Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Otto Zehm


 * The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review).  No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was keep. John254 00:05, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

Otto Zehm
article is about a person tazed and killed. Notability anyone? –BuickCenturyDriver 06:48, 28 August 2008 (UTC)


 * The man himself was hardly notable, but the scandal is. Rename it Otto Zehm scandal, if that's better.  Or City of Spokane scandal if you must.  Article needs some fixing, formatting of the refs not the least.  But that this happens in an American city in the 21st century, is notable.  --Hordaland (talk) 07:20, 28 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Maybe we can merge this article to city of spokane. –BuickCenturyDriver 07:29, 28 August 2008 (UTC)


 * KEEP -- I definitely would not be in agreement with moving this article to Spokane Scandal or to City of Spokane or anything of the such. Look at the Rodney King article.  The killing of Otto Zehm is the civic equivalent for Spokane -- the 2nd largest city in Washington State and the 4th largest metropolitan area in the Pacific Northwest -- that the Rodney King case was for Los Angeles.  It has had a major impact on Spokane and politics in Spokane.  Whether or not someone would "like it if it were my hometown" is irrelevant.  It could certainly be called "Otto Zehm Scandal" if that was necessary.  As suggested in the guidance on deletions and in an attempt to excercise good Wiki citizenship, I am hereby disclosing that I am the primary author of the Otto Zehm article.  --Tayacan (talk) 06:40, 29 August 2008 (UTC)


 * You serious? Spokane is a nice long article.  Section Infrastructure just has health and transport.  Oughta maybe be something about police & fire departments?  But I wouldn't like it if it were my hometown, and neither would you...  --Hordaland (talk) 12:56, 28 August 2008 (UTC)


 * Keep and rename The person is not notable but the incident is as it's been covered in multiple independent and reliable sources. Subsequently, the article's name should primarily describe the event. SWik78 (talk • contribs) 13:30, 28 August 2008 (UTC)
 * I could move the article to Spokane Scandal if that is agreed upon. –BuickCenturyDriver 04:41, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
 * Keep and rename The instructions associated with the deletion recommendation at the top of the Otto Zehm page indicate that the article can continue to be edited even as this discussion goes on. Does that include someone, such as me (the primary author) moving the article to a new title, such as "Otto Zehm Scandal" even as this discussion is ongoing?  As I said above, I would object to it being under a generic "scandal" title such as "Spokane Scandal" because this is potentially a defining civic moment for Spokane.  As an indicator see the compliation of the dozens of articles run about the death in major daily newspaper here as well as coverage outside the area and the multiple national organizations involved, not to mention the several (at least 4) local, state and federal investigations dedicated to this case alone. --Tayacan (talk) 07:55, 29 August 2008 (UTC)

By the way, I am sorry about the multiple edits of this discussion by me. Basically I dont' know where I am supposed to write (some guidance said directly below the person I am responding to so I had to cut and paste my response into the right place or what I thought was the right place. Any thoughts, suggestions, or help is appreciated.  --Tayacan (talk) 08:04, 29 August 2008 (UTC)

The Otto Zehm event is a seminal distillation of and turning point in the history of the Spokane City Police History. The law suit in process, moved forward by our city's non profit Center For Justice regarding a wrongful death will result in a decision and settlement that turns the page on open and recurring violence and discrimination against the entire "Community of Other" in our city and others. It should remain as post and be expanded as it's history proceeds. Justice For All Jcielsbleu (talk) 12:19, 29 August 2008 (UTC) — Jcielsbleu (talk&#32;• contribs) has made few or no other edits outside this topic.
 * Keep under current name. The events surrounding his death are certainly notable, and so far I haven't seen any proposed article titles that are better than just using his name. (There is also a discussion of renaming going on at Talk:Otto Zehm). I would *not* favor the name 'Otto Zehm scandal' unless the press has used that exact phrase. The article itself may need some rewriting. EdJohnston (talk) 16:33, 29 August 2008 (UTC)

Keep but in a huge need of a rewrite. It is far from NPOV but I think it could be improved in that regard. Mikemill (talk) 04:14, 1 September 2008 (UTC)


 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.