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.”
KHQÂ 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: Â True. Â Consider this example. Â Mass shooting at a SLC mall, in which five people were murdered. Â Off-duty cop confronts and engages shooter until SWAT team can arrive. Â 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.