Title
Approval of a Resolution Authorizing an Interlocal Agreement Between the Cities of Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, and Yelm Establishing the Capital Metro Independent Investigation Team
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve a Resolution Authorizing an Interlocal Agreement Between the Cities of Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, and Yelm Establishing the Capital Metro Independent Investigation Team (CMIIT).
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve a Resolution Authorizing an Interlocal Agreement Between the Cities of Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, and Yelm Establishing the CMIIT.
Staff Contact:
Rich Allen, Interim Deputy Chief of Police, Police, 360.753.8411
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item.
Background and Analysis:
Initiative 940 (I-940) and the companion Senate House Bill (SHB)1064, introduced during the 2017 legislative session, requires investigations of officer involved use of deadly force be independent of the involved agency. Following the passage of I-940 and SHB 1064, the legislation was renamed to the Law Enforcement Training and Community Safety Act (LETCSA).
The LETCSA requires the use of an independent investigative team. An independent investigative team for these purposes is defined as:
“A team of qualified and certified peace officer Investigators, civilian crime scene specialists, and at least two nonlaw enforcement community representatives who operate completely independent of any involved agency to conduct investigations of police deadly force incidents. An IIT is created when multiple law enforcement agencies enter into a written agreement to investigate police use of deadly force incidents in their geographical regions. A single law enforcement agency may fulfill the independent investigative function, provided it is not the involved agency.”
This interlocal agreement between the Cities of Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, and Yelm establishes a regional independent investigation team, called the Capital Metro Independent Investigation Team (CMIIT).
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The development of Independent Investigation Team rules by the Washington State Criminal Justice Commission was in collaboration with a large number of stakeholders. A list of those engaged in this process is linked in the attachments below.
Options:
1. Approve the resolution and agreement. Move forward with interlocal agreement in compliance with Initiative 940/LETCSA Act.
2. Modify the resolution and agreement. Any modification would need to comply with the rules set forth in the Initiative 940/LETCSA Act and be approved by all involved Cities.
3. Do not Approve the resolution and agreement. In the event of an Olympia Police Department use of deadly force incident, the Chief would request either the Thurston County Sheriff’s region three team or another IIT to complete the investigation in compliance with Initiative 940 and the LETCSA Act.
Financial Impact:
Each city will cover their own costs, as outlined in the agreement.
Attachments:
Resolution
Agreement
WSCJTC Stakeholders