Bend police data launched this month supply a glimpse into how the town’s legislation enforcement leaders investigated, and finally cleared, a fellow officer accused of ties to far-right extremism.
Cpl. Josh Spano confronted 10 alleged coverage violations, all deemed unfounded. Nonetheless, the investigation has led to proposed modifications within the division round social media. Among the allegations in opposition to Spano stemmed from private objects and social media posts that includes imagery related to the anti-government, militia motion. Police supervisors determined these references have been coincidental to Spano’s army background.
The seed of the grievance was a keychain the corporal carried on obligation, which he has since stopped utilizing, in accordance with investigation experiences. The keychain confirmed a Greek phrase: “Molon Labe.” The tough translation is “Come and Take Them.” It’s a well-liked phrase in army historical past and tradition, the gun rights motion and amongst some anti-government teams.
The keychain had tacit approval by a supervisor.
“Sadly, I didn’t take extra care on this scenario with researching what the phrase signified and appropriately apply the uniform coverage to the scenario,” Capt. Nick Parker wrote in his report.
A submitted picture of Cpl. Joshua Spano carrying a “Molon Labe” keychain whereas making an arrest in Bend on Might 1, 2021.
Emily Cureton
A submitted screenshot of Bend Police Corporal Josh Spano’s private Instagram, displaying a “Molon Labe” tattoo. The 2013 submit was publicly accessible earlier than a 2021 inside affairs investigation by the Bend Police Division.
Emily Cureton / OPB
“Molon Labe” can also be tattooed on Spano’s leg, accompanying the Statue of Liberty holding a pistol and silencer. He posted an image of this on-line in 2013, captioning it: “Love my nation, hate my authorities.”
A 2017 Instagram submit made by Spano additionally confirmed a set of material patches and a vibrant crimson pocket book. One patch contains the Roman numeral “III,” a logo popularized by militia teams. The pocket book cowl reads: “Individuals to Kill.”
Spano reportedly introduced the ebook to an inside affairs interview in June.
“There was not an inventory of names of individuals to kill within the ebook,” wrote Bend PD’s investigator, Lt. Juli-Ann McConkey.
Spano logged his goal follow within the ebook.
“He opened the ebook and it had numerous dates, instances, wind route, wind velocity, density, altitude, humidity, grain of bullet, and a number of other different issues relating to his capturing for the actual day,” in accordance with McConkey.
As for the Roman numerals, Spano mentioned he was unaware of a hyperlink to militia tradition till lately. He advised McConkey he received the patch from the proprietor of the corporate that makes it, Kryptek, and that they met at police coaching in Nevada. Kryptek is a clothes model that markets out of doors gear with a army aesthetic. On the time, Spano labored for the Medford Police Division and was a member of its SWAT workforce.
“The proprietor of Kryptek additionally needed to get involved with the Medford SWAT workforce to see if they might have a enterprise deal for jackets,” McConkey famous.
Kryptek merchandise is regularly branded by three percenter militias, in accordance with Mark Pitcavage, an skilled on extremism for the Anti-Defamation League, who pointed to a number of examples online, together with one from a Washington state militia.
When McConkey reached out to Kryptek, a consultant reportedly advised her the numerals stand for the “three main applied sciences that go into making the Kryptek camo sample design.”
McConkey consulted an unidentified member of federal legislation enforcement, who “couldn’t verify any of the patches have been related to any extremist group,” her report states. A metropolis spokesperson mentioned the dialog was carried out underneath situation of confidentiality. In her report, McConkey doesn’t doc talking to any extremism researchers.
Associated: Bend police officer under investigation after accusations of extremist speech
In recent times members of assorted Three P.c militias have violently focused political opponents on the left, Muslims and immigrants, according to the ADL. 4 self-described members from California have been charged with conspiracy within the Jan. 6 breach on the U.S. Capitol, the Washington Post reported. In Central Oregon, an area chapter adopts a freeway between Redmond and Prineville, in accordance with signage on state Freeway 126. Final summer season in Bend, a person with the brand on his truck pointed a handgun at racial justice demonstrators. Bend Police Division’s dealing with of the incident sparked months of controversy, fueling a rift between police leaders and the county’s head prosecutor.
Spano declined to touch upon the investigation. His duties as a police supervisor embrace mentoring, and appearing as a sergeant when wanted, in accordance with the investigation experiences. He’s an Military fight veteran, who’s been a sworn officer in Oregon since 2008. Spano was employed by Bend in 2015, and promoted to corporal in 2019. Employment data present he’s constantly earned commendations from superiors, together with McConkey.
Her inside affairs report was reviewed by a captain and the chief of police. The Metropolis of Bend’s human sources director Rob DuValle “offered recommendation and enter on this investigation and was current for interviews.”
The allegations in opposition to Spano originated with an activist group identified for criticizing native police, the Central Oregon Peacekeepers. On Might 1, Spano cited considered one of its members, Michael Satcher, for prison trespassing close to a homeless encampment. Afterward, the group disseminated pictures of Spano’s private objects and social media posts.
Satcher, like Spano, is a disabled fight veteran. Satcher has mentioned he turned an activist within the wake of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Bend officers have mentioned Satcher harasses them. In March, the city filed a lawsuit against him over an expansive public records request, and the civil case is scheduled for trial in December.
Over the past 12 months, legislation enforcement officers have sought eight prison fees in opposition to Satcher, county data present. The District Legal professional’s workplace has declined to pursue any of those, at instances emphatically. In a memo to the police chief final month, Deschutes DA John Hummel accused the officers of targeting activists seeking police reforms.
Previous to the Spano investigation, Chief Krantz wrote to all the Bend Metropolis Council, defending the corporal and blaming the activist.
“Deflection is usually the one protection left when individuals haven’t any protection for his or her actions,” Krantz wrote within the Might 3 electronic mail.
McConkey was assigned to analyze Spano the following day, per her report. In the course of the investigation, she requested Spano in regards to the anti-government assertion on his picture of the tattoo.
“The importance to him of Girl Liberty holding the gun in his tattoo is defending the nation in opposition to the oppression of one other nation, a brand new age tackle the previous considered the Statue of Liberty and why France gave her to america,” McConkey wrote. “Corporal Spano realizes he’s employed by the federal government and he doesn’t hate his authorities and he does love his nation, as he’s a veteran who fought for his nation.”
McConkey’s 41-page report mentions the phrase veteran 66 instances. Police Chief Mike Krantz reviewed her work.
“Not one of the info found throughout this investigation would lead an affordable individual to consider that Corporal Spano is tied to any extremist, racist, or anti-government teams,” Krantz concluded in his findings. “There isn’t a info current in Corporal Spano’s personnel file or any info found throughout this investigation by which an affordable individual might conclude that Corporal Spano conducts himself at work in any method apart from commendable.”
Nonetheless, the investigation is poised to spur coverage modifications inside the Bend Police Division. Krantz beneficial a overview of a number of division insurance policies, together with one governing worker speech and social media use, which has not been up to date since 2015.
This 12 months, the Oregon Legislature handed a legislation requiring legislation enforcement businesses to set requirements for worker speech and expression. HB 2936 takes effect next year.
Spano resigned from Bend PD this month. He’s been provided a job with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Workplace, in accordance with metropolis and county officers.
Within the midst of the town’s investigation, A GoFundMe purporting to “Purchase CPL Spano a beer!! MOLAN LABE!! [ sic]” raised about $1,700.
