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Spokane Sheriff Asked to Disarm Before Entering Spokane Arena
On Saturday night, a charity hockey game took place in Spokane, WA. Spokane Law Enforcement played Tri-City Law Enforcement, with proceeds going to the Behind the Badge Foundation.
Don't forget tonight's Law Enforcement Rivalry Hockey Game & @spokanechiefs game v. Tri City #HopeToSeeYouThere #SCSO #Spokane @SpokanePD pic.twitter.com/0n16djy9db
— SpokaneSheriffOffice (@SpokaneSheriff) February 11, 2017
Wanting to support fellow law enforcement, Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich made his way to the Spokane Arena. Then, this happened…
Ran into a new level of insanity at the Spokane Arena tonight they disarmed an on duty law enforcement officer tonight. Me. Amazing
— Ozzie Knezovich (@SheriffOzzie) February 12, 2017
Photo by Patrick Erickson.
Re-read it if you must, but yes, the Sheriff of Spokane County was denied entry into the Spokane Arena because he had his service weapon on him. This gun. This normal-looking, standard gun, similar to the one carried by nearly every single member of law enforcement in America…
The Spokesman-Review has more details:
The no-weapons rule enacted at the Spokane Arena a few months ago snagged an unintended victim Saturday night – Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich.
Knezovich arrived at the arena for the Spokane law enforcement vs. Tri-Cities law enforcement charity event before the Spokane Chiefs hockey game when he was forced to disarm himself before going inside.
“They disarmed me at the door and I’m on duty,” he said. “I had to go put my gun in the car.”
Knezovich said he didn’t have time to argue because he had to get inside, though he plans to follow up with arena officials. “It was just a new level of insanity,” he said. “On-duty police officers do not get disarmed.”
Kevin Twohig, executive director of the Public Facilities District that operates the arena, said he couldn’t comment on the incident because he did not know what had happened. In general, on-duty officers in uniform are allowed to keep their guns, but officers not in uniform are not, he said.
“If they’re not in uniform how would we know they’re on duty?” he said.
Knezovich said he was wearing a suit with a badge on the lapel. The security staff recognized him and were apologetic, he said.
“This is atrocious,” he said. “Every year I go there. Every year I’ve been armed.”
KHQ reporter Patrick Erickson talked to Sheriff Knezovich after the game:
UPDATE: @SpokaneSheriff Ozzie Knezovich talking to me about being asked to disarm before entering the @SpokaneArena. @KHQLocalNews pic.twitter.com/vh22qIzseG
— Patrick Erickson KHQ (@patrickerickson) February 12, 2017
As the Sheriff reminds KHQ:
“Many, many of the active shooter type situations that happen in this nation have been stopped by off duty police officers carrying their weapons.”
Sheriff Knezovich is spot on, and what happened to him is a ridiculous mistake that will hopefully lead to employees of the Spokane Arena told to do their jobs correctly. Jobs that don’t include disarming the Sheriff, or any other member of law enforcement, who helps protect their lives everyday.
With guns.
Published in General
Cameron wrote:
“As the Sheriff reminds KHQ:
Sheriff Knezovich is spot on, and what happened to him is a ridiculous mistake that will hopefully lead to employees of the Spokane Arena told to do their jobs correctly. Jobs that don’t include disarming the Sheriff, or any other member of law enforcement, who helps protect their lives everyday.
With guns.”
TR: True. Consider this example. Mass shooting at a SLC mall, in which five people were murdered. Off-duty cop confronts and engages shooter until SWAT team can arrive. Saved many lives.
Yes and how indignant would he be if Spokane had conceal or open carry and an average law abiding citizen was not just refused entry but had the cops called on him because of the threat he might pose? Where would Sheriff Ozzie be when he showed up to see this hypothetical citizen face down on the ground in cuffs without having broken any laws? Sorry, not sympathetic at all.
You didn’t bother to research him before you wrote this, did you? :)
https://www.nraila.org/articles/20130221/nra-life-of-duty-features-spokane-county-sheriff-office
https://www.nrapvf.org/articles/20141021/majority-of-washington-state-sheriffs-oppose-i-594
https://ballotpedia.org/Washington_Universal_Background_Checks_for_Gun_Purchases,_Initiative_594_(2014)
“Are you aware I’m one of the few Sheriffs to be endorsed by the NRA for my work on gun rights?” at https://www.facebook.com/SheriffOzzie2018/
I’ve argued a few times on Ricochet for deference to property rights. Damn it if some idiot doesn’t go so far as to make it indefensible. I guess there’s no idea so good that it can’t be ruined by a big enough fool.
Well this is heartening, I will grant that.
I think how he handled it is a testimony to his professionalism.
Well, the next mass shooter knows where to go. I wonder if they will disarm the cops who respond?
Yet another reason for eastern Washington to become its own state.
I live in the nearby suburb of Spokane Valley, by the way.
Living in the western part of Washington is like being in California. Without the sun. Taxed, regulated and lectured for being insufficiently Progressive.
Eastern Washington feels like a different world.
Maureen, join the Pacific Northwest Ricochetti group!
This is the State of Washington, where our state AG and the 9th Circus Court of Appeals held that Trump’s “travel ban” would cause IRREPARABLE HARM to the state. I’m ashamed to live in the state sometimes.
Ha! Try being a lawyer, here! ;)
I don’t know how the “no weapons in the arena” policy is written, but if people were able to think for themsleves, this wouldn’t be a problem. Nowadays, many stupid things are being done under the excuse of following the rules. TSA agents are patting down children and the elderly because they can’t think for themselves. If you want to get picky, you could classify a hockey stick as a weapon. Disarming the team would make for a pretty boring game, though.
I dunno. I might finally be able to follow the puck.
That’s the funniest thing I’ve read in a while. How does it feel, copper?
As @publius noted, the Sheriff is a good guy. But I’m with @robertmcreynolds, Not Sympathetic At All.
Concealed carry permit holders are 10x to 100x more law-abiding than sworn officers of the law, judged by the rates of permit revocations versus felony convictions of officers. So, if it is rational to disarm private citizens with carry permits, it is equally rational to disarm non-uniformed law enforcement. Hey, and as a bonus, it makes sure any mass murderer can quickly identify all of his opponents.
Life imitates art. Yesterday, I was reading a novel and had to read aloud a passage to my wife that described a female homicide detective entering a diner with two uniformed officers.
The snotty clerk informs them they have to leave because there is a no-guns sign and policy. The uniformed officers and detective politely turn to leave, deciding not to make a scene. The homicide detective turns back, though, and says, “I’d like you to give your family and coworkers a message.”… “Tell them that if a wide-eyed tweaker, all the muscles in his face twitching from a big hit of meth, ever comes in waving a gun or puts a knife to your throat, I would like them not to call these officers but instead call me.” When the snot asked why, she said “I am a homicide detective. On the one who will come to draw a chalk line outline around your corpse.” Nest: A Thriller by Terry Goodkind.
A local restaurant refused service to a uniformed policeman because he had his sidearm with him. I now refuse to enter that restaurant, because I know now (as does every potential criminal) that the safest place in town to commit armed robbery is that restaurant.
If you are uncomfortable with uniformed policemen bearing arms, you better get comfortable with being a victim of thugs bearing arms.
Oh boo hoo. I can appreciate that this sheriff is apparently a supporter of the inherent right to self defense, but when entering a public place he should have no greater right to self protection than anyone else. I for one am glad to see that law enforcement officers are finally starting to see the same level of discrimination as the average joe.
Does living in this state make people stupid?
Please make note @philturmel, re comment #17, those mass murderers would be subject to the same disarming at the door, no worries there.
Heh!
Is the Sokane Arena a private facility or a governmental unit? If the former, in the absence of contravening law, they are within their rights, however foolish of them. If the latter, how can they exclude law enforcement officers?
The only time I ever disarmed was before I entered booking. Gun was placed in the trunk, and then my prisoner was removed from the car, I never took my cuffs off the prisoner until I had him in jail cuffs.
I never disarmed when I was on duty except for booking intake, period.