Title
Approval of a Recruitment Process for Community Representatives to the I-940-Required Independent Investigation Teams
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
The General Government Committee recommends the candidate application, process and timeline for recruiting community representatives to the I-940-required independent investigation teams.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the candidate application, process and timeline for recruiting community representatives to the I-940-required independent investigation teams.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the candidate application, process and timeline for recruiting community representatives to the I-940-required independent investigation teams.
Staff Contact:
Kellie Purce Braseth, Strategic Communications Director, 360.753.8361
Presenter(s):
Kellie Purce Braseth, Strategic Communications Director
Background and Analysis:
At its July 22, 2020, regular meeting, the General Government Committee received an update on the implementation of Initiative 940 by the Olympia Police Department. Passed in 2018, one of the law’s requirements is that where the use of deadly force by a peace officer results in death, substantial bodily harm, or great bodily harm an independent investigation must be completed to help determine if the use of force met the appropriate good faith standard.
The law also requires the formation of Independent Investigative Teams (IIT) to conduct investigations of police deadly force incidents. The IIT must include qualified and certified peace officer investigators, civilian crime scene specialists, and at least two non-law enforcement community representatives who operate completely independent of any involved agency.
To ensure the non-law enforcement community representatives are independent of any involved agency, the General Government Committee recommends that the recruitment of Olympia’s community representatives be conducted through the Committee’s regular boards and commissions citizen volunteer recruitment process. To stand up Olympia’s initial pool of six representatives as soon as possible, the proposed inaugural recruitment process would begin August 17, with appointment recommendations before Council on October 20. The recruitment process would thereafter follow the City’s regular boards and commissions recruitment timeline, which begins October 1 and ends in March. As proposed, the inaugural process and timeline would run as follows:
• Aug. 17-Sept 11: Application would be accepted
• Sept. 23: General Government Committee screens applications for interviews
• Oct 6-9: General Government Committee Interviews candidates
• Oct. 20: Candidate recommendations go to full Council
• Nov. 1: IIT Community Representative are officially on board
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
N/A
Options:
1. Approve the proposed application, process and timeline for recruiting community representatives to the I-940-required independent investigation teams.
2. Modify the proposed application, process and timeline for recruiting community representatives to the I-940-required independent investigation teams. Depending on how significant the modification is, this could delay the on-board date for the IIT community representatives.
3. Do not approve the application, process and timeline for recruiting community representatives to the I-940-required independent investigation teams. This would delay the on-board date for the IIT community representatives while a new proposed process is created.
Financial Impact:
N/A
Attachments:
Draft Application