Weighing in
A weekly look at reader comments and reactions to the news
Readers reacted strongly to news of a police shooting that left 74-year-old pastor and Spokane Valley businessman W. Scott Creach dead after he apparently mistook an unmarked police car in his nursery and greenhouse parking lot for a prowler and armed himself with a pistol before heading out to investigate. Disclosures that the officer involved wouldn’t be interviewed by investigators or publicly identified for two to three days also drew strong reaction. Find complete coverage of the ongoing story and the full reader debate at www.spokesman.com.
Lewis: Pretty sad when an owner of property gets killed by the very person paid to protect him.
Shanusmaximus: These kinds of incidents make me want to think twice about calling the police for help of any kind. I do realize that we don’t know the full story, but when you shoot an old man? Did the officer actually think he might be the prowler? I don’t want to dehumanize the officer – he must feel terrible and this is something he is going to have to live with the rest of his life. My condolences go out to the Creach family and friends.
Monkeyman: Wasn’t a Taser originally meant to substitute a gun in such cases? Now it is used by the lazy officers as a lasso to tackle unruly people including moms and the mentally challenged.
Teenyots: People, we obviously do not have the whole story. BUT … it shames me that some of you people are so quick to judge the police officers that put their lives on the line daily to protect us. Most of those professionals take their jobs seriously and do a great job. You will be the same ones that some day, if your life is in danger, the police will think nothing of saving your life.
Nspacek: They have a tough job no doubt but I personally know of at least 20 officers in this area and Idaho that will be disgusted by this incident. They take their job as protectors very seriously, and actions like this give them a bad name. If you are that afraid of your job you don’t need to be doing it!
Msjean: This is simply obscene, If this kind of person – a pastor – cannot be reasoned with, deflated or an intervention of some kind cannot be done to prevent this kind of tragedy, I feel passionately there is a breakdown in training or that our officers need to address how they understand service and protection.
Zelda Krup: “As per department policy, investigators won’t speak with the officer until 48 hours after the incident … .” What’s the rationale for waiting two days?
de3: Similarly, do public citizens have the same right to not be questioned for 48 hours?