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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Nickels Appoints Panel to Review Seattle's Police Accountability System
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
6/29/2007 4:00:00 AM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alex Fryer (206) 684-8358
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Nickels Appoints Panel to Review
Seattle’s Police Accountability System
SEATTLE - Mayor Greg Nickels today announced the appointment of an 11-member panel to review Seattle’s police accountability system and recommend improvements. The panel is expected to deliver its report to the mayor in November.
Seattle was one of the first cities in the country to put an accountability system with so many layers of review in place. Seattle’s current system has operated for eight years.
“The time is right for a thorough and comprehensive review,” Nickels said. “Police accountability is a value that the people of Seattle hold very high. Though we have a strong system in place today, there’s always room for improvement.”
Nickels added, “When we started, few of the nation’s largest cities had citizen review of their police departments. Today, there are 71. While every system needs to meet the needs of its own community, there may be some new ideas out there worth considering.”
Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske welcomed the review. “It’s time to take another look at how the department polices itself,” Kerlikowske said. “We must maintain the confidence of those we serve. Trust between community members and the police is key.”
The panel’s work will be open to the public and it will actively seek input from the community. All good ideas from the community and outside experts will be heard, Nickels said.
“I applaud the mayor for convening this panel of thoughtful community members who represent a wide range of perspectives,” Councilmember Richard Conlin said. “Reworking our police accountability system will require careful analysis and ensuring that any proposed change will truly work better than the current system. We must make decisions based on policy, not personality.”
City Councilmember Jean Godden also welcomed the mayor’s announcement. “I support this advisory group and look forward to what they have to say,” Godden said. “Until we restore public confidence in our police oversight, I believe we cannot have too much review.”
Councilmember Jan Drago said “This group will provide an open and thorough review. The members bring years of experience and integrity to this work and they will provide critical insight and recommendations for moving forward.”
Councilmember David Della commented, "This group of community leaders will help us to improve upon our process, making it more transparent and accountable. I look forward to hearing from the panel, so that the public continues to trust our public safety officers."
The panel will examine both the structure and processes of Seattle’s police accountability system producing a final report offering its assessment of the system, as well as any recommendations for improving the structure or function of the system. Those recommendations will provide the basis for moving forward and again setting the standard for an effective and transparent process of accountability.
The mayor’s office has asked that the City Council’s central staff assist in supporting the panel’s work.
The panel members are: Bob Boruchowitz, Terrence A. Carroll, Jenny A. Durkan, Lorena González, Pramila Jayapal, Gary Locke, Hubert G. Locke, Judith Krebs, Mike McKay, Norman B. Rice and Jennifer Shaw.
Download biographies of the pannel members
Police oversight in Seattle is three-pronged, with investigatory oversight the responsibility of the Office of Professional Accountability (OPA). OPA’s purpose is to receive and investigate citizen complaints about police misconduct. The Office of Professional Accountability Auditor and the Office of Professional Accountability Review Board review and report on the OPA’s work.
The Office of Professional Accountability was created in November 1999, in response to recommendations of a citizen review panel appointed by then-Mayor Paul Schell to evaluate the issue of employee accountability within the Seattle Police Department and the process used to investigate reports of police misconduct.
In 1999, after more than three months of investigation, the panel’s report concluded Seattle had a top-rate police department. No evidence of widespread corruption or misconduct was found. The panel’s report offered a series of recommendations to increase confidence in the department’s ability to maintain standards of professional integrity.
The cornerstone of the panel’s report was the creation of an Office of Professional Accountability. The first OPA director, Sam Pailca, was nominated by the mayor and confirmed by the Council in 2000. Under city law, OPA directors can serve a maximum of six years. The current OPA director, Kathryn Olson, was appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the Council in 2007.
The mayor also appoints the Office of Professional Accountability Auditor, an independent civilian contractor who reviews open internal-investigation files and may provide advice on investigations. The Office of Professional Accountability Review Board, a three-member citizen panel created and appointed by the City Council, reviews closed internal investigations to determine the way they have been handled by the OPA. The group reports to the City Council.
Download " A Review of Police Accountability in Seattle: Rationale and Overview"
Visit the mayor’s web site at www.seattle.gov/mayor. Get the mayor’s inside view on efforts to promote transportation, public safety, economic opportunity and healthy communities by signing up for The Nickels Newsletter at www.seattle.gov/mayor/newsletter_signup.htm
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