Pot cop busted

Of the 83 tickets issued for public marijuana use in 2014, 66 csame from Seattle police officer Randy Jokela. New police chief Kathleen O’Toole said that Officer Jokela's, um, enthusiastic enforcement came to the attention of the SPD during a review of its first semiannual report on marijuana enforcement.According to The Seattle Times, Officer Jokela allegedly flipped “a coin in one instance to decide who would be cited.” On some tickets he actually requested the attention of "Petey Holmes." the Seattle City Attorney who has been a strong advocate for pot legalization. (According to Times’ reporters Steve Miletich and Jennifer Sullivan, citations for public marijuana use typically go to Seattle Municipal Court, not the City Attorney's office.)Not surprisingly, Pete Holmes released a statement on Thursday, reassuring the public that, although he has been a proponent of legalization, he is committed to keeping shared, public spaces marijuana free. “This isn’t about fining people,” wrote Holmes. “It’s about getting people to stop smoking marijuana in public, especially in crowded areas and places where families and children congregate.” Holmes also expressed his concern about the "disproportionality" in citywide enforcement "across the five precincts.” Jokela, whose beat includes the downtown core, International District and SLU, is under investigation. — K.H.