I was harassed by Captian Wilson of the Seattle Police Dept. on Saturday Jan. 28, 2012, while attending the Race and Socail Justice class.
See Video from King 5 news. http://www.king5.com/video?id=138270789&sec=548902
Half way thru you will see me sitting at table with back to camera in grey t-shirt and tan pants.
This meeting was held at the Garfield community center at 23rd and Cherry. It started at 9am to 3pm.
I arrived at 9am checked in. I had my rain jacket over my gun because it was rainning out and I was cold. As I was entering the building I noticed the rule sign that said among otherthings "no weapons". Their are three community centers that I know of that have signs up saying no firearm, guns or weapons. They are Miller, Queen Anne, and Garfield. I have been to Miller and talked to the staff there, and they said they kept the sign up to deter the kids but it was no problem for the adults. I attended a community meeting at Miller with city council members and a packed one with no problems about a year ago. I've also attended meeting at the Northgate community center with lots of city council members and public, no problems. The last one was with the mayor about traffic and bikes, I sat in the middle of the room, at the center table and was the spokesman for my table. No problems, afew people asked me questions after the meeting, but all positive.
So I was surprised when I was harassed by Cpt. Wilson. It went like this. I had been sitting at my table for about 45 minutes with my jacket on, I got hot and took it off. Mind you there were 3 SPD officers, 1 ex judge and 2 civilains sitting at my table. No one said anything when I took my jacket off. The officer, female , sitting on my gun side saw it, looked for a second and then went back to talking. The officers at the table behind me saw it and didn't react. No problems. Mind you there were about 18-20 officers in the room, in uniform with guns. No one freaked.
So another 45 minutes go by, we break for bathrooms and coffee, and thats when Cpt. Wilson calls me over to the back window to talk to me.
And it went like this. Cpt. Wilson," Hey this is school property..." pointing out the window. I interject, "Yes sir but this is a community center on Parks Dept. property. Cpt. Wilson, "Hey is there anyway you could but your gun in the car?" Me," So you want me to go put my gun in the car in this nieghborhood? Cpt. Wilson "could you put it in your backpack?" Me, "Lets see, it safe and secure on my hip, where I can controll it and protect it and you want me to put it in my backpack where if I focus my attention away from it for a second it might get stolen? Cpt. Wilson, "We had a lady that wanted to make a 15 minute speech and we didn't allow here so we can't allow you to carry in here. Me," But I'm not making a speech". Cpt. Wilson, "Look you were invited to this just like you were invited to the Citizens Academy and no guns were allowed there." Me, "Yes Captian, but the Citizen Academy was held at a police trainning building not a public community center and you made no mention in the invite that no guns were allowed. Look I don't want to get arrested or lose my conceal carry permit. I leave before that happens. Are you going to arrest me or kick me out? Cpt. Wilson, "No, but I'm going to give you some time to think about it and then we will see." Me,"I think we need to talk about this more because you seem to have a prejudice against me and open carry. Cpt. Wilson" Break is over, I have to go, but think about what I've said to you. Me, " Can't we work this out." He leaves to the front of the room. I go and sit back down at my table.
Cpt Wilson demenor was very intimidating and I was scared of what my happen next, so much so that my left hand was shaking. I thought about leaving. But then I relized this is just fear of what could happen. I seriously thought about leaving, but I cowboyed up and stayed the rest of the day. Cpt Wilson was watching me occasionly as well as some of the other officers.
I stayed the rest of the day, and there were no other problems. I spoke with a few people and other officers and no one seem to have a problem with my open carry. I was afraid to leave the room, thinking they wouldn't let me back in, but after some pizza and orange juice I had to pee really bad. So I put my jacket on left to use the bathroom. I ran into Cpt Wilson as I was going into the bathroom but I got back in the adatorium so that was great.
So what should I do about this, let it go, file complaint with OPA, any thoughts?
See Video from King 5 news. http://www.king5.com/video?id=138270789&sec=548902
Half way thru you will see me sitting at table with back to camera in grey t-shirt and tan pants.
This meeting was held at the Garfield community center at 23rd and Cherry. It started at 9am to 3pm.
I arrived at 9am checked in. I had my rain jacket over my gun because it was rainning out and I was cold. As I was entering the building I noticed the rule sign that said among otherthings "no weapons". Their are three community centers that I know of that have signs up saying no firearm, guns or weapons. They are Miller, Queen Anne, and Garfield. I have been to Miller and talked to the staff there, and they said they kept the sign up to deter the kids but it was no problem for the adults. I attended a community meeting at Miller with city council members and a packed one with no problems about a year ago. I've also attended meeting at the Northgate community center with lots of city council members and public, no problems. The last one was with the mayor about traffic and bikes, I sat in the middle of the room, at the center table and was the spokesman for my table. No problems, afew people asked me questions after the meeting, but all positive.
So I was surprised when I was harassed by Cpt. Wilson. It went like this. I had been sitting at my table for about 45 minutes with my jacket on, I got hot and took it off. Mind you there were 3 SPD officers, 1 ex judge and 2 civilains sitting at my table. No one said anything when I took my jacket off. The officer, female , sitting on my gun side saw it, looked for a second and then went back to talking. The officers at the table behind me saw it and didn't react. No problems. Mind you there were about 18-20 officers in the room, in uniform with guns. No one freaked.
So another 45 minutes go by, we break for bathrooms and coffee, and thats when Cpt. Wilson calls me over to the back window to talk to me.
And it went like this. Cpt. Wilson," Hey this is school property..." pointing out the window. I interject, "Yes sir but this is a community center on Parks Dept. property. Cpt. Wilson, "Hey is there anyway you could but your gun in the car?" Me," So you want me to go put my gun in the car in this nieghborhood? Cpt. Wilson "could you put it in your backpack?" Me, "Lets see, it safe and secure on my hip, where I can controll it and protect it and you want me to put it in my backpack where if I focus my attention away from it for a second it might get stolen? Cpt. Wilson, "We had a lady that wanted to make a 15 minute speech and we didn't allow here so we can't allow you to carry in here. Me," But I'm not making a speech". Cpt. Wilson, "Look you were invited to this just like you were invited to the Citizens Academy and no guns were allowed there." Me, "Yes Captian, but the Citizen Academy was held at a police trainning building not a public community center and you made no mention in the invite that no guns were allowed. Look I don't want to get arrested or lose my conceal carry permit. I leave before that happens. Are you going to arrest me or kick me out? Cpt. Wilson, "No, but I'm going to give you some time to think about it and then we will see." Me,"I think we need to talk about this more because you seem to have a prejudice against me and open carry. Cpt. Wilson" Break is over, I have to go, but think about what I've said to you. Me, " Can't we work this out." He leaves to the front of the room. I go and sit back down at my table.
Cpt Wilson demenor was very intimidating and I was scared of what my happen next, so much so that my left hand was shaking. I thought about leaving. But then I relized this is just fear of what could happen. I seriously thought about leaving, but I cowboyed up and stayed the rest of the day. Cpt Wilson was watching me occasionly as well as some of the other officers.
I stayed the rest of the day, and there were no other problems. I spoke with a few people and other officers and no one seem to have a problem with my open carry. I was afraid to leave the room, thinking they wouldn't let me back in, but after some pizza and orange juice I had to pee really bad. So I put my jacket on left to use the bathroom. I ran into Cpt Wilson as I was going into the bathroom but I got back in the adatorium so that was great.
So what should I do about this, let it go, file complaint with OPA, any thoughts?
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