I am very, very troubled by the headline, “Deputy questions Kent’s role in probe,” to a Jan. 23 article in the Kent Reporter.
It seems to me entirely reasonable, in fact it seems very important, that Kent Police Chief Ken Thomas followed protocol and began an investigation. This is backed up by the Sheriff’s response. If there was no wrongdoing, then the investigation would clear King County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Andy Conner, and this is what happened.
However, the article, and the headline especially, take an advocacy role for Deputy Conner and suggest that something is amiss in the KPD, when exactly the opposite is the case. Would the Kent Reporter prefer that allegations of wrongdoing not be investigated?
This is not to take away from the important work done by Deputy Conner and others to rescue sex trafficking victims from the hands of hardened criminals. However, a law enforcement officer ought to recognize the importance of transparency and welcome the chance presented by Chief Thomas and King County Sheriff John Urquhart to publicly clear any false allegations.
There is such a public trust placed in the Kent Reporter as one of the only Kent-focused news sources. I would hope that your headlines would be considered very carefully in this light, as many folks will glance over the headline and come to the conclusion that there is something wrong in our police department. Nothing could be further from the truth.
– Dennis Higgins, Kent City Councilmember
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