Last week on the 31st I was pulled over in kirkland on 116th Street, near Pump It Up and a car dealership, around 1 p.m. by a male officer with reddish-blonde hair. I was in the car along with two young boys that I nanny, ages 4 and 7. When I was pulled over, the officer walked up to my car and told me that he pulled me over for having no front license plate. I gave him my information and he returned to his vehicle. Upon returning, he handed me back my information and told me everything was fine. He then proceeded to ask me about a violation from 2007, he asked “What can you tell me about your negligent driving from ‘07?” I responded that I had gotten a DUI when I was 17 and that it was handled in court. He then began to continue to talk about it referring to “drinking while driving” and asking me if I had “learned my lesson.” He was extremely rude, and made me feel as if I was required to answer these questions about my past.

I asked politely to choose his wording better, he acted confused and said “like what?” I asked to not mention drinking, in front of the two boys. He seemed annoyed by my request, and began to ask me more personal questions about cases from years prior. He mentioned drugs, being reckless and asked if I was still drinking while driving. After the second question about another charge that was dropped, I said firmly “That was handled in court, and I don’t think we need to discuss it at this time.” He finally let me go with no ticket. I left there and was mortified when my little boys started to ask me questions about drinking and why the police man was talking about drugs.

I felt that I was completely disrespected by this officer, he abused his power and tried to scare me into feeling that I needed to respond to his questions that he had no right asking. I have been really surprised with how unprofessional the kirkland police department has been, on multiple cases when I was pulled over for a insignificant purpose, such as no front license plate, or too dark of a tint. I was brought to tears by the officer, and having to explain to my little boys why not only I was crying but why I was being asked the questions he asked me. I feel as if the disregard for the fact that there were children present was completely uncalled for, even after my request to be more selective on his wording, he continued to say things that were very inappropriate. It sets a bad example for us and the kids to see an officer who is supposed to protect us, putting people down and making people cry. There needs to be something done to change this, because after talking to some people about my situation, they also have mentioned that the KPD has done things like this to them. I imagine I am not the first, or the last person, who will be treated in an unfair manner by an officer of the law. We need to be able to trust the police department and cases like this cause that to be very difficult.

Editor’s note: The author mistakenly sent this letter to the Kirkland Reporter’s Letters to the Editor email and it was subsequently posted in the Aug. 10 issue. Because of a time gap between press time and publication the Reporter was unable to pull it back from the print edition.