Title
2025 Draft Police Auditor Annual Report
Recommended Action
Move to approve a comment letter for the 2025 Draft Police Auditor Annual Report to be forwarded to the City Council with the Police Auditor’s final report.
Report
Issue:
Approval of a comment letter for the 2025 Draft Police Auditor Annual Report to be forwarded to the City Council with the Civilian Police Auditor’s final report.
Staff Contact:
Margo Morales Community Engagement Program Specialist, Organizational Development & Performance, 360.753.8150
Presenter(s):
Shelby Parker, Interim Police Chief
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. Included in the recommendations are that the Police Auditor will meet regularly with an established Community Board to share an overview of misconduct complaint investigations, use of force incidents and recommendations so board members can learn, ask questions, share concerns, and provide the community’s perspective regarding recommendations.
In 2024, members of the Social Justice & Equity Commission had an opportunity to pilot this part of the recommendations, receiving briefings from the Police Auditor on their draft 2023 Annual Report and 2024 Mid-Year Report, as well as updates from the Police Chief on the Olympia Police Department (Department). Commissioners shared their community perspectives and feedback on the Auditor’s reports with the City Council in the form of a comment letter that was attached to the report and submitted to the City Council.
In March 2025 Council approved amendments to the Olympia Municipal Code to establish a Community Policing Board. During the recruitment and selection process for the Community Policing Board, the Police Use of Force Community Representatives received briefings from the Police Chief and Police Auditor and provided community perspectives on the Auditor’s draft 2024 Annual Report.
The current Community Policing Board members were appointed at the September 30, 2025, City Council meeting, and completed onboarding orientation in November 2025. This will be their first regular meeting. Board members will receive an update on the Department as well as review and provide feedback on a draft report from the Police Auditor. Input from the Community Policing Board will be considered by the Police Auditor before finalizing their 2025 Annual Report.
In December 2024 the City Council approved updates Olympia’s municipal code to establish the recommended enhanced responsibilities of the Auditor and launched a recruitment and selection process. In May 2025 OIR Group was approved by the City Council to fill the role of Auditor for the City of Olympia. The 2025 Draft Annual Report is OIR Group’s first report as Civilian Police Auditor. The primary role of the Auditor is to review misconduct investigations and supervisory evaluations of force incidents completed internally by the 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.
The purpose of this agenda item is for the Community Policing Board to discuss the Auditor’s 2025 Draft Annual Report and approve a comment letter summarizing their input, which will then be forwarded to the City Council with the Auditor’s final Annual Report.
Climate Analysis:
This project is not expected to have an impact on greenhouse gas emissions.
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 learn about the Auditor’s findings and provide input on their recommendations contributes to changes in policing training, 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 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 Policing Board supports ongoing transparency in policing for community members.
Options:
1. Approve a comment letter on the 2025 Draft Police Auditor Annual Report to be forwarded to the City Council with the Auditor’s final report.
2. Do not approve a comment letter on the 2025 Draft Police Auditor Annual Report to be forwarded to the City Council with the Auditor’s final report.
3. Direct staff to return at a later date for continued discussion and approval of a comment letter to be forwarded to the City Council with the Auditor’s final report.
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:
Police Auditor Draft 2025 Annual Report
Olympia 2025 Use of Force Cases Index
Draft 2025 Annual Report Comment Letter
Civilian Police Auditor Ordinance
Community Policing Board Ordinance