West Seattle, Washington
19 Sunday
ORIGINAL 1:26 PM REPORT, WHEN WE GOT WORD THE BILL *WOULD* BE VOTED ON TODAY: Just got that word from Sen. Joe McDermott and law-enforcement advocate Renee Maher – it’s now on the list for the Ways/Means Committee meeting that’s about to start. 2:53 PM UPDATE: The meeting is live on TVW – we’re watching online here. Looks like they are still in public hearings; the votes, described on the agenda (see it here) as “executive session,” generally come up afterward (the public hearing on this bill was held last Monday – we went to Olympia to cover it; here’s our story). As of a moment ago, they took a break to go into “caucuses” prior to those votes, but the live broadcast should resume soon. 4:18 PM: The live broadcast just resumed. 1679 is the next bill. 4:24 PM: Senate Ways and Means voted for it unanimously. It goes to the Rules Committee with a “do pass” recommendation. We’re checking on what exactly that means – and what happens next, as well as whether further expressions of support are still needed – look for an update. 4:48 PM: Sen. McDermott tells WSB he will keep working to move the bill ahead – getting out of Rules is apparently not a slam dunk; the bill’s history says that’s where it stalled last year.
One day after our first report that public-safety advocates were pleading for support to keep EHB 1679, the “Jason McKissack Act” – whose namesake suffered brain damage in an attack while on the job as a police officer in West Seattle – here’s where things stand: Tomorrow remains the deadline for bills to get out of the Ways and Means Committee, or be dead for the year. Law-enforcement lobbyist and police widow Renee Maher, who sounded the alarm last night, is among those working around the clock – she tells WSB, “The idea of losing this bill breaks my heart in more ways than words can describe.” She testified at public hearings before both houses’ Ways and Means Committees (we went to Olympia to cover both – here’s our report from last Monday). Maher reiterates that keeping up the pressure is vital – Senator Margarita Prentice, Ways and Means chair, will make the decision on whether there’s a vote; she also recommends contacting Sen. Lisa Brown, Senate Majority Leader, because “it’s important that she knows how much this issue means to the community.” West Seattle’s State Senator Joe McDermott is on the committee as well, and commented following yesterday’s story, ” I have spoken to Senator Prentice … and Senator Brown … reminding them again of the compelling testimony we heard at the hearing and underscoring the need to move the bill out of committee. … Continued positive encouragement is always welcome in a legislative environment.”
Contact info:
Sen. Margarita Prentice (360) 786-7616 prentice.margarita@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Lisa Brown (360) 786-7604 Brown.Lisa@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Joe McDermott (360) 786-7667 mcdermott.joe@leg.wa.gov
Full membership of Ways and Means (with phone numbers – follow links to their home pages for e-mail addresses)
The committee meets at 1:30 pm tomorrow, and its agenda is apparently still a work in progress – its latest version is online here.
ORIGINAL 1:55 PM REPORT: We have been following the progress in the Legislature of EHB 1679, the bill that is meant to fix the situation that has left catastrophically injured public-safety personnel and their families without health coverage if they cannot return to work. First, it was heard in the state House Ways and Means Committee (WSB coverage here), and passed the House unanimously; then last Monday, it was heard in the Senate Ways and Means Committee (WSB coverage here). But that committee has to bring it up for a vote to get it to the floor – and Renee Maher, law-enforcement advocate/lobbyist and an officer’s widow, e-mailed us today to say EHB 1679 is in danger of NOT coming up for a vote in Senate Ways and Means. The Senate is also where a version of this bill died last year – before the well-publicized case of Jason McKissack, who was on duty as a West Seattle-based Seattle Police officer, trying to break up a fight a year and a half ago, when he was kicked in the face repeatedly and suffered brain damage. He is unable to return to work and received a letter from the city last month saying his employment was ended; he and his wife testified in the House hearing, but he was not well enough to attend last Monday’s Senate hearing. From Renee Maher:
Somehow EHB 1679 – the Jason McKissack Act – has slipped through the cracks in the Senate Ways and Means committee. We need to get the word out to people to ask them to contact Senate Ways and Means Chair Margarita Prentice, 360-786-7616, and ask her to vote EHB 1679 out of the committee. The deadline is Monday!
The full list of Ways and Means members – with each name linking to the senator’s site and contact info – is here. Among them, West Seattle’s 34th District State Senator Joe McDermott, who had said he’d do everything he could to move this bill this year; we have messages out to him – the committee is in session again today, though this bill is not on its published agenda.
ADDED 4:14 PM: The Seattle Police Officers’ Guild has sent a news release with an open plea to the public to help rescue this bill.
The Seattle Police Officers Guild and the Council of Metropolitan Police and Sheriffs need the public’s assistance. Engrossed House Bill 1679, also known as the “Jason McKissack Act”, which would provide health insurance to Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters who are catastrophically injured in the line of duty faces the possibility of not passing. This bill passed the House of Representatives unanimously on February 3, 2010. On February 22, 2006, testimony regarding the bill was heard in front of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Officer McKissack’s wife Kim testified along with the President of the Seattle Police Officers Guild, the President of COMPAS and the Executive Director of COMPAS, stating the importance of this bill, and how the state needs to take care of their law enforcement officers and firefighters, should they ever become catastrophically injured in the line of duty.
If this bill is not voted out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee by THIS Monday, March 1, 2010, the bill will die. Currently the bill IS NOT SET to be voted on, on Monday.
The news release continues after the jump:Read More
(Photo added 5:20 pm – those here for previous bills have left, public safety folks now seated for 1679)
3:47 PM, ORIGINAL NOTE: We are in Olympia for the State Senate Ways and Means Committee hearing that will include EHB 1679, to remedy the situation that has left former SPD Officer Jason McKissack and his family losing health coverage because a 2008 attack in West Seattle left him unable to work. Public testimony is expected. The state House already passed the bill, but the Senate is where it stalled last year.
4:43 PM: 1679 hasn’t come up yet – 6851, the Clean Water bill, was up first … 39 witnesses. (Added 5:25 pm – among them, speaking in the photo above, West Seattle resident Martha Kongsgaard, on behalf of the Puget Sound Partnership, one of the supporters.) It was preceded by testimony on a few others including one that Sen. Joe McDermott (who is on this committee and here at the hearing) tells us can affect financing for the Fauntleroy Community Services Agency and Fauntleroy Schoolhouse’s future.
5:27 PM: 1679 is up. Looks like they are running out of time and may not have any public testimony – Sen. McDermott tells us a Senate floor session is coming up at 5:45 to take up amendments to the bill that suspends I-960, a hot topic at the Town Hall in West Seattle last Saturday. The legislative staffer who is speaking about 1679 now says it would cost the state about $800,000.
5:48 PM: The committee meeting is adjourned. They did wind up hearing very quickly from six people – including Jason McKissack’s wife Kim McKissack, and two Seattle Police Guild leaders, Sgts. Rich O’Neill and Ty Elster. Sgt. Elster read a statement from Jason, who did not feel well enough to be here. Next up – this committee will decide whether to advance the bill to the full Senate.
9:31 PM: Adding video — first, Kim McKissack and Renee Maher, the law-enforcement advocate who is also the widow of Federal Way Officer Patrick Maher, killed in the line of duty in 2003:
And the Seattle Police Guild leaders who spoke before them – Sgt. O’Neill is first, with the “help the officer” message he also gave the House Ways and Means Committee; Sgt. Elster, second.
No one signed up to testify against 1679. If you want to contact Ways and Means members about the bill, their names and contact info can be found here.
More than two weeks have passed since the State House of Representatives approved SHB 1679, known as the Jason McKissack Bill, after the now-former Seattle Police officer who has been unable to work since a vicious attack while on the job in West Seattle a year and a half ago, and is losing insurance coverage as a result. We just got word from law-enforcement advocate Renee Maher that they’re hoping for another show of support – like the one that turned out for the bill’s first major hearing on January 25 (photo right) – when the bill gets a public hearing next Monday in the State Senate Ways and Means Committee. She says the hearing’s set for 3:30 pm Monday, Room 4 in the Cherberg Building, and: “We’d love to have everyone down there supporting Jason and his family!” (The Senate is where last year’s version of this bill stalled, so support there could be even more important than the support showed while it was going through the House. It’s one of the topics likely to come up when 34th District legislators – State Sen. Joe McDermott and State Reps. Eileen Cody and Sharon Nelson – hold a Town Hall at High Point Community Center tomorrow, Saturday 2/20, 11 am.)
Just before 11 this morning, we sent this out in our “Announcements” stream as well as Facebook and Twitter, right after SPDBlotter announced it. But in case you hadn’t seen it any of those ways, we want to be sure you see it here on the home page, too: 
CrossFit West Seattle (42nd/Admiral) will be hosting a Hero Memorial Workout” on Sunday, in honor of SPD Officer Tim Brenton, the West Seattle High School graduate murdered in the line of duty last Halloween night. CFWS’s Eric Renn says this is “a CrossFit tradition when one of our members or their family members dies in the line of duty). … Unfortunately, the officer that died (Tim Brenton) was the brother of two of our dedicated gym members. We have created a workout that will be held in his honor which was requested by his family.” It’s a fundraiser for the Behind the Badge Foundation, according to SPDBlotter, $20/person if you want to join the workout (and that’ll get you a memorial T-shirt as well), spectators/well-wishers are welcome too! 3 pm Sunday, CrossFit West Seattle.
The city has just added a few new facets to the search for the next Seattle Police chief – including three public forums (none in West Seattle), a new website (here), and the chance for you to answer four key questions from the mayor, online or by phone if you can’t make the forums – read on for the official announcement:Read More
That’s the word from West Seattle Rep. Eileen Cody. While we went to Olympia for last week’s public hearing on the bill, EHB 1679, which would prevent catastrophically injured public-safety personnel like former Southwest Precinct SPD Officer Jason McKissack from losing health benefits, we weren’t able to go to today’s vote, but Rep. Cody sent word on the results. Next stop: The State Senate. Last year it made it through the House but stalled in the Senate; if you want to express your opinion, State Sen. Joe McDermott represents our area; his contact info is here. ADDED 5:27 PM: The Seattle Police Guild has just sent a news release with more info – read on to see it:Read More
(Photo added 12:17 am, thanks to Katie for sharing it)
11:50 PM: An allegedly drunk driver has been stopped after reportedly speeding westbound on The Bridge. It all started on The Viaduct, according to a tweet from @SeaCrime – we came in on the scanner traffic toward the end. A fire unit’s being called in to check on the driver’s condition. We’ve received multiple calls/notes/tweets about the major police response – thanks! 12:17 AM: Added a photo taken by Katie, who says the driver was in a maroon Subaru that “spun around,” apparently after a certain technique was deployed by officers to stop it. She was close enough to hear the driver – who is on the ground by the officers in the background – say slowly, “I….was….trying to find…a place to…PARK it.”
(From left, Kim and Jason McKissack, Renee Maher, in Olympia Monday)
Just in from Renee Maher of COMPAS, a law-enforcement-advocacy group:
We’ve been told that some very important bills for law enforcement and firefighters will be voted on the House Floor on Wednesday, February 3. The House Floor session is scheduled to start at 10:00 but the bills may not be heard until closer to 10:30.
The House gallery is open to the public and we are particularly inviting families of fallen officers (both past and recent), law enforcement officers and firefighters. There will be an honor guard procession as well.
Among the bills being heard is HB 2519 (expanding benefits for the families of officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty) and EHB 1679 (the Jason McKissack Act).
Monday, we went to Olympia to cover the House Ways and Means public hearing on EHB 1679 (WSB coverage here); the next day, the committee unanimously voted to advance it to a vote in the full House. If you’re just coming in on the story – this dates back to the attack on then-Officer McKissack in summer 2008, in which he was kicked in the face while responding to a call of someone in trouble, kicked so hard he suffered brain damage from which he hasn’t recovered enough to return to any kind of work; the city has let him go, and that meant benefits ended for him and his family. Meantime, if you want to tell your State House reps what you think about EHB 1679, they are Rep. Eileen Cody (who voted for it in Ways and Means on Tuesday) and Rep. Sharon Nelson – each of their names is linked to contact info.
If you’re in western West Seattle, Officer Adonis Topacio is likely your Community Police Team officer; and now, taking over much of the Southwest Precinct‘s eastern zone, the CPT Officer is Jill Vanskike. Both were at last night’s South Delridge/White Center Community Safety Coalition meeting, along with other local law enforcers whose roles are changing; the full story’s on our partner site White Center Now. That’s also where you will find this brand-new update on a WC bar that’s changed hands, changed name and changed its atmosphere. (Any time you want to catch up on White Center news, you’ll get the latest WCN headlines by clicking on the WHITE CENTER tab below the sunset photo that’s atop every WSB page.)
(Seattle Police Guild president Sgt. Rich O’Neill asking legislators Monday to “help the officer”)
EHB 1679 is the bill to help in cases like that of Jason McKissack, attacked while on duty as an SPD officer in West Seattle and losing medical benefits because he cannot return to work. One day after the hearing we covered in Olympia, law-enforcement advocate (and police widow) Renee Maher sends word the bill has been passed out of Ways and Means on a unanimous vote (including that of West Seattle Rep. Eileen Cody). 8:37 PM: The next steps for this bill aren’t posted on the legislative site yet, but we’re checking with Rep. Cody (who also e-mailed us news of the vote). WEDNESDAY UPDATE: The next step is a full State House vote. We’ll let you know when a date is set.
The House Ways and Means Committee has just opened its afternoon session. We are in their hearing room at the State Legislature with a huge turnout – triple digits for sure – to show support for one of the bills on the agenda, EHB 1679, which would cover catastrophically injured public-safety personnel and their families with benefits – the benefits that are being lost by Officer Jason McKissack, unable to return to work since being attacked while on a West Seattle call a year and a half ago. We will report from the hearing as we can – you also can watch on TVW cable/online. We’re sitting next to Seattle Police Guild reps who say they’ve heard from a lot of people supporting the bill who heard about it through WSB; legislators reportedly have been getting plenty of calls too.
3:57 PM: That’s the committee – back row in red is West Seattle Rep. Eileen Cody. Officials of other state public-safety unions and advocacy groups are speaking right now. Before them, a pension-fund official who spoke of how the bill was changed after it failed to win approval last year; now the funds bear the brunt of the costs. They’re all also talking about how rare “catastrophic disability” really is.
4:04 PM: Rich O’Neill of the Seattle Police Guild has just told the committee the story of what happened to Officer McKissack, who is here today and planning to testify. He concluded with a plea to the committee to “help the officer” – a call that is taken deeply seriously when it goes out over the police radio – “be their backup, pass this bill.”
(From left, Kim and Jason McKissack, Renee Maher)
4:20 PM: Jason and Kim McKissack both have just testified – Kim, tearfully, talking about how their lives were changed, and how can you make the choice between food/clothing and medical insurance? (video added 6:09 pm)
She also said her husband still wants nothing more than to “go out and get the bad guys … but he can’t.” Now, also emotionally, law enforcement advocate Renee Maher is speaking, sitting next to the McKissacks; she is the widow of Federal Way Officer Patrick Maher, killed in the line of duty in the early 00s.
4:23 PM: The public hearing has just concluded. The committee is moving on to testimony on other bills, but first, they asked everyone from public safety who came here for support to stand – those who stood were applauded by the rest of the room. We’ll add a few photos in a moment, and video in a bit. We also will be checking to find out what happens next – when there might be a decision on whether to schedule a vote on the bill.
8:48 PM NOTE: We’re told the bills that had public hearings today are all tentatively scheduled for discussion in “executive session” tomorrow – that’s where legislators talk about which bills are ready to potentially come up with votes. So we’ll keep an eye on it (which you can do through this link) for followups.
SEAWALL, DELRIDGE SKATEPARK $ AND “DO NOT MAIL” @ COUNCIL: During the Seattle City Council‘s 9:30 am briefing time, Mayor Mike McGinn talks about his proposed property-tax measure to replace the Alaskan Way seawall. During the 2 pm meeting, they’ll take a final vote on Delridge Skatepark funding, plus consider the resolution asking the state to back a “do-not-mail registry.” Agenda here; it’ll all be live on Seattle Channel (cable 21 or online).
WATER TAXI FARES: The new fare schedule outlined here comes up for a public hearing this afternoon at 1:30 before the King County Ferry District board (aka King County Councilmembers), County Courthouse downtown.
OFFICER-BENEFITS BILL: As discussed in coverage of the case of injured-and-losing-benefits Officer Jason McKissack, EHB 1679 comes up for a hearing in the state House Ways and Means Committee in Olympia, 3:30 pm today (scheduled to be live on TVW).
ARTSWEST FREEBIE: Before the Seattle premiere of “Love Song“ opens Wednesday, get behind-the-scenes insight tonight, free, in the On Stage format, 7:30 pm, ArtsWest in The Junction.
(Our first Sunday report with other Polar Plunge video and photos is here)
As you saw in our first report about this morning’s Special Olympics Polar Plunge at Alki, there was a big law-enforcement contingent among the 350 people organizers say signed up – and that video shows them as the first group to dash into the 45-degree water. (At center, the Southwest Precinct’s commander, Capt. Joe Kessler, next to acting SPD Chief John Diaz – other law-enforcement luminaries who were on hand are shown in our first report. After plunging, Capt. Kessler pronounced the water “perfectly balmy.”) Tonight, Mary Do from Special Olympics reported in this WSB comment that the event raised $30,000. Also tonight, Chief Sealth’s Polar Plungers, who won the Spirit Award, are challenging any and all other high schools to “come try to take it away next year,” according to Michael Bunch, who shared this photo of the whole group afterward:
We had photographed Sealth athletic director Sam Reed with the trophy close-up – read on to see that photo and a few more we wanted to share before this event’s in the books:Read More
Story, photos and video by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Hosted and organized by Willie Murderface, the Saturday night fundraiser at Goldie’s for Officer Jason McKissack — injured while on duty in West Seattle—attracted supporters including Officer McKissack’s wife Kim, police from several precincts, and West Seattle businesspeople like Full Tilt Ice Cream‘s Justin Cline and Jessie SK from Skylark Cafe and Club (WSB sponsor).
4:16 am update – Willie reports via Facebook: “Between the 160 Joe Mullis raised [Wednesday at Yen Wor], the 190 that Goldie’s donated, 170 from my wage, 100 from cash donations, and the 780 from the raffle (that wouldn’t have been anywhere near what it was without help from Tracy Dart and Justin Cline), we raised 1400 dollars for Officer Jason McKissack and his family.”
Asked about his motivation for producing this fundraiser, Willie says: “I went home that Sunday night and read about (Officer McKissack’s denial of benefits) on the blog. It hit me because it happened while he was protecting West Seattle.” Willie is a lifelong West Seattle resident, and both he and his mother are West Seattle High School graduates. “I proclaimed myself Mayor of West Seattle and decided it was my civic duty to do something.” He announced his plan here, the day before the news conference in which Officer McKissack, with wife Kim at his side and dozens of other officers presence for support, talked about what it was like to receive the recent letter saying he was no longer with the department because he hadn’t recovered enough to work:
So are you in for this Sunday’s Special Olympics of Washington Polar Plunge at Alki (with WSB among the co-sponsors)? Among those who already are – the man who leads the Seattle Police Department‘s Southwest Precinct here in West Seattle, Capt. Joe Kessler. We were there for the photo op at Alki this morning as he tested the waters, so to speak, for a last-minute promotional push. You can join Captain Kessler and hundreds of others on Sunday morning – 9 am registration (if you haven’t signed up online), 11 am Polar Plunge, festivities afterward. There’s a special connection for law enforcers and Special Olympic – the Law Enforcement Torch Run – so you’ll see other members of the law-enforcement community braving Elliott Bay on Sunday too. So how was the water today, you might ask?
47-degree water today, in case you were wondering.
Thanks to the texter who let us know about a sizable police response on the east side of The Junction – at the commercial building (check-cashing, car maintenance) at 40th/Alaska. Went over to check, at which time Ladder 11 joined the police, helping officers get up on the roof. Police told us multiple alarms had gone off in the building so they were searching – but hadn’t found anything/anyone yet. (We’ll check back.)
If you think it’s been quieter lately on the crime front – in some categories of crime, yes, it has. After outgoing Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Steve Paulsen (right) passed the torch to his successor Lt. Norm James (explanation in our January 8th report) at last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, Lt. James ran down the state of the stats on the peninsula – noting that several categories of West Seattle crime are down. Also at the WSCPC meeting, other new faces in West Seattle crimefighting were introduced, officers/executive committee members were elected, and a Traffic Unit rep talked about red-light cams – all ahead:Read More
Noted in an update just received from Mayor McGinn‘s communications director Mark Matassa (a West Seattleite) – Southwest Precinct Captain Joe Kessler is now on the Police Chief Search Committee. (The update was primarily intended to announce that the committee’s next meeting is 5:30 pm tomorrow at SPD HQ downtown. Agenda here.) P.S. Side note – If you have crime concerns to bring to SW Precinct leadership, tonight’s your chance, as the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meets at the precinct, 7 pm.
1:10 PM: We are in SODO at Seattle Police Officers Guild HQ – with a room full of law enforcement officers from all over the area, and at the table in front of the room, former Southwest Precinct SPD Officer Jason McKissack (blue T-shirt), whose loss of medical benefits – since he cannot work following a vicious attack a year and a half ago – is triggering a campaign for legislation. Who else is here, is amazing. Officer Britt Sweeney, who survived the attack that killed SPD Officer Tim Brenton; Officer Brenton’s widow is here as well. “Call your legislators today,” Renee Maher, a law-enforcement advocate and police widow, is saying, re: HB 1679. 1:23 PM: Officer McKissack has just spoken. He says the city’s letter arrived just last Thursday, informing him of “medical separation,” and the hardest part was seeing his wife break down and cry. He also said it’s been tough to be off the job as he watched the recent officer murders – he feels like a “caged tiger,” wanting to do something: (video added 2:48 pm)
He also said the timing is unfortunate – he has found new medical treatment that may help him get better. Regarding the bill, advocates here say there are only six public-safety personnel statewide in the past 30-plus years who qualified as “catastrophically injured” and would be affected by this bill – Officer McKissack has not yet received that determination. (added 2 pm – his description of what he’s been coping with while trying to recover)
The Seattle Police Officers’ Guild also reiterates that they are accepting donations for his expenses through their fund. (The address is on this page on the SPOG site, with more information about the bill.) They also are “taking up other ideas on fundraising,” they say, and will have more on that in the weeks ahead. 5:30 PM UPDATE: Reminder, regarding fundraising: Two local karaoke hosts have stepped up for starters. Joe at Yen Wor announced on Facebook that he’s raising money for Officer McKissack’s fund Wednesday night at 9:30, and Willie Murderface announced in comments here last night that he is collecting for the fund this Saturday night at Goldie’s in Georgetown (WMF is a West Seattleite).
Developments since we wrote Friday night about a tv story on Officer Jason McKissack facing the loss of medical benefits because injuries from the attack on him in West Seattle a year and a half ago have left him unable to return to work:
*We’ve heard twice from Renee Maher, executive director of the law-enforcement advocacy group COMPAS and also the widow of Federal Way Police Officer Patrick Maher, killed in the line of duty seven years ago. She had more to say about the legislation mentioned in the story (which stalled last year but has been reintroduced this session):
COMPAS has made HB 1679 our priority for this legislative session. While we fully support and agree with the legislation that helps families of fallen officers, we believe that helping officers like Jason McKissack is just as important. I was part of the effort that got legislation passed in 2006 that provided medical insurance for families of officers killed in the line of duty. Imagine my shock and disgust to learn that financially, an officer’s family is better off if the officer dies in the line of duty (versus being disabled).
HB 1679 will provide medical insurance to Jason and his family. It is very do-able to get this legislation passed this session. We just need to spread the word and have people call their legislators to support this bill.
As discussed in comments following last night’s story, the bill is currently in the Ways and Means Committee of the state House. West Seattle Rep. Eileen Cody is a member of that committee. We e-mailed Rep. Cody to ask about its status and what people could do to voice support. Her reply today:
To move forward we will need to vote it out of the Ways and Means Committee again. I will check with Rep Simpson to see if he is planning on pushing the issue again this year. Interested constituents should contact Ways and Means Committee members to encourage action. We would not have to have another hearing on the bill this year since we had one last year. The chair just has to decide to bring it up for a vote.
The Legislature’s website says the committee is chaired by North Sound Rep. Kelli Linville; she and other members are listed here, and you can follow the links for their contact info. To e-mail Rep. Cody, start here.
*Meantime, our second message from Renee Maher included word that the Seattle Police Officers’ Guild is now able to accept contributions for Officer McKissack’s medical fund:
SPOG
2949 4th Ave South
Seattle, WA 98134
Subject line: Jason McKissack
There is also a link on the Seattle Police Guild website tonight with more info on the situation. Meantime, Q13 interviewed the McKissacks for a story aired tonight:
We’d received a tip on this but hit a roadblock early on; Channel 4, however, got the story, and it’s an important one. You may remember Southwest Precinct Officer Jason McKissack, badly beaten while answering a call in High Point in 2008. We first reported the attack that June; later that month, a West Seattle community groundswell of support sent him get-well wishes. Then, one year after the attack, we were in the courtroom last June as his attackers were sentenced in an emotional hearing – no additional detention. Tonight, Channel 4 reported that doctors say Officer McKissack will never be able to go back to work; because of that, the station says, he is losing his medical benefits – apparently because of a state law that the Seattle Police Guild and some legislators are trying to change. Here’s the story they aired tonight:
The KOMO story points to the bill that’s just been reintroduced in the Legislature, where it stalled last year (see it here); it would fix the law so that public-safety personnel like Officer McKissack who suffer “catastrophic disabilities” will not lose their medical benefits. (Thanks to Robert and Shelley for tonight’s notes pointing us to this story.)
ADDED 7:06 PM SATURDAY: There’s now a fund set up:
Donations can be sent to:
SPOG
2949 4th Ave South
Seattle, WA 98134
Subject line: Jason McKissack
Also please see the comments following this story for our discussion about how to reach legislators regarding the aforementioned bill.
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