Title
Approval of a Recommendation to Contract with Ogden Murphy Wallace for Police Auditor Services and Draft Scope of Work
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
On October 8, 2020, the General Government Committee met to interview firms to provide Police Auditor Services. Based on these interviews, the Committee unanimously recommended Ogden Murphy Wallace, P.L.L.C. to provide Police Auditor Services for the City of Olympia.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the General Government Committee’s recommendation to contract with Ogden Murphy Wallace for Police Auditor Services and the scope of work within the draft contract.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the General Government Committee’s recommendation to contract with Ogden Murphy Wallace for Police Auditor Services and the scope of work within the draft contact.
Staff Contact:
Debbie Sullivan, Assistant City Manager, 360.753.8499
Presenter(s):
Debbie Sullivan, Assistant City Manager
Tara Parker, Ogden Murphy Wallace, P.L.L.C
Background and Analysis:
At Council’s August 11, 2020 meeting, they directed staff to launch the hiring process for a Police Auditor under the existing Ordinance No. 6220. The application process closed on September 21, and three applications were received. The General Government Committee reviewed the applications and chose to interview two candidates.
On October 8, the General Government Committee interviewed the candidates and unanimously agreed to recommend Ogden Murphy Wallace, P.L.L.C (OMW) to the full Council to serve as the City’s Police Auditor.
OMW is a leader in employment law and workplace relations in the Pacific Northwest, with offices in Seattle and Wenatchee. They have provided external investigations to several law enforcement-related agencies; are knowledgeable and experienced in investigations related to discrimination, harassment, bias, inappropriate conduct, retaliation, use of excessive force, and conduct prohibited by workplace civility policies.
The scope of work in the draft contract for the Police Auditor is as follows:
1. Reviewing police professional standards investigations relating to complaints about the Police Department or its employees to determine if the investigations meet the standard of being complete, thorough, objective, and fair.
2. Reviewing all complaints about police employees that allege the use of excessive or unnecessary force, civil rights violations, or bias. Review of all reported uses of force within the Department as defined in Olympia Police Department General Order 1.4.
3. Providing an impartial review of the Police Department’s internal investigative process and verification of the Department’s compliance with established policy and procedures.
4. Filing a mid-year and annual report with the City Council, with a copy to the City Manager which lists the complaint type, whether additional investigation was requested, the response, and a finding on each complaint case audited indicating whether the investigation met established standards or failed to meet established standards. Each report shall give an analysis of key trends and patterns, and recommendations for revisions.
5. Being available to address questions at Council meetings when the mid-year and annual reports are presented.
The term of the contract is for one year which will start once the agreement is signed by both parties. The total compensation is not to exceed $30,000 which is the amount Council appropriated as part of the 2020 budget process.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The community is interested in City Council hiring a Police Auditor who can provide an independent review of investigations and complaints against the Olympia Police Department.
Options:
1. Approve the General Government Committee’s recommendation to enter into a contract for Police Auditor Services with OMW and the proposed scope of work. The Police Auditor will be under contract once the agreement is signed by both parties.
2. Approve the General Government Committee’s recommendation to enter into a contract for Police Auditor Services with OMW and direct staff to amend the proposed contract and scope of work based on feedback from the City Council.
3. Do not approve the General Government Committee’s recommendation to enter into a contract with OMW and direct staff to launch a new search.
Financial Impact:
Council appropriated $30,000 for Police Auditor Services in the 2020 Operating Budget.
Attachments:
Ogden Murphy Wallace RFQ
Draft Contract