One Everett law enforcement group is getting its name erased from a television ad supporting Initiative 591 — and a second might soon seek to do the same.
The pro-591 commercial touts the endorsement of the Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs and shows the names of its members including the Everett Police Management Association and Everett Police Officers’ Association.
The initiative would bar expansion of the state’s background check law while a competing measure, I-594, would expand the law to require background checks on most private gun sales.
The president of the Everett Police Management Association said Thursday that his group has not taken a stand on either ballot measure and it was “absolutely a surprise” to see its name in the pro-591 ad.
“We knew WaCOPS had endorsed it and we’re fine with that,” said Greg Lineberry, an Everett police captain. “But we haven’t polled our members to know if they support or oppose it.”
Using our name should be our decision and not someone else’s, he said.
Alan Gottlieb, initiative author and manager of the pro-591 campaign, didn’t hesitate to grant the request.
“If they want out, I’m more than happy to take them out,” he said, noting it was getting worked on Thursday. “We never said they endorsed the measure. We’re just showing the members of WaCOPS.”
The management association is the only member of WaCOPS to request removal, Gottlieb said. If a representative of the Everett Police Officers’ Association asks for its name to be taken out as well, he said he would do so.
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