Was political correctness behind failed police chief pick?

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, January 6, 2021

To read recent articles in local newspapers, including The Herald, and hear reports by local television news reporters, it sounds like Edmonds is a hot bed of racism and social injustice. We can all agree that we cannot tolerate acts of racism under any circumstances anywhere, including Edmonds. But when we see racism around every corner and under every rock as some of our local politicians do, actual racist incidents become trivialized.

Edmonds, like all communities, has challenges to be worked out but having grown up at a time when Edmonds basically was an “all-white” community the diversity that exists now around our neighborhoods and the inclusive attitudes of the majority of Edmonds residents should be applauded.

Apparently Edmonds Mayor Mike Nelson and some of the Edmonds Council members are so into political correctness that they pushed a spouse abuser among his other indiscretions to be the next chief of police for Edmonds while bypassing an experienced and highly respected interim chief of police (“Regret, many questions in wake of Edmonds police chief pick,” The Herald, Dec. 18).

Ever heard of vetting potential candidates for such an important position as chief of police? We need to put a little thought into who we are electing to political office in this region. Nelson is the typical “con artist” politician who seems to care more about his personal left-wing agenda than the welfare of the community he represents. Apparently, he wants to make Edmonds a miniature Seattle with its lawlessness and destruction from within.

Mike Shouse

Edmonds