Dave Reichert, who previously serving as a member of Congress and sheriff of King County, Washington, he is now running for governor on the tough-on-crime platform that has become almost mandatory for Republican candidates. Of campaign website warns that Washington state is currently “a haven for crime, drugs, homelessness, human trafficking and other serious problems” and that “domestic violence continues to rise.” His proposed solution? More police on the streets, of course.
That position has earned Reichert the support of several law enforcement leaders as he seeks to become Washington's first GOP governor since 1985. Among them is Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels, who appeared in a campaign video featuring sheriffs from across the state explaining why they support Reichert. “It came from us,” Nowells says in his segment about half a minute into the ad. “It comes from working people, who just had to rely on their morals and ethics to get where they are, and put their noses to the grindstone, working. Dave did.”
But five years ago, when he was a Spokane County undersheriff, Nowells made shocking comments about the kind of domestic violence Reichert deplores on his website — suggesting that “ex-spouses should be killed.” In July 2019, during a phone conversation with a Spokane Valley Precinct aide, he talked about a deputy unable to work because his ex-wife, in the midst of a contentious custody battle, had filed a domestic violence protection order against him, According to Spokesman-Review.
Apparently annoyed at how slowly the investigation into the matter was proceeding, Nowels said of the deputy's ex-wife, “you know, somebody should just kill her,” according to the district aide's notes on the call. Nowels further opined that all the ex-spouses do is “cause trouble,” according to an Internal Affairs investigation that ultimately led to the undersheriff being suspended without pay for a month.
Before becoming King County Sheriff in 1997, Reichert spent years as a detective on a task force assembled to capture the notorious and prolific Green River Killer, who was caught only in 2001. Reichert wrote a book about the manhunt and , since the law enforcement trade for politics in the mid-2000s, has touted his work on the case — though other detectives involved say that exaggerates his contributions. Reichert currently lists Nowells among 30 Washington state sheriffs to support his run for governor. campaign website.
Asked for comment on Nowels' endorsement, Reichert's rep relayed the following statement from the candidate: “I just realized [Spokesman-Review] article from 2020 and comments by Sheriff Nowels. I spoke with the sheriff today and he expressed remorse for his comments, as he did four years ago. Joking about domestic violence is never acceptable. I grew up in a domestic violence home, spent my entire career fighting domestic violence, and responded to many domestic violence calls in my 33 year law enforcement career. His comments were wrong and should never be tolerated.”
Reichert's campaign did not address a question about whether Nowells' endorsement undermines the candidate's messages on crime and domestic violence, given the sheriff's past comments.
Staff who received Nowells' remarks in 2019 reported them to Spokane Valley District Superintendent Mark Werner, and although he had not personally offended them, Werner warned Nowells not to speak that way in the future. Neither reported the comments to Internal Affairs. they didn't come to light until four months after the fact, during a deposition Nowells gave in a lawsuit brought against the department by a former deputy who was fired earlier that year. Once he finished his testimony, which was in part about the “ex-spouses” conversation, Nowells self-reported the incident to Internal Affairs and Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich, who ordered him four weeks without pay – the longest he had ever imposed head of department — in January 2020.
“I hope it's made very clear that this type of behavior is unacceptable and depending on the facts behind it, you could lose your job,” Knezovich said of the disciplinary action, which stripped Nowells of $12,000 in wages. Before imposing the punishment, Knezovich wrote in a letter to Nowels that his statements were “reprehensible”. Pacific Northwest Interior mentionted.
“I'm sorry I said it without really understanding the implications,” Nowels said when the suspension was made public in June 2020. “I'm not in my heart.” Nowels' inappropriate comments made local news and again in 2022 as he ran to replace the retiring Knezovich as Spokane County sheriff — with the endorsement of his outgoing boss. He won that race and took office in 2023.
“The statement I made was exaggerated and made out of frustration over a situation a member of parliament was dealing with in his personal life,” says Nowels. Rolling rock in an email. “Domestic violence is a serious issue in our community and I am constantly working to address it with community partners.” Nowels also confirms he has spoken with Reichert about the incident and says the candidate understands “the circumstances” surrounding it. “Dave Reichert and his campaign will decide whether to use my endorsement or not,” he adds. “Regardless of their decision, I will still vote for and support him as he is the best candidate for governor of Washington in 2024.”
Reichert's video ad featuring several sheriffs endorsing him, some of whom were recorded in their offices in conspicuous uniforms and badges, also drew criticism from critics who claimed he violated Washington State Law prohibiting elected officials from using “facilities of public office or service” to aid election campaigns or promote ballot measures. His campaign did not respond to a question on the matter.
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