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A Strange Occurance at Unity in the Community

Submitted by UnkemptTide on Sun, 07/02/2006 - 10:54am.

Citizen Oversight of OPD

The Unity in the Community Festival has been a very positive and empowering event today. Folks from all over Thurston county came out to express their support for the speakers and organizations that have been working hard to put together this event and oppose the Nazi presence in Olympia. Speakers from Stone Wall Youth, OMJP, Religous groups, the Mayors from Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater, and many more spoke in support of diversity, equality and anit-racism. Youth played games; perfomers danced, sang and celebrated the day. One of these groups was Scream Club, a well known rap duo from Olympia.
During Scream Club's set, while performing a song titled "What the Fucking Shit," the power to the park was cut off unexpectedly. A State Patrol officer was seen shutting down the power box and said the group was to leave because their music was found to be offensive. Officer 457, E. T. Wickman, claimed the language used was offensive to many and was considered disorderly conduct. Before Scream Club had begun to perform the song, they gave a disclamer telling the crowd that there may be offensive language. The actions taken by the officer were done without dialogue with the event organizers or the group. It was also done at the expense of the sound system operator since shutting down all that equipment improperly can damage it.
When Officer Wickman was confronted at his vehicle about his actions, a sticker was spotted displayed on the dash of his car. It read something to the effect of: Do not stand within 100 feet of this vehicle or you will be shot; followed by Arabic writing, presumably of the same nature. When told that the sticker he displayed in his dash was offensive, he walked away from the conversation. Another officer from the OPD said that the sticker is displayed as a joke. Does that still make it okay?
Tommorow the Nazi's rally on the steps of the capital. It is highly likely that many will find their retoric offensive. Will the police be willing to take the same actions they took today against the Nazis? If not, why?
For a community so big on "Free Speech," behavior like this surprises and disappoints me.

Doesn't the OPD...

Submitted by Rick on Sun, 07/02/2006 - 12:35pm.

...have to have received a complaint to take that kind of action? Does anyone know?

Here's the City of Oly

Submitted by Mike on Sun, 07/02/2006 - 2:05pm.

Here's the City of Oly Compliments and Complaints webpage.

You can also email the city manager Steve Hall at cityhall@ci.olympia.wa.us

Use "Attn: Steve Hall. Comment on Employee Service" in the subject line and your email is supposed to go right to him.

Here's a link to the City's basic complaint form.

I don't like the sticker at all, it's unprofessional. I was at the event about 2:30 for a while, then back at the close. I wouldn't have cared for the obscenity music. It's just rough on my ears. Seems like the officer should have coordinated the shutdown with the sound guy instead of taking preemptive action, but we live in the preemptive world now.

If I remember correctly, the

Submitted by Phil Owen on Sun, 07/02/2006 - 3:52pm.

If I remember correctly, the offending sticker was on a State Patrol car, not an OPD unit. Would you mind posting the link to the State Patrol complaints form again Mike?

WSP Links

Submitted by Mike on Mon, 07/03/2006 - 5:18am.

As you wish.

If you want to file a complaint against a Washington State Patrol officer, here is the complaint link.

If you want to leave a compliment for a Washington State Patrol officer, here is the compliment link.

This IS Strange

Submitted by Julie on Sun, 07/02/2006 - 3:57pm.

I just sent a complaint to Steve, however, I'm wondering if complaints should go elsewhere since it is a state patrol person? I'm asking that the sticker on the dash be removed. I say, "We are not living in times where terror of any kind is funny."

I am highly opposed to Police Officers shutting down community created events. If I don't like the music I leave. He should have taken the complaint to the organizers of the event. Police do not get to determine our culture, music, or art.

I consider myself pretty

Submitted by OperaGirl on Sun, 07/02/2006 - 1:52pm.

I consider myself pretty darn laid back about most things but I would be awfully pissed off if I had my 7 and 2 1/2 year old at a "family friendly" event and then someone started singing a song called "What the fucking shit". Now I would also never assume that a Nazi rally would be a family friendly event and wouldn't have my kids there because I know 100% that there will be things said that I don't want them exposed to at this time. I am not sure what I think about the officer turning off the power.

When something is billed as

Submitted by breathe on Mon, 07/03/2006 - 6:35am.

When something is billed as a family friendly event, it is a bit surprising to suddenly be surrounded by loud repititions of 'what the fuckin' shit'. I can think of many other venues in which that song would not have surprised me, and I might have actually enjoyed it- but since I was there with my 6 year old, I decided to involve myself in a detailed conversation about what the rally was all about as a diversionary tactic instead.

And really, so they made a disclaimer. What did they expect? A bunch of uncomfortable parents to stand up & say, "Actually, we'd rather you didn't..."

I think that that choice for that venue was in rather poor taste.

Now, the cop & his sign is another story altogether. That is downright offensive, and should not be tolerated. I am surprised that such 'decorations' are allowed on such a public vehicle.

I don't find the sticker

Submitted by OperaGirl on Sun, 07/02/2006 - 1:53pm.

I don't find the sticker funny either!

same here

Submitted by emmettoconnell on Sun, 07/02/2006 - 2:59pm.

I would not have been pissed off had I been at the Eastside, but in Sylvester Park, I think there is a different standard.

And, asking if the Nazis will be held to the same standard of decency, I try to hold myself to a higher standard of behavior than members of the Nationalist Socialist movement.

And, what the hell is up with that sticker anyway?

There's a big difference

Submitted by Meta Hogan on Sun, 07/02/2006 - 3:25pm.

There's a big difference between obscenities, which are meaninglessly offensive, and truly offensive ideas of substance that are protected. Go figure. Beyond just Wickman talking to the sound guy... the organizers should have been better prepared, and warned people far in advance. THE COMPLAINT: I think someone did complain, as there were a few vitriolic tidbits in the OlyComm.

The sticker? Echth. If I joked about having a bomb, I'd be arrested. And this guy actually has a gun, displayed. And a badge. Even if I had never done anything wrong, had my hair done all nice, and had my polite voice on, I wouldn't want to talk with him. I can just hear it now: "This hundred-foot radius, love it or leave it, little lady!" Excuse me, after this awkward tittering about his funny joke, I'm going to go throw up through gritted teeth.

Bad ideas galore.

Submitted by Phil Owen on Sun, 07/02/2006 - 3:44pm.

First off, I was walking down to the park as that music was playing. It wouldn't be a problem in some place like the Manium, in fact the band wasn't bad for what they do. But I was a bit shocked at hearing obsenities echoing off buildings downtown, and coming from a "family-friendly" event. Real, real bad taste.

I think that the events that had just happened, with the obsene music, discredited the people who were harping on the officer. It was kind of like, "Well, we're in trouble, so we better find someone else to be in trouble too." If we are to hold another person accountable for inappropriate behavior, we must be above reproach ourselves.

That said, the sticker WAS racist, threatened violence, and was EXTREMELY inappropriate. I'm absolutely horrified. I remember hearing about officers in King and Pierce counties being censured and even fired for watching porn on their squad car computers. Watching porn is small beans in comparison with threatening to kill an Arab for coming within firing range. The officer displaying that sticker should be fired immediately, with no questions asked.

"above reproach"?

Submitted by Meta Hogan on Sun, 07/02/2006 - 3:58pm.

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. I guess I'll never criticize anyone ever again. Hey, hey--stop cheering, guys... hey, that's not nice. I'm serious.

Definition of Disorderly Conduct

Submitted by V-ster on Mon, 07/03/2006 - 8:27am.

I understand that the Nazi's used profanity moments ago, and so I wondered, What is the definition of disorderly conduct?

RCW 9A.84.030

Disorderly conduct.

(1) A person is guilty of disorderly conduct if he:

     (a) Uses abusive language and thereby intentionally creates a risk of assault; or

     (b) Intentionally disrupts any lawful assembly or meeting of persons without lawful authority; or

     (c) Intentionally obstructs vehicular or pedestrian traffic without lawful authority.

     (2) Disorderly conduct is a misdemeanor.

So interesting that yesterday's performance was shut down, but the Nazi's aren't.

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