Title
Civilian Police Auditor 2024 Annual Report
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive a briefing on the Police Auditor’s 2024 Annual Report.
Report
Issue:
Whether to receive a briefing on the Police Auditor’s 2024 Annual Report.
Staff Contact:
Stacey Ray, Assistant City Manager, 360.753.8046
Presenter(s):
Stacey Ray, Assistant City Manager
Deputy Chief Shelby Parker
Tara Parker, Police Auditor, Clarity Investigations and Consulting, PLLC
Background and Analysis:
The City Council (Council) maintains the services of a Civilian Police Auditor (Auditor) to provide an independent review and audit of the Olympia Police Department’s uses of force and internal investigations regarding complaints against the Department and its employees. As has been the case since 2003, the Auditor is totally independent from the Olympia Police Department (OPD) and reports to the Council. The Chair of the City Council Community Livability and Public Safety Committee (CLPS) serves as the Council Liaison to the Auditor.
The Auditor provides two briefings annually to the Council on their work; a mid-year report and an annual report. The purpose of this agenda item is for the City’s current Auditor, Tara Parker, Clarity Investigations & Consulting, to provide a briefing on her completed 2024 annual report (Attachment A). The annual report will include incidents and complaints that occurred January 1 to December 31, 2024.
Until a Council approved update in late 2024, the Auditor’s duties and responsibilities have included examining uses of force, complaint investigations, and public demonstration responses to determine whether there is any evidence of unlawful bias or civil rights violations, and to ensure that they are aligned with best practices.
Subsequently, Ms. Parkers’ report will be based on the scope of work in effect in 2024 and will include 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; and findings; observations; and recommendations for improvements to Department policies and practices.
As has been the practice recommended by the Social Justice & Equity Commission and implemented last year, prior to briefing Council, the Police Chief and the Auditor met with community members. Because the process to appoint a new Community Policing Board is still underway, the Auditor and Chief Allen met with current Police of Force Community Representatives on May 5, 2025.
Chief Rich Allen shared an OPD 2024 year in review, including data on calls for service, department activities and accomplishments. The Auditor shared their annual report, responded to clarifying questions, and received input from the members’ community perspective. Input from the community representatives who participated is summarized in a letter to Council (Attachment B).
For this agenda item, Stacey Ray, Assistant City Manager, will share a brief overview of the implementation of the Community Oversight of Law Enforcement (COLE) recommendations to date, Deputy Chief Shelby Parker will share the OPD 2024 year in review, and Ms. Parker will brief the City Council on her 2024 Annual Report.
Transition to a New Police Auditor
On December 10, 2024, the City Council approved an ordinance repealing Olympia Municipal 2.38, Police Auditor, and replacing the chapter with the City Council approved recommendations from the Commission for the role of Auditor. Significant updates to the Auditor role include development of an annual work plan, directly receiving complaints, enhanced collaboration with a Community Policing Board, and participation in community engagement initiatives.
Staff is currently in the process of onboarding and transitioning to the new Police Auditor, the OIR Group, who was recommended by CLPS and subsequently approved by the City Council on May 6, 2025.
Climate Analysis:
This project is not expected to have an impact on greenhouse gas emissions.
Equity Analysis:
Having community members learn about the Auditor’s findings, ask clarifying questions and provide input on the recommendations contributes to changes in policing training, policies and practices that are in alignment with community needs and interests. This can subsequently contribute to strengthening trust and legitimacy in the City’s public safety system.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
There’s broad community interest in community involvement in law enforcement, including the role and recommendations of the Auditor and in the OPD data and policy updates shared by the Police Chief. The Auditor meeting regularly with the Community Board supports ongoing transparency in policing for community members.
Financial Impact:
Staff annually budgets $100,000 to $120,000 for Police Auditor services.
Options:
1. Receive a briefing on the Police Auditor’s 2024 Annual Report.
2. Do not receive the briefing.
3. Received the briefing at another time.
Attachments:
Police Auditor Final 2024 Year End Report
Community Member Representatives Summary of Input