Title
Receive a Briefing on the 2021 Police Auditor Annual Report
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive a briefing on the 2021 Police Auditor Annual Report.
Report
Issue:
Whether to receive a briefing on the 2021 Police Auditor Annual Report.
Staff Contact:
Debbie Sullivan, Assistant City Manager, 360.753.8499
Presenter(s):
Debbie Sullivan, Assistant City Manager
Tara Parker, Police Auditor, Ogden Murphy Wallace
Background and Analysis:
The purpose of the Police Auditor is to “provide an independent review and audit of investigations of complaints about the Police Department and/or its employees” in order to increase public trust and confidence in the professional accountability systems of the Police Department.
The Police Auditor is selected and retained by the City Council. The General Government Committee recruited and interviewed contractors to provide police auditor services in the fall of 2020. The Committee recommended and Council approved to contract with the law firm, Ogden Murphy Wallace, P.L.L.C.
The Police Auditor will present the 2021 Annual Report to the City Council which covers incidents between January 1 and December 31, 2021. The Annual Report includes: the number and types of use of force reports that have been audited; the number and types of complaint investigations recorded by the Office of Professional Standards that have been audited; findings; observations; and recommendations for improvements to Department policies and practices.
The Police Auditor will provide Council a briefing on the report. The report is also posted on Olympia’s Police Department Transparency and Accountability page.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The community is interested in improving transparency and accountability by using a Police Auditor to provide an independent review of investigations and complaints against the Olympia Police Department.
Options:
1. Receive a briefing on the 2021 Police Auditor Annual Report.
2. Do not receive a briefing on the 2021 Police Auditor Annual Report
3. Do not receive the briefing on the 2021 Police Auditor Annual Report and schedule for a future meeting.
Financial Impact:
The City Council appropriated a $100,000 to cover Police Auditor Services in 2021.
Attachments:
Police Auditor 2021 Annual Report