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President Obama to Nominate Seattle's Top Cop to Be Drug Czar
February 11, 2009 11:33 AM
A White House source tells ABC News that President Obama will nominate Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske to be director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Kerlikowske, president of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, is former deputy director for the Justice's Department's COPS program, or the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, which provided grants to put more police officers on the streets and was championed by Vice President Joe Biden, then the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Crime in Seattle is at a 40-year low. Known as a proponent of gun control, Kerlikowske has argued in favor of increased police use of Taser stun guns.
Last Fall, he was part of a panel of researchers who released a report that concluded that tracking terrorists through data-mining "is neither feasible as an objective nor desirable as a goal of technology development efforts" since false positives will result in the inaccurate flagging of "ordinary, law-abiding citizens and businesses"
Kerlikowse's appointment to the Obama administration, pending Senate approval, was first reported Tuesday evening by the Seattle Post Intelligencer. The paper quoted a police administrator who said Kerlikowske had alerted executive staff of the SPD that the president intended to nominate him to be White House "Drug Czar," a position that is Cabinet rank.
An Army veteran, Kerlikowske has served as police commissioner for Buffalo, NY, and the chief of police for both Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie, Florida. He began his law enforcement career in 1972 as a police officer with the St. Petersburg Police in Florida.
- jpt
February 11, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (15)
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Without meaning to sound negative, would it be too much to ask that an article introducing someone to the nation who's about to be drug czar actually spend a sentence on the man's positions on drug policy?
Posted by: jhm | Feb 12, 2009 7:15:53 AM
To Harry, As Obama said before, unlike John McCain, he can do two things at once.
Posted by: TParv | Feb 11, 2009 5:42:32 PM
I applaud the Obama Admin's choice of Gil Kerlikowske to head up the ONDCP. Kerlikowske has shown a respect for the will of Seattle voters who passed I-75, making simple possession of marijuana lowest police priority. The SPD's measured treatment of the attendees at Hempfest further demonstrates that Kerlikowske is not part of the old guard "lock 'em up" mindset that has filled America's jails and prisons with non-violent drug offenders. Perhaps we will now get a rationale, humanitarian science based drug policy. The tremendous harm to society that the current policies have created are by far more damaging than the the social problems produced by addiction and abuse. Entire generations of sub-culture have had all of their respect for the rule of law undermined by clearly unjust, draconian, and in some instances Orwellian policies. Thank God indeed.
Posted by: Viv | Feb 11, 2009 3:15:41 PM
RE: thebob.bob:
In response to thebob.bob
Don't forget other factors in Seattle's teen homeless numbers- Seattle has a high number of teen homeless in general because we have mild weather and good programs for helping them. This means migration of teen homeless from other cities. I have not researched the subject but don't assume stats such as these are directly connected to a good/bad police chief.
My comment above is in response to this comment by Thebob.bob: Why has the Seattle Police Chief been appointed drug czar? Doesn't Seattle have one of the highest teen-homeless-herion user rates in the country? Doesn't seem to me he's been very effective on getting herion off the streets!
Posted by: Alyssa | Feb 11, 2009 2:51:18 PM
There is one glaring error in the report on Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske. The story was first reported online Tuesday afternoon by The Seattle Times, not the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
John de Leon
Assistant Metro Editor
The Seattle Times
Posted by: John de Leon | Feb 11, 2009 1:58:09 PM
Simms, Kerlikowske. The Pacific Northwest is becoming well represented in DC. That's a good thing.
Posted by: thebob.bob | Feb 11, 2009 1:38:22 PM
Why has the Seattle Police Chief been appointed drug czar? Doesn't Seattle have one of the highest teen-homeless-herion user rates in the country?
Doesn't seem to me he's been very effective on getting herion off the streets!
Posted by: jmousso | Feb 11, 2009 1:22:53 PM
"Jake, please ask questions about the healthcare provisions in the "stimulus" bill."
Yes, PLEASE.
NOBODY right OR left wants the federal government collecting medical records. ESPECIALLY not electronically.
What people DO want -- aside from Dr. Howard Dean at HHS -- is Single-Payer Health Care, in which the government PAYS, and MEDICAL people run medical care.
Consider Senator Kennedy ... but gosh: we just bet the political class would be EXEMPT, somehow, from having its records collected (and then shared with every little "local" node of Homeland Security, leaked during school board elections, and the like).
The medical info-grab SUCKS. Truly, it DOES.
Posted by: Human Intelligence | Feb 11, 2009 1:04:47 PM
The previous chief of police in Seattle was absolutely amazing so Kerlikowse had big shoes to fill. He has done very well because he is down to earth and has good common sense and balance.
Posted by: Annie | Feb 11, 2009 12:38:59 PM
How does Obama have time for appointments now that he is out campaigning again?
Are there no adoring crowds in the White House to satisfy his ego?
Posted by: harry | Feb 11, 2009 12:32:54 PM
Jake, please ask questions about the healthcare provisions in the "stimulus" bill.
Ask about rationed healthcare and the way it will affect older Americans. Will our loved ones (parents, grandparents) get proper treatment or be turned down due to a cost/benefit ratio?
Please keep asking questions, Jake, and get the info out to the average American.
Posted by: Michelle | Feb 11, 2009 12:31:57 PM
O and all his little gun control buddies...no wonder the only business doing any good is gun and ammo sales, get um while you can....don't taze me bro
Posted by: samhiguchi | Feb 11, 2009 12:22:56 PM
Has he paid his taxes?
Posted by: Brian, Decatur, GA | Feb 11, 2009 11:59:36 AM
Why not use Tubotax Tim? lmao
Posted by: DOH-bama Cabinet of Corruption | Feb 11, 2009 11:54:38 AM
"Crime in Seattle is at a 40-year low."
Because most of the population there is now involved in the drug trade, instead of in survival crime?
Or because the people of Seattle won't report to Kerlikowske's cops? Just asking.
As for Obama -- alcohol being far and away the worst drug problem in the US -- He might need to consult a drug specialist on the wisdom of inaugurating a weekly booze-and-schmooze with the Congress and media.
Posted by: Human Intelligence | Feb 11, 2009 11:52:51 AM
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