Olympia has announced plans to strengthen its police oversight system and has requested a proposal from a potential Civilian Police Auditor. The role involves overseeing investigations of use-of-force incidents, evaluating potential bias or civil rights violations in police actions, and providing recommendations to improve the handling of critical incidents.
The city's Civilian Police Auditor, established in 2002, aims to "provide an independent review and audit of investigations of complaints about the police department to increase public trust and confidence in the professional accountability systems of the OPD."
A police auditor was in place from 2003 to 2009. Starting in 2010, however, funding was cut due to the Great Recession.
The position was reinstated in 2020 when the city council appropriated funds following increasing calls for social justice and police accountability nationwide.
The Civilian Police Auditor operates independently from the Olympia Police Department and reports to the City Council, with the Community Livability and Public Safety Committee Chair serving as Council Liaison.
The Civilian Police Auditor will regularly audit OPD's use of force incidents, misconduct complaints, and internal processes, providing detailed reports with findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
Qualifications include extensive experience in relevant fields such as legal, investigative, or criminal justice, strong auditing and evaluation skills, data analysis capabilities, and the ability to recommend systemic improvements. A Juris Doctorate is preferred but not required. The ideal candidate should be able to assess complex aggregate data for patterns and trends and suggest improvements to police policies and practices.
The city anticipates awarding the successful candidate a contract for between $100,000 and $120,000 annually.
The deadline for submission of proposals is 5 p.m., Thursday, January 9, 2025. All proposals shall be submitted to the city by email to the RFP Coordinator, Dawn Carvalho, at dcarvalh@ci.olympia.wa.us.
The Olympia Police Department (OPD) provides professional criminal justice services through its Operations and Administrative Services divisions, overseen by the Chief of Police. As of 2024, OPD employs 115 individuals, including 79 commissioned personnel and 36 non-commissioned staff, supported by 28 volunteers and three canines.
In 2023, OPD responded to 56,788 calls for service, made 3,180 arrests, reported 52 use-of-force incidents (1.63% of arrests), and received 23 misconduct complaints.
In recent years, the city has implemented two innovative programs to address community needs:
In the fall of 2023, the OPD also integrated body-worn cameras and mobile audio-video systems into its operations to increase transparency and enhance accountability.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here