No, Sheriff Rick Felici (Or Langley City Police) - I will not cut you — or any other local law enforcement — a little slack to vent your frustrations.

People can die when you vent your frustrations.

Within a message from the local Sheriff in Island County, WA (included at the end of this post) was this statement:

“I am thankful that we are willing to cut each other a little slack to vent our frustrations.”

You, and all law enforcement and local government across the United States have literally had centuries to do the right thing, and only now — when we have started down the unstoppable road of police reform and making some progress for holding law enforcement accountable— are you talking about giving each other “slack”? You’re not even requesting we give you slack. You’re announcing that we gave it to you — and we somehow get it in return?

No, I will not give you slack. People die when law enforcement vents their frustrations.

It is literally the only job of law enforcement to uphold the law and maintain public order. I will not give you slack in doing that.

If you want to give slack to the people who you can destroy the lives of because you don’t like the way someone looks, lock up with almost no recourse - all while you are carrying weapons, bullet proof vests, and having an entire array of military hardware at your disposal, then by all means — please — give them some slack.

But don’t think because an officer is giving someone some “slack” that it is going to make any of this go away. it will not. and it doesn’t give you the right to get a single bit of slack in return. none.

Let us not forget that local law enforcement in Langley has a really, really, bad documented record on police violence and misconduct. It’s not just in the past: An officer that worked with and chose to look past misconduct and police brutality is still employed to this very day, and Island County are complicit in this — bringing him along on their territorial calls.

Seeing as you saw it ok to demand something from me rather than ask for feedback —let me tell you, as part of the community you claim to work for, and in the spirit of communication and leadership what I expect, from you — and Langley City:

• I expect each and every last letter of the law to be followed by every single law enforcement officer.
• I expect deescalation training, and regular evaluation of scenarios to ensure that law enforcement are held to the highest standards.
• I expect every single officer to call out and report every little thing their colleagues do which is not ok.
• I expect every officer to lose their job if they do not report unacceptable behavior or potential misconduct immediately and without hesitation.
• I expect zero tolerance of misconduct by every single law enforcement officer. No second chances with the power they yield. No being back on the street after a little bit of time on desk duty.
• I expect a call from all law enforcement leadership to significantly increase the sentence, and prosecution rates of any crime while in a position of power.
• I expect constant statistics and transparency in that whole process.
• I expect absolute and total accountability.
• I expect body cameras guaranteeing that accountability.
• I expect termination of employment for any employee who even once “forgets” to turn it on.
• I expect random spot checks ensuring that. So every officer knows they will lose their job if they turn if off just once.
• I expect more than “internal investigations”, not reporting full details of complaints against officers and the outcomes, or using internal or ex-police to investigate alleged misconduct.
• i do not just expect, but demand: no resident of Island County can ever feel scared of police misconduct. No law abiding resident can ever be scared — or experience — law enforcement randomly turning up at their door and threatening them.
• I expect you to regularly survey residents, and personally and publicly address anything that isn’t a fantastic result.

Unlawful behavior while acting in a position of power must result in severe repercussions.

The fact you are even asking yourself why this problem “still” exists shows you are totally blind to the problem. You sent out a whole lot of “we will continue to …” and not a hint of “i’m sorry we have not done enough. what can we do to be better, please help us?”

And that is the problem! Local law enforcement continuing as it has been is not ok for so many. Continuing as it has been only serves you, me, and other affluent white privileged people, Rick.

Reading your email, you seem either totally blind to the problems, or you’re trying to gaslight the community. Your email is reflecting a totally different reality than I live in.

I am happy to talk more and explain to you some realities you seem to be so clearly missing.

And for the record, I have never been arrested (anywhere)— or even got a speeding ticket on Whidbey Island. Yet I have found every interaction or observation with local law enforcement — both Island County and Langley City to be at best disappointing, at worst, dangerous.

Original message:

A Message From Sheriff Rick Felici

I have been giving considerable thought to the circumstances we, as a community and country, are currently facing. We are all coping with the stresses related to quarantine, including the separation, financial impacts and other disruption of our normal lives as well as the inexcusable death of George Floyd and the equally intolerable underlying factors that have allowed similar situations to occur far too frequently. The inexcusable behaviors we all have seen in the video of Mr. Floyd’s death are contrary to our values, policies and training.

For the past several days, I have been frustrated, confused and mostly infuriated. I keep coming back to the question of “why?” Why are we still dealing with bias and racism? Why does this problem still exist? We all know better, we are better and yet, here we are.

As I write this, I am also thankful. I am thankful that I live and work in a community that has higher standards. I am thankful that the law enforcement officers in our community are competent, compassionate professionals who “get it”. I am thankful that our community has embraced their absolute right to protest and make their voices heard without tearing down our buildings and setting our community on fire. I am thankful that we are willing to cut each other a little slack to vent our frustrations.

At the Island County Sheriff’s Office we are committed to our core values of Service, Professionalism and Accountability. I didn’t make up these words to market our office. They were chosen from a list submitted by our employees. These are not just words, they define our purpose.

We will continue to do our work with these principals as our guide. We will continue to make enforcement decisions based on facts and circumstances without regard to skin color or any of the other things that make us individually different. Law enforcement is something we do with and for the members of our community, not something we do to them.

Let’s be strong, resilient and listen to each other. Legitimate communication and leadership will carry us forward. Rage and hate will only hold us back.

Rick Felici