The sheriff of Spokane County, WA, was “standing by his remarks” that blamed former President Barack Obama for increased violence against law enforcement.
That opinion surfaced during remarks by Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich during a “Spirit of America” rally in Spokane in early March.
Here’s what Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said that has raised some eyebrows, according to published reports: “I’ve seen the time when no one wants to wear a badge. Never in my history have we been hunted and assassinated, and I blame Barack Obama.”
According to KIRO7 News in Seattle, “The chairman of the Spokane County Democrats, Andrew Biviano, is urging the sheriff to tone down his rhetoric and use “more nuanced language.”
But that left many people asking why the sheriff should ratchet down his comments. Barely 48 hours after Knezovich’s remarks, one of his ranking deputies, was shot during a four-hour standoff with an armed man in the community of Colbert.
Police have been targeted in shooting incidents over the past 18 months. The most significant incident occurred last year in Dallas.
Knezovich didn’t restrict his criticism of the ex-president, either. According to the Spokesman-Review, he also contended that Washington Gov. Jay Inslee was wrong when he signed an executive order regarding enforcement of immigration laws by state agencies.
