7 Burst results for "Johnny Durkin"
KIRO Radio 97.3 FM
"johnny durkin" Discussed on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM
"We've been telling you, it is rather shocking a couple of weeks ago. On our show, a attorney announced a federal lawsuit against the city of Seattle for giving up parts of Capitol Hill giving up the East Precinct for Chazz Chop. We had two teenagers who were murdered during that time. The mother of one of those victims is now suing the city of Seattle, but shockingly not only have months of Jenny Durkin's text messages, including June of last year vaporized that disappeared. But same is true for June of last year for former police chief Carmen Best Fire chief Harold Scoggins. Toby Nixon is with Washington Coalition for Open government. He's there. President emeritus. He joins us here on the door in months and show Hey, Toby, It's good to talk to you this afternoon, my door E. It's a pleasure. So tell me because he's open records. Laws are so important. For those of us whether it's in the media or private citizens who want to be watchdogs of government. They're so important and so tell me about this violation and how significant you find it today. Well, there are two separate parts of the law. The first is retention that the records have to be kept for certain periods of time. And the second is the disclosure. The disclosure laws, the public records Act. And the key issue here is that the records were not kept as long as the law requires them to be kept, and it's simply Irresponsible to set any kind of records device any device that can contain records to automatically delete them after any period of time. There needs to be control over that. And there was a serious mistake made here well, And that was Johnny Durkin's excuse is Jenny Turkey and six you. She said that her cell phone was set to delete text messages automatically after 30 days. Should she have known better should you have known exactly what the law said? Absolutely all public officials in Washington state are required to receive training. And records, retention and disclosure, and there's really no excuse to not be aware of the fact that based on the content of records, they have to be kept for some period time and There certainly is one category of records called transitory records that only have to be kept as long as they're useful. But the vast majority of records, including All communications by elected officials have to be kept at least two years and in many cases forever. After that, two years, they have to be assessed by the state archives for their historical value. That just didn't happen here. Well, Jenny Durkin says she doesn't know who sent her phone to auto delete after 30 days. Is that a reasonable excuse? If she just says somebody else set my phone? I have no idea what's happening. Well, I would say that it's Every individual's responsibility who is a creator or custodian of records to ensure that the right thing is happening, especially when it's the mayor who is the chief executive of the city who oversees everybody in the city to make sure that the records they're being retained for as long as the law requires. Apparently, there are lots of other public officials is there mentioned Carmen Best chief Scoggins, all their text messages from June of 2020. When we were at the peak of Chazz chop, they have all disappeared. Which leads a lot of us, Toby to think that there's some conspiracy going on. You've been dealing with this for a long time You have been at the at the Vanguard. Of making sure we have open records for a politician. So what's your reaction just from either personal or professional level? When we hear about all these top officials who were the primary decision makers in giving up these precinct, giving up Chad's job? What's your reaction when you hear that all of their text messages? Are gone from June of 2020. It is absolutely very suspicious story. Um it's one thing for one senior official. The same iPhone was accidentally set wrong, but for All of the ones who were involved in these critical decision making process is to somehow say all all my messages were accidentally lost. That stinks to high heaven. Jenny Durkin says she has some digital forensic people trying to recover the messages she is telling us now. That she's happy and eager for those messages to be recovered. Should shouldn't they be able to whoever wants tax them whether that's the the attorneys who are filing a lawsuit against city can't they just go to the phone company? Aren't they stored on some server with all these cellular providers? That is correct, I I'm on Verizon, for example, and I can go to v tex dot com. And see all my text messages, however, once they're deleted on the phone there also deleted on the server, so it's like the server. Is a backup for messages that have not yet been deleted. So for example, if you lose your phone You can restore the messages that had not been deleted. Uh, but I'm not sure if there's any permanent archives kept on those servers. Ah, lot of agencies use third party software that Daily goes up to those wireless carrier servers and downloads all the messages and stores them separately, and the state archives advises agencies to do that. No. Jenny Durkin is telling us that she hopes the recovered because we're not gonna find any smoking gun. What if we do? I mean, if if they do somehow recover them or if they never recover them. What is the punishment for public officials violating the law like this? So it depends on which portion of the law for the records retention law, it's to knowingly willfully intentionally delete records. Eyes a felony. Depending on the nature of the records. It can be a Class B or Class C felony on D You can also be found guilty of failing to perform a duty imposed upon a public official. That's a Mr Meter. You could be subject to recall on the basis of this. Obeying those laws. Um, in terms of the public records Act that disclosure part of it. There are two individual penalties for those, the agency can have to pay a penalty of up to $100 per record per day. On. Unfortunately, that means the taxpayers are paying that penalty, not the individual officials, but for destroying records before the law allows them to be destroyed. There are individual criminal penalties for that. Well, if my memory serves correct, Toby I think a Class B felony has penalties up to 10 years in prison. A classy up to five years in prison. Is there any chance Is there any chance At the Seattle mayor, the former police chief, the fire chief, if it is determined that they willfully deleted these messages to keep things from the public, is there any chance they'd go to prison for this? It's small, and the reason is that you have to convince a prosecutor Do you actually file those charges and pursue them and Would Pete Holmes or dance? Satur Berg really do that? I have my doubts where we've seen this law used in Washington in the past, and this is why I think there is some chance of it. Is, if it can be shown that the official was having records destroyed, you know, directing their staff to destroy the records or destroying them themselves. In order to cover up Personal wrongdoing. That is when prosecutors around the state have used this law in the past. Yeah. Could Holmes there Satur Bird be convinced to do that? I don't know. Well, I mean, come on. We're a one party state. They all give protection rackets to each other all the way to Bob Ferguson. But the ages office there's no way that they would ever try to put Jenny Durkin in prison. It's just and that's what's so frustrating to me told me that you know, all of us are expected to obey the law, all of us face punishment. But man there is so much cronyism and protection rackets that are going on with things like this. I you know, I agree with your initial reaction. There's no way the dance Saturday, Berg Or or Pete Holmes would do that. The only way it could happen or with Bob Ferguson as well is if the public rose up kind of the way the public rose up and demanded that Governor Isley Vito The Legislature's exempting itself from the public records law, right if if there was enough political pressure from the general public put on these prosecutors To take the right action to do the right thing and if they were thinking ahead to their political futures Then maybe they could be persuaded. So what you're saying is it's up to me to rile up the public on this. You're very good at that. Dorie Toby. It's really great talking with you Appreciate your time this afternoon. You're welcome. Thanks. All right. Toby Dixson is the president emeritus of the Washington Coalition.
News, Traffic and Weather
Barr asked prosecutors to explore charging Seattle mayor over protest zone
"From The New York Times put Seattle in the spotlight, Attorney General William Barr reportedly told federal prosecutors to consider charges against rioters. And tonight he's asking the Justice Department to explore possible criminal charges against Mayor Johnny Durkin for allowing the Capitol Hill occupied protest known as Chop to form. It's all part of a nationwide crackdown on protests. Violence comes Joe Moran alive tonight with the mayor's response and the legal implications, Joe Preston Durkin calls this effort just the latest abuse of power by the Trump administration. And some legal scholars agree. The lawlessness that descended on the Capitol Hill organized protest or chop may lead. The legal action by federal prosecutors for the New York Times says Attorney General William Barr singled out Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan is responsible for the violence that unfolded His own, where police steered clear. They're saying that the mayor may have violated criminal statutes, and it's very serious criminal statutes simply based on the discretionary decisions that she made where to deploy. The police went to pull them back Bar also once rioters charged with sedition trying to overthrow the government. It's a statute constitutional law professor Andy Segal calls archaic, but basically it is a junior versus city treason charge for her part, Dirk and accuses the Trump Administration of using the Justice Department for political purposes just weeks away from an election, saying It is particularly egregious to try to use a civil rights laws to investigate, intimidate or deter those that are fighting for civil rights in our country. Siegel doubts Durkin would ever be charged and sees this as a play for swing voters. I mean, I think it's mostly about the reelection, it's about how they're centering these protests and try in the election campaign and trying to make make it seem like the U. S. Is under attack. The mayor has a fuller statement that we've posted on Cuomo news dot com and she is expected to address the matter directly during a press availability tomorrow. Back to you All right, Joe. Thanks, And now there's this within the last couple of hours. U. S Attorney, Brian Moran released a statement about this New York Times report writing that he's had multiple conversations with Department of Justice leadership about protests in Seattle and the chops only said quote. At No time is anyone at the department communicated to me. The Seattle mayor Jenny Durkan, is was or should be the subject of a criminal investigation or should be charged. As you may recall, the chop zone evolved out of the protests that began in Seattle. Back in May, Protesters gathered on Capitol Hill for days. On June 1st police set up a barricade to protect the East Precinct. In a week later, the barricades were removed. That's what protesters took over six blocks of the neighborhood. Calling at the chop zone on June 22nd Mayor Durkin declared. It was time for people to go home and two days later. Some chop organizer's tweeted that the project was indeed over. On July 1st. The police moved in after Mayor Dirk and issued an executive order authorising police to clear the streets
Noon Report with Rick Van Cise
Feds Sending Tactical Team to Seattle, Expanding Presence Beyond Portland
"A team of federal agents is on standby and prepared to defend federal property in Seattle. Him, Mayor Johnny Durkin says she'll take legal action if they intervene in protests like they have in Portland. American seem to speak directly to President Trump when she said she's worried Seattle will see the same same escalation escalation has has seen seen down down South. South. It It is is frightening frightening that that you you would would use use federal federal agents agents for for political political purposes, purposes, and and we we know know the the president, president, by by his his own own words words has has stated stated he is doing that he's purposely targeting cities run by Democrats were better than that as a country Dirk and also asked protesters not to quote, take the bait and give federal agents a reason to arrest them. Mr. Trump has said repeatedly he would use federal forces to quell violence in America's cities.
Morning News with Manda Factor and Gregg Hersholt
Seattle City Council debates how to defund police department
"Two weeks to figure out what cuts to make to the Police Department budget for the rest of the year. A majority of the council supports a 50% cut that would amount to about $85 million. Mayor Johnny Durkin is proposing a $20 million cut. Protesters in
The Boom X Show with Darol Tuttle
Seattle PD chief lays out what 50% budget cut would mean for police force
"Carmen Best is warning of severe cuts. If the city slashes the Police Department's budget in half. Last night, she laid out what de funding would actually look like comas. Cole Miller is more with a national focus on police reform sweeping the country. The city of Seattle is gaining widespread attention after Or a majority of City Council members say they support funding SPD by 50%. It is undoubtedly a polarizing debate chief Carmen Best releasing this video message Friday. To be honest with you. No matter which way things go. There will be further cuts not only to SPD but citywide. And she also sent this letter to Mayor Johnny Durkin, highlighting what she says What happened, Southwest Precinct would have to shut its doors and overall, the department would be forced to terminate or transfer roughly 1100 employees, leaving just 630 deployable sworn members. Homicide and violent crimes team would be thinned down to less than 25 people and with sexual assault cases less than 10 detectives dedicated to those investigations. Other specialty units such as auto theft, burglary, domestic violence, narcotics and vice chief Best says she sees no way to maintain them. The harbor unit Traffic unit and SWAT team would be done away with almost
The Boom X Show with Darol Tuttle
Seattle PD chief lays out what 50% budget cut would mean for police force
"Seattle police chief Carmen Best is warning of severe cuts of the city slashes the Police department's budget in half. Last night, she laid out what de funding would actually look like Homo school. Miller has more with a national focus on police reform sweeping the country. The city of Seattle is gaining widespread attention after a majority of City Council members say they support funding. 50%. It is undoubtedly a polarizing debate chief Carmen Best releasing this video message Friday. To be honest with you, no matter which way things go. There will be further cuts not only to SPD but citywide. And she also sent this letter to Mayor Johnny Durkin, highlighting what she says What happened to the Southwest precinct would have to shut its doors and overall, the department would be forced to terminate or transfer roughly 1100 employees, leaving just 630 deployable sworn members. Homicide and violent crimes team would be thinned down to less than 25 people and with sexual assault cases less than 10 detectives dedicated to those investigations. Other specialty units such as auto theft, burglary, domestic violence, narcotics and vice chief Best says she sees no way to maintain them Harbor Unit traffic unit. And SWAT team would be done away with
News, Traffic and Weather
Seattle Police Chief Responds To 50 Percent Defunding Proposal
"Seattle police chief Carmen Best warning of severe cuts If the city slashes the police department's budget in half tonight, she laid out what de funding would actually look like was called Miller Starts are live team coverage coverage with with a a breakdown breakdown of of what what would would be be on on the the chopping chopping block, block, Cole. Cole. Mary Mary Preston. Preston. It It was was a a little little more more than than one one month month ago ago when when protesters protesters were were here here outside outside of of the the East East Precinct, Precinct, first, first, demanding demanding those those massive massive cuts cuts to to the the Seattle Seattle Police Police Department Department budget budget if if it it were were to to happen, happen, chief chief Best Best says says there there would would be be drastic drastic cuts cuts to to the the number number of homicide detectives ableto work cases and that a lot more work would be put on the shoulders of far fewer patrol officers. With a national focus on police reform sweeping the country. The city of Seattle is gaining widespread attention after a majority of City Council members say they support funding SPD by 50%. It is undoubtedly a polarizing debate chief Carmen Best releasing this video message Friday. To be honest with you, no matter which way things go. There will be further cuts not only to SPD A citywide, and she also sent this letter to Mayor Johnny Durkin, highlighting what she says what happened, the Southwest precinct would have to shut its doors and overall, the department would be forced to terminate or transfer roughly 1100 employees, leaving just 630 deployable sworn members. The homicide and violent crimes team would be thinned down to less than 25 people. And with sexual assault cases less than 10 detectives dedicated to those investigations. Other specialty units such as auto theft, burglary, domestic violence, narcotics and vice chief Best says she sees no way to maintain them. The harbor unit Traffic unit and SWAT team would be done away with. I do not believe we should ask the people of Seattle to test out a theory that crime goes away if police go away. That is completely reckless. And up to this point, the mayor has agreed to cut as PDS budget by 5%. We reached out to her office as well as every city Council member tonight, hoping to get some reaction to what the chief had to say. We did not hear back