NAACP: Reopen hate mail investigation

COEUR d'ALENE - After Rachel Dolezal broke her silence on NBC's "Today Show," the Spokane NAACP called on law enforcement to reopen investigation of alleged hate mail sent to her.

In a one-page statement, the executive committee of the local NAACP recognized Dolezal's contribution in Spokane, but they also said it is sensitive to the concerns of others in the community.

"While we laud President Dolezal's commitment to justice and equitable change, we also acknowledge, understand and share many of the concerns that have been voiced about her leadership. We are grateful to Rachel for her willingness to step aside so the Spokane Branch can shift our focus to the ongoing work for social justice," the release said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family as they go through this difficult time.

"Yet, the Executive Board realizes that in many ways this has been a difficult time for our community as a whole. Understandably, many people are hurt and angry. We look forward to working through these issues together."

In February of this year, Dolezal reported that she had received a package in the NAACP post office box, containing racial threats against her.

Police began investigating the materials in the letter in March. Through the course of the investigation, police determined that the mail could not have gone through the normal postmarking process and the stamps had not been cancelled on the envelope. Therefore, they concluded that either a postal worker or someone with a key to the post office box put the letter in the box - if the package was ever in the box in the first place.

The U.S. Postal Inspector and Spokane Police detectives cleared all of the postal workers who had access to the post office box during the time in question, which meant the only possible way for the package to get in the box was from the front with a key, police reports say.

Police suspended the investigation on June 11, the same day The Press broke the story questioning Dolezal's ethnicity.

Now the Spokane chapter wants the police to reopen the case despite the fact that police have suspended it.

"In response to recently reported acts of hatred, we call upon the appropriate law enforcement officials and the United States Postal Service (USPS), not to minimize such acts in our community," the release said. "The Spokane NAACP is requesting that the Spokane Police Department, the USPS and other agencies involved give full disclosure of the findings, conclusions, and ongoing investigations related to the 'Hate Mail' received at the Spokane NAACP mailboxes and related incidents. Further, we call upon law enforcement to actively pursue all three 'Hate Mail' incidences reported."

Teresa Fuller, a spokeswoman for the Spokane Police Department, could not be reached for comment Tuesday. She said last week the case was suspended because the department ran out of leads.

"Unless new information arises, they are all suspended at this point," Fuller said last week. "We don't have any additional followup to do on any of them."

The Spokane Human Rights Commission issued a resolution Tuesday calling for Dolezal to resign from her position as chair of the Office of Police Ombudsman Commission, according to KXLY News in Spokane.