MY EDMONDS NEWS Posted: January 17, 2021
Editor:
I am the daughter of a Mexican immigrant who came to this country in 1925 learned to read, write and speak English and became a U.S. citizen. In one of many conversations surrounding the chief of police issue in our Edmonds community, the topic of just how diverse is our police force in terms of people of color, and gender has come up a number of times. A friend of mine found this article that was posted February 2020 in MEN. I totally missed it but am so glad my friend brought it to my attention. You will find that what Mayor Nelson, Adrienne Fraley-Monillas, and three other city councilmembers have been telling us is completely false. They have fabricated and spread misinformation in an effort to prop themselves up as saviors of Edmonds. They have told us that Edmonds is basically a racist community, that we need a chief of police who is in tune with our community and needs to diversify our police force because we are sorely
MY EDMONDS NEWS Posted: January 7, 2021
Mayor Mike Nelson
There will be a public statement “within the next day or two” from Edmonds Mayor Mike Nelson about “the next steps in the police chief process.” That’s the word released Thursday by the city’s spokesperson, Edmonds Economic Development and Community Services Director Patrick Doherty. He had no further details.
The mayor must make at least one decision quickly. Assistant Chief Jim Lawless has held the title of acting chief since January 2020. It was supposed to be a six-month assignment while Edmonds conducted a search to replace long-time Chief Al Compaan, who retired Jan. 1, 2020. The COVID pandemic interrupted the search; the Edmonds City Council granted a waiver to extend Lawless’ acting role for a second six months, which expires on Jan. 22. What happens then? Under Edmonds City Code,
MY EDMONDS NEWS Posted: December 31, 2020
Demonstrators gather at Westgate urging Mayor Nelson to resign
As the sun set on the last day of 2020, about a dozen residents took to the streets at the Westgate intersection urging Edmonds Mayor Mike Nelson to step down. The group drew waves and honks from passing motorists, with one even parking to photograph and personally thank the demonstrators.
The central issue drawing the group together is the recent months-long effort to find a new police chief to follow Chief Al Compaan, a 41-year Edmonds Police Department veteran who retired last December. The process to replace Compaan has been fraught with controversy and confusion, exacerbated the community rift between Nelson’s supporters and detractors, and left Acting Chief Jim Lawless named by Nelson in April as the best choice for the job in limbo.
Edmonds police chief search roils community, as city disqualifies top candidate
Sherman Pruitt would have been the city s first Black police chief, but the city dropped him after saying he had omitted information from his application. Author: Eric Wilkinson Updated: 7:15 PM PST December 16, 2020
EDMONDS, Wash Edmonds Mayor Mike Nelson stunned the community Tuesday by announcing he was rescinding the nomination of the man who would ve been the city s first Black police chief.
The news came after a contentious confirmation process that opened racial wounds in the city.
Nelson and the Edmonds City Council nominated Sauk-Suiattle Police Chief Sherman Pruitt as the choice to replace retired Edmonds Police Chief Al Compaan.
Edmonds plans to resume search for police chief after rescinding offer to top candidate Jonathan Choe, KOMO News reporter, and KOMO News Staff
Edmonds mayor reverses decision on chief of police hire UP NEXT
EDMONDS, Wash. One week after the Edmonds City Council voted to affirm the hiring of Sherman Pruitt to be the city s next chief of police, municipal leaders said Wednesday that the emergence of some red flags led to an abrupt decision to rescind the offer.
In a letter to Pruitt in which the job offer was retracted, Mayor Mike Nelson said Pruitt failed to mention in his application with Edmonds that he had applied for a similar job opening at the Lake Stevens Police department despite an inquiry by the city.