Washington police union calls for resignation of state lawmaker who allegedly surveilled progressive leaders

A union representing the rank and file of the Spokane, Wash., police department called for the resignation of a controversial state lawmaker who allegedly gathered “intelligence” on city officials.

State Rep. Matt Shea (R) has a history of comments that have raised eyebrows, including authoring a manifesto called the “Biblical Basis for War” that offers strategies for a “Holy Army,” including “kill[ing] all males” if they do not submit to law based on the Bible.

{mosads}Documents obtained by the Spokane Spokesman-Review indicate Shea also ran “background checks” and compiled dossiers on local liberal leaders, as well as seeking to buy GPS trackers and distributing a list claiming to include the name and phone number of every law enforcement officer in the state.

“The Spokane Police Guild finds Representative Matt Shea’s actions in keeping city of Spokane officials under surveillance appalling and join with those asking for his immediate resignation,” the union wrote in a Facebook post.

“It is the duty of both law enforcement and elected government officials to uphold the constitution. It is clear by Mr. Shea’s conduct he more interested in promoting his own ideology than upholding the rights afforded to all citizens under the Constitution,” the union added.

Targets of Shea’s “intelligence” gathering included City Council members Lori Kinnear and Breean Beggs as well as Council President Ben Stuckart, according to the newspaper. The three council members have also called for his resignation, as has the Spokane chapter of the NAACP, which said he “uses his platform to promote hate and violence.”

The Hill has reached out to Shea’s office for comment.