About Us
Andrew Myerberg, Director
Andrew Myerberg, a civilian lawyer, was sworn in by Mayor Tim Burgess November 21, 2017, to serve as the first OPA Director under the new police accountability legislation adopted in May of 2017. Andrew leads the work of OPA by overseeing the intake, classification, and investigation of complaints, certifying investigative findings, suggesting revisions and clarifications to Seattle Police Department policies, and making recommendations on discipline to the Chief of Police.
Andrew comes to OPA from the Seattle City Attorney's Office, where he was the lead attorney for the City of Seattle in the Consent Decree over the Seattle Police Department and provided legal advice to City departments on criminal justice and law enforcement issues. Andrew also previously served as legal counsel to the Community Police Commission.
Education
• American University, Washington College of Law - Juris Doctorate
• Hamilton College - Bachelor of Arts
Anne Bettesworth, Deputy Director of Public Affairs
Anne leads OPA’s work in the areas of compliance, policy, and research. With a focus on achieving and maintaining compliance with all legal and organizational mandates, Anne and her team produce the annual report, implement programmatic changes, and revise the OPA Manual. When a deficiency in SPD policy or training is discovered, Anne leads the process of making recommendations to ameliorate the problem. With OPA’s mission in mind, she analyzes SPD policy, works with SPD and other system partners to create workable solutions, and then drafts written communication to convey that information to stakeholders. In addition, Anne is tasked with creating innovative solutions to improve OPA efficiency and effectiveness by evaluating police accountability trends, research, best practices, and OPA data.
Anne came to OPA after spending four years providing strategic policy advice to help the Seattle Community Police Commission fulfill its responsibilities under the Consent Decree. Her previous professional experiences also include working for the Council of State Governments Justice Center, the American Psychological Association's Science Government Relations Office, and the Office of Congressman Jim McDermott.
Anne has a Master's in Public Administration from The George Washington University and a Bachelor's in Political Science from the University of Washington.
Mark Grba, Deputy Director of Investigations
Mark contributes to the success of OPA by advising and assisting the Director with his recommended findings pertaining to investigation of complaints. Mark works closely with the Director to drive excellence and ensure that the agency delivers independent, transparent, and trusted oversight of the SPD. Mark also supports organizational decisions to increase accessibility, transparency, and efficiency with OPA and the overall police accountability structure.
Mark comes to OPA with an extensive background in investigations. He served as First Deputy Chief Administrator for Chicago's Civilian Office of Police Accountability, Chief Investigator for Chicago Public Schools' Office of Inspector General, Forensic Audit Investigator for Chicago's Office of the Inspector General, Senior Investigator for the United States Department of Labor, and Director of Compliance for Cook County's Assessor's Office.
Mark is a native of Illinois and is excited to be living and working in Seattle. Mark has a Master's in Human Resources and Industrial Relations from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Bachelor's in Political Science from the University of South Florida.
Monique Guevara, Policy Analyst
Monique Guevara serves on the Public Affairs Team at OPA. Her work centers around advising on best practices that strengthen organizational processes within OPA, and in collaboration with key stakeholders, improving policy and training within the Seattle Police Department. Monique has gained experience in organizational strategy and process improvement work across various disciplines and sectors. She is a social justice advocate and focuses on community-centric policy development, with the belief that equitable systems and practices will help all people thrive, especially those most marginalized. Monique has a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance and a Bachelor’s in Sociology from the University of California, Riverside.
Katie Wieliczkiewicz, Operations Advisor
Katie comes to OPA after a career in higher education, most recently serving as the Director of Campus Life at Saint Martin's University. She has a Master's in Business Administration from The College of St. Scholastica, a Bachelor of Public Affairs from Seattle University, and a Bachelor in Strategic Communications, also from Seattle University. While originally from Alaska, the PNW has become home for its location close to the mountains and city offerings, as well as its robust rugby community - Katie coached collegiate men's rugby from 2012-2019.
Lauren Caputo, Management Systems Analyst
Lauren works on the Investigations Team at OPA. She is responsible for analyzing and interpreting data, and communicating the results of data analysis to promote transparent and accurate reporting on police accountability trends. Her role involves using data to identify gaps or opportunities for improvement within OPA policy and operations. Lauren previously spent four years in the Seattle Police Department Data Center as a Senior Data Technician. Lauren is a Seattle native and resident, and believes a transparent and effective police oversight system is necessary for improving and maintaining public trust in police. She has a Bachelor’s in Political Science from Loyola Marymount University and a certificate in Data Visualization from the University of Washington.
Jennifer Tippins, Community Engagement Specialist
Jennifer Tippins is passionate about community engagement and outreach. She comes to OPA from BERK Consulting, where she spent the past five years leading engagement on a variety of public issues and planning processes with communities across Washington State. Her work has sought public participation and feedback on housing strategies, community planning, strategic plans, and more. She recently led engagement efforts to help evaluate Seattle's Democracy Voucher Program and Child Care Assistance Program. Prior to BERK, Jennifer worked as a Design Lab Intern and Alley Project Coordinator with the Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority to support neighborhood planning and development projects. Jennifer received concurrent Master's degrees in Urban Design and Planning and International Studies from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Media Communications from New York University. She was also a Fulbright Scholar in Hong Kong.
Enrique Gonzalez, Community Engagement Specialist
Enrique Gonzalez comes from the Public Defender Association (PDA), where he focused on reform surrounding police, immigration, and juvenile justice. He also served on the Community Police Commission from 2014-2018. During that time, Enrique was appointed as one of the co-chairs, a role he performed for over a year. During his time on the Commission, he participated in the development of the 2017 city ordinance that reformed the accountability system for the Seattle Police Department. Prior to working for PDA, Enrique worked for El Centro de la Raza for over 10 years, where he focused on a number of community-based civil rights advocacy and policy issues. Enrique was born in Seattle and graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in American Ethnic Studies. He was a writer for the Beacon Hill News with his column “La Voz Racional,” where he focused on social, political and cultural issues. He also serves on the board of trustees of the Museum of History and Industry. Enrique has deep community ties and works to bridge relationships between community members and the police department.
Geneva Taylor, Community Engagement Specialist
Geneva Taylor, a Seattle native, has been an active community member since her Franklin High School days, when she organized a Martin Luther King march that encouraged her peers to get involved in honoring the legacy and principles Dr. King stood for. This was the beginning of her work valuing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the community. Geneva comes to OPA after spending five years working in the Rainer Valley area. Her previous professional experience includes working at Urban Impact, Seattle Union Gospel Mission, and Central Washington University’s Diversity Center. Geneva is passionate about her work with youth and facilitating healing circles that help people value humanity: both others and their own. Geneva has a Master's in Reconciliation and Intercultural Studies from Seattle Pacific University and a Bachelor's in Music from Central Washington University.
Kajhyla Washington, Admin Staff Analyst
Kajhyla came to OPA from the City Attorney's Office, having worked with both the Civil and Criminal Division. Her duties at OPA include providing direct support to the OPA Director and Deputy Director in scheduling, processing requests, and general office management and support to the unit. Growing up in a community that lacked strong ties with the police, Kajhyla welcomed the opportunity to work within an organization looking to help bridge the gap between minority communities and law enforcement. In addition to her work within OPA, Kajhyla holds an Associates of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies and a Bachelors of Science in Interdisciplinary Social Science from Central Washington University. Kajhyla plans to attend law school and hopes to pursue a career in Public Policy and Legislation.
Hope Barnes, Admin Specialist II
As an Admin II, Hope’s primary duty is to process incoming OPA complaints and organize intake files for the OPA Sergeants. She has previously interned for the Spokane Office of Police Ombudsman, a fellow civilian oversight agency. Hope has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Whitworth University and plans to pursue a Juris Doctorate degree in the near future. She is very passionate about politics and social justice; her goal is to pursue a career as a Civil Rights attorney.
Kristina Adams, Admin Specialist I
As an Admin Specialist, Kristina focuses on transcriptions, clerical operations, and organizational support of the OPA team. She is fascinated by the work the OPA does and believes the department plays an important role in bridging the gap between civilian and sworn communities. She enjoys helping her community and is honored to serve the City of Seattle. Kristina has a Master’s in Design from Goldsmiths, University of London, loves art and problem solving, and has lectured internationally.
Puao Savusa, Admin Specialist I
Puao comes from a family of community organizers so her upbringing includes exposure to many community experiences which has led her to continue working in the community with other Pacific Islander youth and families. Through this she found a passion for criminal justice/law enforcement, focusing on policy and legislative components in this area. She seeks to build accountability to communities and helping to build relationships that are based on trust and respect of the diverse populations as part of her work experience. At OPA, Puao mainly focuses on administrative duties that includes supporting the overall work of OPA. Puao recently completed her MA in Criminal Justice from Seattle U and holds a BA in Psychology from WSU.
SWORN STAFF
OPA is a hybrid accountability office that includes sworn staff. The sworn investigators come to OPA from a diverse set of backgrounds and with a broad depth of experience. They currently represent more than 150 years of combined law enforcement experience and have served with the Seattle Police Department for an average of 14 years. The sergeants who investigate OPA complaints have knowledge of SPD training, tactics, use-of-force, and other areas. They have served within various units within SPD, including Patrol, Homicide, Force Review Board, Domestic Violence, Force Review Unit, Narcotics, and Education and Training Section.