Kent city officials need to publicly recognize the harm and hurt caused to the Jewish community by an assistant police chief posting a Nazi insignia on his office door and “treat the offenses with the seriousness and care they deserve,” according to The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle.
The group wants city officials to revisit the incident, their reaction and just a two-week suspension.
“The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and its Jewish Community Relations Council are horrified to learn of the actions of Assistant Kent Police Chief Derek Kammerzell,” according to a Jan. 4 statement. “By elevating and honoring Nazi imagery and titles and joking about the Holocaust, Kammerzell is supporting the extermination of six million Jews, including one million children, and five million other vulnerable individuals.”
Kammerzell received a two-week suspension in July 2021 by Police Chief Rafael Padilla after displaying the Nazi symbol above the nameplate on his office door.
“This is an affront to the entire Puget Sound Jewish community and inexcusable,” according to the statement from The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. “Synagogues, Jewish community centers, and Jewish organizations rely on law enforcement to help protect them from violent, antisemitic attacks.
“The two-week suspension and sensitivity training given in response are completely inadequate, especially at a time when incidents of hate against the Jewish people are higher than they’ve been in almost 45...
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