Community Policing Board established in Olympia

The Olympia City Council approved the establishment of the Community Policing Board, in turn creating a new system for community oversight of local law enforcement.

Stacey Ray, assistant city manager, presented a proposed amendment of Olympia Municipal Code (OMC) Chapter 2.100 for approval at a council meeting on Tuesday, March 4.

The amendment calls for the establishment of a seven-member policing board to provide community-driven oversight of the Olympia Police Department (OPD).

The board stems from an 18-month collaborative "co-creation" process. Representatives of the Social Justice and Equity Commission and Olympia Police Department worked together to design a framework emphasizing impartiality, transparency and accessibility.

Currently, Olympia has an existing oversight system. This included an internal Office of Professional Standards with the OPD and a civilian police auditor.

There are also oversight mechanisms at local, regional, and state levels, such as the Capital Metro Independent Investigation Team (CMIIT) — the investigation team for critical incidents, the Criminal Justice Training Commission, and the recently launched Washington Office of Independent Investigations.

Ray noted the new Community Policing Board represents a significant shift from the existing Community Use of Force Board established in 2020.

While the previous board, which also composed of community members, focused on use-of-force incidents, the new board expands its scope and role in community policing approach.

Structure and selection

The board will have seven members, with three or four members of the existing Community Use of Force Board interested in transitioning over to the new Community Policing Board.

The board members will be selected and appointed by the city council. Ray emphasized that the SJEC recommended that members of the board are representative of the different demographics in Olympia.

Ray said the recruitment for the board will intentionally seek members representing diverse backgrounds, including varied socioeconomic status, racial and ethnicities, and individuals with experience in or impacted by the justice system.

Board members will serve three-year terms with staggered appointments to ensure continuity and ongoing representation.

Qualifications, skills, and abilities for potential board member, include:

• Reputation for integrity and professionalism.
• Commitment to the need for and responsibilities of law enforcement.
• Ability to relate and engage effectively with all who have a stake in policing.
• Appreciation for the City of Olympia's ethnic and socioeconomic diversity, and experience working with and valuing perspectives of diverse groups and individuals.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, independence, fairness, impartiality and objectivity in an environment where controversy is common.

The duties of the board members include assisting in the use of force investigations, collaborate and work with the police auditor, provide the community's perspective regarding recommendations for operational, training or policy changes, and assist the city council for the recruitment and selection of the police auditor.

In addition to the requirements, Ray mentioned a successful candidate must be able to pass a background check.

Councilman Robert Vanderpool raised concerns about the equity implications of strict background check scrutiny, particularly for individuals with minor past offenses.

Ray explained that the background check is designed to meet Criminal Justice Information Service requirements and allows board members to access confidential information for investigations. Specifically, the background check looks for:

• No active arrest warrants.
• No felony convictions.
• No gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor convictions involving domestic violence.
• No convictions that would impair the ability to serve on independent investigation teams.

She added that the goal is to ensure board members can effectively participate in critical investigations, while maintaining a fair and inclusive selection process.