return messages left at his office and with his campaign.
The car chase happened Wednesday afternoon when Reichert was off-duty, driving home his unmarked patrol car in a neighborhood near Auburn. After seeing a car driving recklessly, the sheriff flashed his lights, sounded his siren and tried to pull it over, but it sped off.
Reichert chased the car for a couple of minutes, then discontinued the chase because the motorist was driving too erratically.
A witness who saw the chase spotted the car a few minutes later, followed it to a house, then watched a man and woman get out of it. The woman pulled a car cover over the car.
Deputies soon arrived and arrested the man and woman after determining the car had been stolen from Olympia.
Chris Vance, chairman of the state Republican Party, chuckled when he heard the Democratic Party was consulting its lawyers about whether to file an ethics complaint.
"I hope they continue to draw attention to the fact that our candidate for Congress has actually done something rather than just talk about things," Vance said in a dig at Dave Ross, the radio talk-show host who won the Democratic primary for the 8th District east of Seattle.
"I think he does a great job as sheriff, but I think that the release that came out of John Urquhart's office would be more appropriate coming out of the campaign office," said Dana Slote, press secretary for Dave Ross' campaign.
For the Ping List
Dave Ross as in the guy who was once on network radio?
The sherriff did a good job and has a right to release this to the media........shut up already if you don't agree.
One in the same. The polls indicate he is being thrashed by Reichert
Things looking grim for the LIBTARDS nationwide.
And I'm loving it.
I remember him vaguely....making some comments advocating sexualizing the military by allowing homosexuals to join, and demeaning those who did not agree with him. Good to know he is not likely to win. Incidently, at 52 he should have had some time in service. I'd be interested to know what his excuse is for not serving.
I think everybody is overreacting to this. They Democrats aren't upset that Sheriff Reichert did his job, or probably even that a press release was sent out. They were upset that the official sheriff's office press release mentioned that Reichert had won big in the primary election.
Now, don't get me wrong, I don't usually agree with the Democrats on much. But they're right, it was wrong of the sheriff's office to put that part in the press release.
Wouldn't you be upset if one of your Democrat elected officials was using official press releases to mention things about his/her campaign?
I first met Reichert about 20 years ago when he was a detective and his hair wasn't gray. He was helping me on a high profile case. He was a very aggressive crime fighter, went by the rules,had a true desire to serve the public with honor and integrity, and an all around good guy. He will make a great addition to the Republican political machine.
As for the dims complaints, well, they can kiss my backside!
Isn't this the same Dave Reichert who led the investigation into the Green River Killer? I watched part of an A&E movie about him and another detective that worked with Ted Bundy (after Bundy was in prison) to get insight into the Green River Killer.
I ended up having to miss most of the movie, but I have to think that Reichert is one sharp cookie if he's the same one!
I understand what you're saying and under normal circumstances that may approach poor taste. On the flip side, his opponent Dave Ross is a Seattle left wing radio personality. He announced his campaign on his show and took his sweet time getting himself off the air while all the time spouting his political diatribe.
Same guy
Two wrongs don't make a right, though. The Washington Republican Party should file a complaint with FCC about the opponent using his radio show to promote his candidacy. The sheriff's office should have sent out the piece (still great for Reichert's campaign), but keep it entirely official, without mentioning the campaign.
We attack Democrats about not playing by the rules all the time. We have to make sure that we still do.
agree...What the RATS really upset about, is they lost two more liberal voters. :/
The Dems are blowing this way out of proportion, which will work to Reichert's advantage. When I looked up the press release I was expecting blatent pro Riechert comments, and instead go this....
http://www.metrokc.gov/sheriff/news/article.aspx?id=99
Reichert Leads Pursuit of Stolen Car
You can turn a cop into a politician, but apparently a cop is always a cop!! At least you are talking about Sheriff Dave Reichert!
One day after his big win in the primaries, our Sheriff got into a pursuit of a stolen car. The suspect, a convicted felon, was eventually caught and booked into the Regional Justice Center and faces multiple charges.
The incident began yesterday, September 15th, about 1:40 PM. Reichert was driving his unmarked police car in the 17900 block of SE Lake Holm Road, east of Auburn. He saw a 1999 Honda driving recklessly. When he tried to pull the car over using the lights and siren on his car, the suspect vehicle took off and refused to stop.
The pursuit continued just a couple of minutes or less, before Sheriff Reichert discontinued chasing the car because the driver was driving too erratically.
However a witness who saw the pursuit happened to see the suspect car again a few minutes later. He followed it to a house in the 33300 block of SE 179th. The witness watched as a man and a woman get out of the Honda. After calling the Sheriff’s Office, he saw the woman putting the Honda under a car cover.
Deputies converged on the scene, and the man and woman were arrested. The Honda had been stolen from Olympia. During a search of the vehicle, deputies located a shotgun that may also be stolen. Since the suspect is a convicted felon, he is also facing possible charges of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
A second Honda was found at the residence. While the license plates were switched with another car, deputies determined this Honda was Seattle stolen.
The driver of the fleeing vehicle was a 22 year-old man who gave a Puyallup home address. The woman in the car provided an Auburn address. She is 25 years old. Both were booked. Both are very familiar with booking procedures at the RJC. The male suspect is also on “Active Supervision” with the Dept. of Corrections.
ping to #18.
The press release was not over the top. The dems are making a big deal out of nothing.
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