SEATTLE (Reuters) - Seattle’s police chief announced on Tuesday he would resign next spring and said he was saddened that many officers felt he let them down during massive riots that disrupted last week’s World Trade Organization meetings.
Police Chief Norm Stamper denied he was taking the fall for police failure to stop vandals from smashing store windows as thousands fought through clouds of tear gas and rubber bullets to block WTO delegates from attending trade meetings.
“I don’t accept the label of victim or martyr. I’ve reached the end of my career,” said 55-year-old Stamper, who has held the position for six years.
At a joint news conference Seattle Mayor Paul Schell praised Stamper, denied rumors that he pushed Stamper out and added that he had no intention of leaving office himself.
“I’m not going to step down,” Schell said. “It’s important for the whole community to get the facts.”
Both Stamper and Schell have blamed themselves for failing to protect shop owners and passersby trapped in the melees that triggered an overnight curfew and shut much of downtown during the busy holiday shopping season.
Police arrested more than 500 protesters last week, many of them wearing colorful sea turtle costumes or waving banners accusing the WTO of subverting democracy and destroying labor unions and the environment in pursuit of corporate profits.
Police officers have blasted Stamper and especially Schell for poorly equipping them and for moving too slowly to get help from other agencies, leaving many riot cops on the line with little or no food for up to 17 hours at a time.
Stamper, in a dark pinstriped suit instead of his police uniform, apologized to the officers who believed he had let them down.
“I know some if not many officers believe that to be the case and that saddens me,” he said.
Stamper said he decided months ago to resign in January after seeing the city through any Y2K computer problems that might arise.
Announcing his plans now would add credibility to internal reviews of police procedures in the weeks to come, he said.
“I believe this will de-politicize the issue of the chief’s tenure,” Stamper said, noting that he could speak more candidly as a caretaker.
Stamper discussed his retirement with Schell on Sunday and sent the mayor a letter on Monday. He agreed, at Schell’s request, to stay on through the first quarter of 2000 while the city seeks his replacement.
