President of Seattle police union quitting over Facebook post that included '#Weshallovercome'
SEATTLE _ Ron Smith, president of the Seattle Police Officers' Guild, is resigning amid heavy criticism over a Facebook post about the deaths of five police officers in Dallas last week.
The resignation is effective July 31 and union Vice President Kevin Stuckey will fulfill the rest of Smith's term, which was to expire next March, according to an email Smith sent to union members Tuesday. Smith became president in 2014.
In an interview Tuesday night, Smith said he did not want to become a distraction over the Facebook post. It read, in part, "The hatred of law enforcement by a minority movement is disgusting ... #Weshallovercome," and it drew ire on social media.
"I'm at peace," he said Tuesday. "Could I have chosen my words differently?" he added, saying he had made a mistake.
He also said he did not want to undermine the federally mandated reform effort under way in the Seattle Police Department.
"I have poured my heart and soul into this organization ..." he said in the email. "I have been made aware that I have let the membership down, something that I deeply regret."
After deleting the post last week, the Guild took down its Facebook and Twitter accounts. Smith earlier said it was deleted because it had been taken out of context. In the Tuesday night email, Smith said he posted "in the heat of the moment."
_The Seattle Times
