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Public commenter alleges repeated poor treatment by local officers; mayor offers meeting
Summary
At the Aug. 26 meeting a resident, Mike Horton, described multiple incidents he said involved mistreatment by local police and asked that complaints be reviewed and officers receive constitutional training. Mayor Watterson offered to meet with him after the meeting to discuss details.
A Tenino resident used the public comment period Aug. 26 to tell the council he has repeatedly experienced what he described as poor treatment and procedural problems with local police officers.
The commenter, who identified himself as Mike Horton and said he is commonly known in town as “Blurbman,” told the council about multiple incidents in which he said officers demanded identification, improperly accessed license‑plate information and did not adequately follow up on complaints. Horton named an officer he identified as Sergeant/Officer Johnson and also raised a complaint concerning Officer Lee. He urged the city to review complaints through an independent or third‑party process and recommended officers receive more training on constitutional protections.
Mayor Watterson limited Horton to the public comment period time allotment but offered to continue the conversation after the meeting. The mayor told Horton, “I’ll come down and talk to you at your place and set up a time,” and invited Horton to meet at city hall if he preferred. No formal investigation outcome or disciplinary action was announced during the meeting.
What happens next: Mayor Watterson said he would meet with Horton to discuss the incidents. The council did not take formal action during the meeting on policing procedures or on an independent review process.
