Lisa Gardner, City Council Communications Director, 509.625.6226
Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 8:10 a.m.
During Monday’s Legislative Session, City Council voted 6-1 to amend the Spokane Municipal Code, confirming Section 129 of the City Charter’s delegation of power to the Office of Police Ombudsman (OPO) to investigate police conduct independently. This ordinance synchronizes the Spokane Municipal Code with the City Charter provision passed with almost 70% approval in 2013.
“Tonight, the City Council restored the intent of Spokane voters to empower the independent Office of Police Ombudsman to carry out its investigative and reporting duties to support better policing for Spokane,” said Council President Breean Beggs.
The Office of Police Ombudsman provides independent civilian oversight for misconduct involving the Spokane Police Department (SPD). However, under a code provision enacted by a prior council, complaints regarding the Chief of Police were only directed to the Mayor and investigated by the City’s Human Resources department. The ordinance still allows the Mayor to investigate department heads like the Police Chief but now confirms that the OPO has the full authority the voters originally granted in 2013.
About the Spokane City Council
The City Council is the legislative body of the City of Spokane, which is home to more than 220,000 people and is located in the heart of the Inland Northwest. The City’s 2,000 employees strive to deliver efficient and effective services that facilitate economic opportunity and enhance the quality of life for all our citizens. For more information, visit SpokaneCity.org/CityCouncil/ and follow us @SpokaneCityCouncil on Facebook.
