Brian Wurts Lakewood Wa 28th District
As you may know Brian Wurts is a Republican candidate in the 28th District challenging incumbent Democrat Tami Green. We oppose Mr. Wurts for several reasons which you will find
Here following is a list of the salient events in Mr. Wurts’ law enforcement career that cause us to question his judgment and decision-making capacity.
Wurts hits fellow officer with his patrol car
Source:
· Tacoma News Tribune, March 19, 2007
December 28, 2005
Wurts hits fellow officer with his patrol car while chasing a suspected car thief. “I still have a replay of short video in my head every day.” – Wurts. The officer that was hit lived and was back on duty at the time of this Tacoma News Tribune story, March 19, 2007. A year after the accident, Police Chief Larry Saunders ruled Wurts could not have avoided the accident.
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Wurts sued, Lakewood settles for $150,000
Sources:
· Tacoma News Tribune, October 27, 2008
· Public Disclosure document: 50 page complaint
· Public Disclosure document: Email from Lakewood City Attorney Heidi Wachter to Lakewood City Manager Andrew Neiditz, July 22, 2009
August 11, 2006
Brian Wurts was named in a $7.4 million lawsuit in which he was charged with “assault and battery, false arrest, use of excessive force, false imprisonment, and negligent infliction of emotional distress” when, in his own words he, Brian Wurts was “in full department uniform. . .I feared for my safety” in arresting 64-year-old Kwang Yoon (5’7”, 135 pounds) outside Chips Casino, August 11, 2006.
The 50-page complaint states that Wurts “violently threw to the ground Plaintiff Kwang Yoon” and then “dragged him to the police vehicle by his shattered arm”. X-Ray evidence demonstrated that Yoon was severely injured during this arrest, and that four corrective surgeries were required. “He (Yoon) was not charged with a crime stemming from his arrest, according to state court records.”
A public disclosure request revealed that the City of Lakewood paid $150,000 (plus $3,145.41 “deductible reimbursement”, August 11, 2006) to settle the Yoon lawsuit. An email from City Attorney Heidi Wachter to City Manager Andrew Neiditiz on July 22, 2009 stated, “The first two (there was a second lawsuit naming Wurts by an individual Carey which was settled for $15,000), while very defensible, have aspects that suggest they could have become expensive in terms of defense as well as in potential exposure.”
Wurts threatens the cut of essential services if initiative passes
Sources:
· Tacoma News Tribune Op-ed by Brian Wurts, August 14, 2008
Tax revenues from casinos help make Lakewood safer
· Pro-gambling mailer
August 14, 2008
If the people’s initiative to ban gambling (Proposition One, November, 2008) were to succeed, Brian Wurts said the bulk of the revenue lost would come from public safety. “The initiative would cut approximately $2.8 million in tax revenue to the city, of which $1.8 million would be cut from the police department.” (TNT, August 14, 2008)
The opposition to Prop.1 stated the following in their mailer: “Proposition 1 leaves Lakewood NO choice. . .deep, painful cuts across the board in city services . . .police department will lose 11 officers. . .neighborhood policing programs, including Community Service officers, will be eliminated. . .Human services will lose more than $525,000 in city support. . .No matter how the city prioritizes, there is no other choice.”
Former Lakewood Deputy Mayor John Arbeeny however disagreed:
“Clearly public safety has been targeted for the majority (64%) of personnel cuts (16 of 25). Why haven’t support staff and overhead been equally cut? 25 fewer employees require less overhead support. Employee compensation is going up 8%+[i] in 2009 after several 7.5% annual increases. That’s unsustainable.
“The alternative solution is: freeze employee compensation at 2008 levels saving $1.8M; increase employee health care contributions to 10% saving $200,000; a hiring freeze saving $250,000; cut overhead across the board by 3% saving $450,000 and tap the reserve (about $6M) for the balance of $100,000. That equals $2.8M with no personnel or service cuts.”
Pierce County, in 2008, was facing a $7M deficit (triple that of Lakewood but was making NO public safety cuts despite the fact that public safety makes up 75% of its General Fund ($201M of $268M).[ii]
Lakewood’s public safety is 60% of the general fund and a $1.8M cut was proposed if Prop.1 passed, a total of 11 officers.
For cost savings measures Pierce County was pursuing the following:
1. Prioritizing spending and focusing on the county’s core services.
2. A possible restructuring of departments to eliminate administrative overhead.
3. Greater emphasis on carrying out the recommendations of various performance audits.
4. Cutting spending for community and social service groups.
5. Banning out-of-state travel by county employees.
6. Freezing all hiring in county general fund departments, excluding public safety and criminal justice.
Wurts declares no knowledge of gambling negative affects
Sources:
· Tacoma News Tribune, February 21, 2008
· Tacoma News Tribune, August 14, 2008
Tax revenues from casinos help make Lakewood safer
· The Suburban Times, February 24, 2010
http://www.thesubtimes.com/2010/02/15/13372/#comment-3639
· Public Disclosure documents: State Gambling Commission
August 14, 2008
In comments to a letter to the editor of thesubtimes.com on Feb.24, 2010, Wurts wrote, “I am against banning our lawful casinos because they simply do not cause problems.” Wurts further wrote, “With all of my contacts in domestic disputes over 14 years you would think I have ever heard a fight or assault happened ‘because he was gambling’ or ‘because he lost our savings at a casino.’ I have never heard it and have never heard of anyone else who works these streets in any police department ever heard it.”
In an op-ed piece on August 14, 2008 (TNT), Wurts stated “Police are rarely called to the four small casinos, and not one of the officers sharing hundreds of years of experience can remember ever dealing with a situation involving negative effects from gaming in the home.”
Finally, Wurts claims, “We have all stated our opinions based on ALL the facts. . . .” (emphasis ours).
Despite Wurts claims to the contrary, “A Gamblers Anonymous survey found that 44 percent had stolen from work to support gambling debts; 34 percent had lost or quit a job; 26 percent had divorced or separated; 21 percent had filed for bankruptcy; 18 percent had gambling-related arrests.[iii]
“A survey of 400 Gamblers Anonymous members found that 57 percent of them admitted to stealing to fund their gambling – an average of $135,000 per person.[iv]
“Sixty-two percent of addicted gamblers commit crimes, including theft, embezzlement, and insurance fraud to support their habit.”[v]
According to the Tacoma News Tribune, February 21, 2008, “total police calls to minicasinos (in Lakewood, 2007) were 234, with 36 classified as serious.” That is one call for Lakewood Police every other day, three serious calls per month.
A public disclosure request to the State Gambling Commission to “provide details on all disciplinary actions or associated licensing issues with any of the Lakewood Casinos from 1996 to present” (at that time 12 years) yielded 450 pages documenting sting operations on underage gamblers; serving alcohol to minors; cheating complaints; verbal and written warnings, and fines.
Wurts uses “terrible judgment” in partnering with casinos
Sources:
· Tacoma News Tribune, October 7, 2008
It might be legal, but cops backing casinos looks bad
· Voter’s Guide, General Election, 2008
Pierce County Voters’ Pamphlet
October 4, 2008
Brian Wurts, President of the Lakewood Police Guild, coordinated a rally of Lakewood police officers at the Grand Central Casino on Oct.4, 2008. Black T-shirts labeled Lakewood Police Guild and canvassing routes were distributed for the officers that then went door-to-door campaigning for gambling and against Proposition One, an initiative on the November ballot in Lakewood that would ban gambling.
Of that day the TNT editorialized, “There are rights and then there’s what is right. Members of the Lakewood Police Guild are having trouble distinguishing between the two” (October 7, 2008).
Peter Callaghan further wrote of the “terrible judgment it was for the men and women who enforce criminal laws in casinos to join in partnership with the proprietors of the city’s four casinos.”
Detailing the abundant criminal connection that historically has characterized most of the time when cops and gambling get together, Callaghan stated in light of the record “as such there should be sensitivity to the subject, not the opposite” referring to Wurts and his fellow-officers who Callaghan called “foot-soldiers for the pro-casino side of the debate.”
When questioned about Wurts’ activities, Lakewood City Manager Andrew Neiditz stated, “I’m not suggesting it looks good for the city.”
Yet Wurts had been named by the city as one of three to write the position in support of gambling in the Voter’s Guide.
Wurts shoots and kills armed man
Sources:
· Q13 FOX News Online, May 7, 2009
http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-050609-officerinvolvedshooting,0,1020198.story
· The Tacoma News Tribune, May 11, 2009
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2009/05/08/734693/lakewood-officer-placed-on-leave.html
· The Seattle Times, July 24, 2009
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009532928_apwalakewoodpoliceshooting.html
· The Tacoma News Tribune, July 25, 2009
LAKEWOOD: Officer shooting ruled justified
May 6, 2009
Police had been at 37-year-old Curtis Wetzel’s trailer before. When five officers arrived 8 p.m. the night of May 6, Wetzel was alone in his trailer. Wetzel’s wife and 8-year-old son had fled his drunken assault. When Wetzel approached within 17’ of Wurts with a knife and refused to put it down, Wurts – who had entered the trailer – fired, killing Wetzel.
The incident would be declared “justifiable homicide” – that Wurts “had reason to fear for his life.”
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Wurts said to be source of information that didn’t exist – HB 1317
Sources:
· Tacoma News Tribune, February 26, 2010: “Police Privacy Bill based on Rumors”
Police privacy bill based on rumors | Crime News – The News …
· Public Disclosure document: March 1, 2010 from the City of Lakewood
Feb.10th and 24th, 2010
Not true: The Lakewood Police Department was “barraged” with public records requests seeking Social Security numbers of the children of four slain police officers.
Not true: Lakewood officers were followed to their homes by relatives of Maurice Clemmons, the parolee who shot the officers.
Source of the information that was not true – Brian Wurts: Jamie Daniels, director of the Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs, who made this statement during public testimony before state lawmakers Feb.10 and Feb.24, said she got this information from Lakewood Police Chief Bret Farrar and officer Brian Wurts, president of the Lakewood Police Independent Guild.
A Public Disclosure Request (PDR) requesting “any and all documents requesting public documents for the birth dates and Social Security Numbers of Lakewood Police Department officer’s children, and/or their family members; and any and all documents related to/referring to those alleged requests” resulted in this response on March 1, 2010:
“The City of Lakewood has completed a diligent search for the records requested and no records have been found to exist.”
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Additional Sources of Information on Wurts:
· Brian’s website
· KOMO News – “Fired-up Lakewood cop running for seat in Legislature”
Fired-up Lakewood cop running for seat in Legislature
Watch the story Feb 14, 2010 at 5:34 PM PST
· The Suburban Times – our letter opposing Brian Wurts
http://www.thesubtimes.com/2010/03/14/letter-read-before-writing-that-check/
· SaveLakewood.com Website
Save Lakewood | Y.E.S.! Community Matters Campaign
· Wurts PDC
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WURTS BRIAN (reports)
[i] COLA 3.5% increase, plus 4.5% merit pay (8%total) [ii] “Public safety cuts could be spared in Pierce County budget”, http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/370814.html, David Wickert, david.wickert@thenewstribune.com, 274-7341; blogs.thenewstribune.com/politics May 23, 2008; Also TNT, Aug.20, 2008 [iii] “Beating the Odds” by Charles Colson & Nancy Pearcey, Christianity Today, January 10, 2000; and Michael Kelly, Washington Post [iv] “Morality, Politics, and Gambling”, Vital Speeches; April 15, 2000; v66, i13, p.406; Michael Nelson [v] “The Fight Against Gambling – What you need to know before gambling comes to your area”, National Coalition AGAINST Legalized Gambling, NCALG brochure |