Seeking justice for Arfee

COEUR d'ALENE - Tierra Peters held her head high and raised her picket sign into the air.

"Justice for Arfee!" she shouted, her voice mingling with a chorus of others.

She marched in the crowd of roughly 100 people who were present to show their support and have their voices heard Sunday morning during the Justice for Arfee Rally, which began on the sidewalk in front of Java on Sherman.

"I'm here with my grandma and I think it's not OK for police officers to just randomly shoot a dog," said Tierra, 12, of Coeur d'Alene. "That's someone's family. You bond with that dog."

Tierra and her grandmother, Dianne Foldvick of Coeur d'Alene, carried signs that read, "Justice for Arfee," "Stop police violence" and "Fire trigger happy cops," sentiments that were echoed throughout the rally.

The Justice for Arfee Rally took place almost two months after Coeur d'Alene Police Officer David Kelley shot and killed a 2-year-old black Labrador that was in a reportedly suspicious van parked outside Java. It was announced in a press conference Friday that Kelley did not display a reasonable use of force. Craig Jones, the owner of Arfee and the van, was not at the rally, but posted on the Justice for ARFEE Facebook page prior to the rally.

"I can't thank everyone enough for all the love and support I have received after the loss of my most cherished friend 'Arfee.' Keeping his spirit alive within our community is truly awe inspiring! I will be humming "Arfee-arfeee-arfeee" with you all from Minnesota. Again thank you for all of your efforts to bring justice for a defenseless pet doing exactly what he was supposed to do...God bless."

The rally was organized by Coeur d'Alene resident and dog owner Kiela Long, who spent more than a month planning.

"Craig is one of my best friends. I grew up with him, I've known him since we were little," she said. "When I heard about the news, I just could not not stand up for him."

She said the purpose of the rally was "to do away with the officer. Get him off the force."

"The worst part's the cover-up," said Kathy Danford of Coeur d'Alene. "This would have been over with the day it happened if they would not have covered it all up. They stole his dog out of his van and then they covered it up."

Demonstrators voiced their opinions on several aspects of the case, from how the initial incident was handled to what discipline should be in order and what the community can do in response.

"For our own hearts, we need to forgive Officer Kelley, but not forget," said Kathy Spackman of Hayden. "We need to help initiate the improvements within our police department to keep this from happening again. I do not believe, as the mother of a police officer, that Officer Kelley is qualified to perform his duties as a police officer. He cannot be on the police force and panic, they just don't go together, so he does need to be relieved of duty."

Spackman said threats to the police department need to stop because the community cannot thrive on hate.

"We need to live on positive reaction to make positive improvements," she said.

Todd Symons of Coeur d'Alene said he attended the rally to gain more information about the situation.

"I wanted to get both sides of it," he said. "I know people in law enforcement and I know people on this side of it, and the only way that we can make our community better is by being well-informed."

David and Lindsay Patterson, who own Java, said they had no concerns before the rally. Lindsay interacted with several demonstrators, who were peaceful and mindful of Java's driveway.

While a few canine companions accompanied their owners, several demonstrators carried empty leashes to represent the absence of a pet at the other end.

"We are deeply saddened by the events that transpired in our parking lot," the Pattersons said in a statement. "We hope that this rally will go a long ways in showing Mr. Jones the support our community has for him and the loss of Arfee."

Info:www.facebook.com/justiceforarfee