Updates include fifth year, revised ombudsman language
Brian Coddington, Communications Director, 509.625.6740
Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at 10:54 a.m.
The City of Spokane and the Spokane Police Guild have reached a new tentative agreement that adds a fifth year to the contract, includes language for three mechanisms of independent investigations and empowers the ombudsman to publish closing reports.
The tentative agreement allows for independent investigations when internal affairs decides not to open an investigation or if internal affairs declines further investigation when requested by the Office of the Police Ombudsman (OPO). The City Council is scheduled to vote on the tentative agreement during its Monday meeting. The tentative agreement must also be approved by the police guild membership, which is expected to vote later this month, before it is implemented.
“This agreement includes the elements requested by the City Council and the public, and delivers to the community unprecedented independent oversight of its police department,” Condon said.
As revised, the tentative agreement adds a fifth year to the contract while maintaining the average total cost of compensation at 2.76 percent for the duration of the deal. The revised tentative agreement also includes language that extends the authority of the ombudsman to conduct pre-investigation follow-up interviews of complaints made directly to the OPO.
Additionally, the citizen Police Ombudsman Commission can order independent investigations when:
The citizen Police Ombudsman Commission makes the final decision as to whether further investigation is necessary, and the ombudsman publishes a closing report. The ombudsman also retains its current authority to attend all administrative internal affairs interviews, ask questions, review the complete case file and make a determination as to the thoroughness and objectiveness of the investigation.
“On January 2nd, I sent a letter to Mayor Condon, on behalf of a majority of the City Council, asking that he reopen negotiations with the Police Guild to include independent investigation capabilities for our police ombudsman that align with the City Charter,” said City Council President Ben Stuckart. “I believe this new tentative agreement satisfies our request and takes a step forward for our community. I appreciate the Police Guild and the administration for getting this done.”
The City Council was briefed on the terms of the proposed tentative agreement during executive session on Monday afternoon. A companion draft ordinance has also been revised to reflect the updated tentative agreement, and is expected to be considered by the City Council on Monday.
Copies of both documents are available at spokanecity.org.
