Title
Approval of a Recommendation for a Civilian Police Auditor
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Move to recommend hiring the OIR Group for Police Auditor Services.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to recommend hiring the OIR Group for Police Auditor Services and forward the recommendation to the full City Council for approval.
Report
Issue:
Whether to recommend hiring the OIR Group for Police Auditor Services and forward the recommendation to the full City Council for approval.
Staff Contact:
Stacey Ray, Assistant City Manager, 360.753.8046
Presenter(s):
Stacey Ray, Assistant City Manager
Background and Analysis:
In May 2023, in response to direction from the City Council (Council), the Social Justice & Equity Commission (Commission) launched a Community Oversight of Law Enforcement (COLE) process to develop recommendations for community member involvement with the Olympia Police Department (OPD). The goal was to ensure that the Commission's final COLE recommendations were representative of a diversity of lived experiences, perspectives, and professional expertise, and reflected the community's values and needs.
At the time the Commission began its work, police oversight services were already being provided through the work of a Civilian Police Auditor (Auditor) and Community Use of Force Board.
On September 20, 2002, Council approved Ordinance No. 6220 which added a new Chapter (2.38) to the Olympia Municipal Code - Police Auditor. The stated purpose of the Auditor was to "provide an independent review and audit of investigations of complaints about the Police Department and/or its employees" to increase public trust and confidence in the professional accountability systems of OPD.
The Council retained their first Auditor in 2003. An Auditor was in place every year until 2009 when budget reductions necessitated a reduction in funding. During the 2020 budget process, Council appropriated funds to reinstate an Auditor.
During the in...
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