Title
2026-2027 Civilian Police Auditor Draft Work Plan
Recommended Action
Move to approve a comment letter for the Police Auditor Draft Work Plan to be forwarded to the Community Livability and Public Safety Committee.
Report
Issue:
Approval of a comment letter for the Police Auditor Draft Work Plan to be forwarded to the Community Livability and Public Safety Committee.
Staff Contact:
Margo Morales, Community Engagement Program Specialist, Organizational Development and Performance, 360.753.8150
Presenter(s):
Stephen Connolly, Police Auditor, OIR Group
Michael Gennaco, Police Auditor, OIR Group
Sam Pailca, Police Auditor, OIR Group
Margo Morales, Community Engagement Program Specialist
Background and Analysis:
In July 2024, the City Council accepted recommendations from the Social Justice and Equity Commission on Community Oversight of Law Enforcement. From the recommendations the City established a new Community Policing Board, whose purpose is to ensure Olympia Police Department accountability and transparency, serve as community representatives and provide community perspectives on the work of the Civilian Police Auditor (Auditor).
The recommendations also included enhancements to the role of Auditor. The central role of the Auditor is to review certain types of investigations completed internally by the Olympia Police Department and provide regular reports to the City Council which include recommendations for police department operations, policy and training based on the findings of their audit. One of the enhancements to the role of the Auditor is the requirement of an annual work plan to be approved by the City Council. The work plan should address policies, training, and other issues of interest that the Auditor intends to review that year.
This is the first year the Auditor was required to draft a work plan for the coming year based on findings from their 2025 draft annual report and that fall within their scope of work. The purpose of this agenda item is for the Community Policing Board (Board) to have an opportunity to review and discuss the draft work plan with the Auditor. This feedback will be used by the Auditor to further refine their workplan.
Once finalized, the work plan will then be considered by the Community Livability & Public Safety Committee (CLPS), alongside other Council-appointed advisory body work plans, for recommendation to the City Council for approval.
The Board will submit a comment letter to accompany the draft work plan to CLPS, and then to City Council reflecting their review and input given to the Auditor, which may include comments on content and format.
Climate Analysis:
No known climate impacts.
Equity Analysis:
The intent of the Community Policing Board is to enhance community involvement in law enforcement. It’s also the intent that Board membership be diverse and representative of the community’s demographics and lived experiences, including community members who may have been justice-impacted. Having community members provide input on their draft work plan contributes to changes in policies and practices that are in alignment with community needs and interests and contributes more broadly to building 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 work of the Auditor. The Auditor meeting regularly with the Community Policing Board and receiving feedback from the Board on their draft work plan supports ongoing transparency and providing a role for community member engagement in community policing.
Options:
1. Approve a comment letter for the Police Auditor Draft Work Plan to be forwarded to the Community Livability and Public Safety Committee.
2. Do not approve a comment letter for the Police Auditor Draft Work Plan to be forwarded to the Community Livability and Public Safety Committee.
3. Direct staff to return at a later date for continued discussion and approval of a comment letter for the Police Auditor Draft Work Plan to be forwarded to the Community Livability and Public Safety Committee.
Financial Impact:
The City contracted with OIR Group for Civilian Police Auditor services for an initial one-year term beginning on May 7, 2025, valued at $105,000.
Attachments:
Civilian Police Auditor 2026-2027 Work Plan Draft
Draft Work Plan Comment Letter