Report Says Three Ombudsman Commissioners Acted Inappropriately
Brian Coddington, Communications Director, 509.625.6740
Wednesday, June 17, 2015 at Noon
An independent investigation into a whistleblower complaint filed against three members of the volunteer citizen Police Ombudsman Commission has found behavioral misconduct during interactions with City employees.
The eight findings in the report admonish the conduct of chair Rachel Dolezal and commissioners Kevin Berkompas and Adrian Dominguez. It has been forwarded to the City Council for review and determination of any action.
“We are deeply disturbed by the facts contained in the report of findings from the independent investigator,” Spokane Mayor David Condon and Council President Ben Stuckart said in a joint statement. “The conduct is unacceptable and falls far short of the community's expectations of volunteers who sit on City boards and commissions.”
The investigation began on May 4. The full report is available below.
Separately, a selection committee has been interviewing applicants for the vacant ombudsman position. The committee is prepared to recommend three finalists after a nationwide search.
“We remain firmly committed to a Police Ombudsman Commission that delivers independent citizen oversight of the police department, and will keep the process of hiring a new ombudsman moving forward,” Condon and Stuckart said.
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