Katie Bolger, the chief of staff for City Councilman Paul Cunningham, has asked Tucson Weekly to publish her apology to the community for her behavior following a run-in with police last week:
Open Letter to my fellow Tucsonans:
On Friday, March 22, I conducted myself in a manner that is deeply embarrassing. I am extremely regretful and offer my apologies to the men and women of the Tucson Police Department, who were doing their jobs serving the community.
I was walking home after a night out on Fourth Avenue. I crossed Speedway at Fifth Avenue and was stopped by a Tucson police officer. The officer informed me that another car had to perform an “evasive” maneuver to avoid hitting me.
Instead of acknowledging that I had dangerously crossed the road, I became angry with the officer. Three more patrol cars responded to the scene and I became verbally offensive.
Multiple times I was asked to sign the citation for jaywalking, but I stubbornly refused and instead spent the night in jail. On Sunday March 24, I called Tucson Police Chief Villasenor to offer my apologies for my rude, inexcusable, unprofessional conduct towards his officers.
I am a public official in that I serve as a staff member for an elected City Councilman. For this, I am held to a higher standard of public conduct—as I should be.
I write this letter not only as an apology to the officers who were witness and subject to my unbecoming conduct, but to the residents of the City of Tucson.
I was born and raised here in Tucson. I have never lived anywhere else. I am blessed in many ways. I have been given the opportunity to work for the City I love.
I have embarrassed myself, family, friends, and co-workers, and for that I am truly sorry.
I want to thank Councilman Cunningham for believing that I am worth a second chance serving in his office. My goal is to prove to him, and the Tucson community, it is a chance worth taking.
—Katie Bolger
This article appears in Apr 4-10, 2013.
Perhaps strangely, the most interesting thing about this to me is that a person could live in the same town their entire lives…
I find it interesting she points out the number of tpd vehicles that responded
I think it is an honest apology and that it enough. We have all had bad moments of some kind in our lives. Let’s try being kind. That is what counts. Thanks you, Katie. I have spent my whole life here also.
I think Katie is a good public servant. She made a mistake and will pay the consequences for it. If this turns into a pattern, then her position should be in question. Otherwise, I think we should move on. I do think it needs to be said, whoever else works in Paul Cunningham’s office I think should pre-emptively check themselves into rehab. lol There seems to be a good deal of alcohol related misbehavior in that office.
I am satisfied with Katie’s apology. Besides, most of TPD are dicks anyway.
Ah…Democrats …gotta love ’em. “Just give me another chance!”.. “I did NOT have sex with that woman!”…. “Benghazi?? I dont remember squat!!”….. “Dont worry I’ll be transparent!!!”…… You Democrats, is there anything lower??
Ah, Republicans. Thousands of people killed in the World Trade Center on our watch? No problem. 20 children killed by guns? Not even worth discussing. Trillions of dollars spent on a failed war that accomplished nothing but killing hundreds of thousands of people, including our own soldiers? Mission accomplished! Gays want to get married? Oh, how evil…whoops, I’m gay! Social Security and Medicare have nothing to do with the budget? Let’s cut them to the bone. There are never enough old, crippled, and sick people out on the street unable to access medical care or buy food! The GOP needs to go to hell.
“Ah, Republicans. Thousands of people killed in the World Trade Center on our watch? No problem.’
Um Ellen, that was Clinton leftover. Bill was to busy with adultry to worry about national security when it Osama Bin Laden was brought to his attention more than once. The refrence to 20 childern killed, That’s sick even for a liberal. Heed your own words, “liberal left Democrats”, that want total control of Americans citizens “need to go to hell”.
She works for Cunningham, she’ll get a slap on the wrist (if that), and the wole situation will be swept under the rug. The hypocricy of the corrupt and inept city clowncil knows no bounds.
In the real world of business, she would have been fired….and still should be! The letter sounded forced. Was it just me, or did it sound as though she is not truly remorseful?
GuiseppeKnows nothing. Ellen Miller knows quite a bit. markus_jim knows less than GuiseppeKnows. Typical teabagging horse droppings.
Next time it’s the stocks! Then dunking to see if she is a witch!
I am not into public humiliation … But I suppose this is indicative of what happens in small towns. Yuck! In Paris or London this would I think be a non-issue.
She stated “I am held to a higher standard of public conduct—as I should be”. Huh? It doesn’t appear that she’s being held to any standard. Otherwise, the citizens of Tucson wouldn’t have to pay her salary anymore. She should be fired for abusing her perceived power with Ted, demanding that he film the event and saying “you work for me”. She obviously lacks understanding of what should be required of a civil servant.
“In the real world of business, she would have been fired….and still should be! The letter sounded forced. Was it just me, or did it sound as though she is not truly remorseful?”
So your saying an office manager in a business would get fired for a misdemeanor on their own time? I’m not condoning but come on people lighten up. They aired her rant on the news that’s probably enough punishment…..no I’m not a liberal just a realist.
Well at least she didn’t pee on a wall.
Hey, if Mark Sanford can be rehabilitated and win a statewide primary after “hiking the Appalachian Trail,” Katie can have a second chance too.
Oddly, her letter does not address her extensive drinking problem, which is the root of this behavior. She needs to stop drinking and go to AA classes.
Apology? That makes everything alright? She and her boss should be in jail. I guess white still has its privilege in Tucson.
I have worked with Katie on public forums in Ward II and she was always helpful and professional at all times. Whenever I phoned and needed advice she was always helpful. She was intoxicated on her own time, not work time. And by the way, she was in jail. She was walking, not driving while intoxicated. She is under the scrutiny of us all as a result of what she said and is doing what she should now. I want her to get back to her work. And maybe line up some friends to get her home after she drinks. Kudos to the driver who didn’t hit her or this could be a very different story. Hey, Katie, many of us get the difference between your public and private life…take care
“Well at least she didn’t pee on a wall.”
And neither did anyone else.
And so what if they did?
When was this apology issued and when was the incident in question?
Why didn’t Cunningham demand immediate action from his Chief of Staff?
So was this heartfelt or politically motivated?
To my 22 dislikes: I see those of you have never had an encounter with a TPD officer.
I nominate her for the first “Shooter Award” for being, even when drunk*, an obnoxious, arrogant person full of their own non-existent importance.
* alcohol does decrease inhibitions, allowing the person to reveal their true self.
I did have an encounter with an officer of TPD. Burnie, when I turned into a one-way street.
He whistled me down, walked over to the car, smiled, and asked, “You didn’t see the one-way sign, Sir?”
“Obviously,” I sheepishly smiled back. “I’m not the world’s greatest city driver. But I always look for the open range signs in Rio Rico. Haven’t hit a cow yet.”
He laughed, stopped an oncoming car, and waved me through a U-turn.
Care to share some of your encounters with officers of the TPD, Burnie?
I would not, but I thank you for the inquiry Rio. If you noticed I did not speak in totalities, as I have too had a pleasant experience or two. However, the other 97% of the encounters were pure misery, filled with superiority complexes and obvious abuse of power.
I am not speaking purely from a suspects perspective either, I have dealt with them as a victim, professionally, causally, and as an onlooker.
AZ/DC I have peed on a wall, as well as State line signs (every one I pass) etc.
I know I didn’t care
The higher standard s just that and instead of some “reason” or “fable to calm those who read this or the t.p.d. report”;Ms.Bolger spent a nite in jail and wrote this apology.It is up to you to accept it or not.I accept it and appreciate her moxy.Few of us are perfect and fewer are with out regret.
Thank you for your very public apology.
-W.B.S.
Marking territory and disdain for the state. I Love it smithappens! LMFAO.
I don’t believe her for a second. She can’t be trusted and she needs to be fired along with her boss.