The following are complaints received by the ombudsman and forwarded to the Internal Affairs Division of the Spokane Police Department for investigation in 2021.
Information last updated December 19, 2022
| Case # | Complaint Description | Disposition |
|---|---|---|
| OPO: 21-01 | A complaint came into the OPO via Email. Complainant concerned about favoritism by SPD. | Received: 2/8/2021
District: N/A Status: Closed and Administratively Suspend - E Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: N/A Officer Discipline: Mentoring given about better report-writing- documenting the statements about the vehicle in the report |
| OPO: 21-02 | A Complaint came into the OPO via Phone. Complainant frustrated with treatment he received from a Sergeant | Received: 3/9/2021
District: 3 Status: Administratively Suspend - E Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: 3/26/2021 Officer Discipline: follow up with Major Olsen about the complainant's dissatisfaction with the encounter |
| OPO: 21-03 | A Complaint came into the OPO via Web. Complainant was arrested for recording the SPD actions with people. | Received: 3/22/2021
District: 1 Status: Inquiry Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: 5/14/2021 Officer Discipline: N/A |
| OPO: 21-04 | A Complaint cam in into the OPO via Phone. Complainant frustrated that a member of the PAC Team threatened to arrest them and take their child away. | Received: 5/5/2021
District: N/A Status: Administratively Suspend - E Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: 9/17/2021 Officer Discipline: Follow up with Sgt. Austin on use of BWC- was it not activated due to sensitive situation? |
| OPO: 21-05 | A Complaint came into the OPO via phone. Complainant frustrated that the person who assaulted them was not arrested. Allegedly heard the officer say that they didn't want to do paperwork | Received: 5/3/2021
District: 1 Status: Closed Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: 6/2/2021 Officer Discipline: N/A |
| OPO: 21-06 | A Complaint came into the OPO via phone. Complainant stated that their client received a traffic infraction from an officer who was unnecessarily aggressive to their client | Received: 5/5/2021
District: 3 Status: Closed Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: 7/13/2021 Officer Discipline: N/A |
| OPO: 21-07 | A Complaint came in to the OPO via Email. Complainant was submitting on behalf of a homeless man who had allegedly been harassed by various SPD officers. | Received: 5/3/2021
District: 2 Status: Closed Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: 7/13/2021 Officer Discipline: N/A |
| OPO: 21-08 | A Complaint came into the OPO via Email. SPD came to the complainants residence, when the complainant stated they would need a warrant to enter, they allegedly entered the residence anyway. Complainant was arrested for obstructing. | Received: 5/16/2021
District: 2 Status: Closed Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: 8/13/2021 Officer Discipline: N/A |
| OPO: 21-09 | A Complaint came into the OPO via Email. Complainant alleges that an officer lied to their supervisor in order to make an arrest. The allegations were also included in written report | Received: 5/18/2021
District: 2 Status: Closed - Mediation Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: Officer Discipline: N/A |
| OPO: 21-10 | A complaint came into the OPO via Web/Email. Complainant alleges that during an investigation they were not advised of the conversation being recorded. | Received: 5/18/2021
District: 1 Status: Admin Suspend - E Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: 9/9/2021 Officer Discipline: follow up on advisement about recording- it is now done at the onset of conversation |
| OPO: 21-11 | A Complaint came into the OPO via Phone, Complainant stated that their NRO was rude and disparaged them around the neighborhood | Received: 5/20/2021
District: 3 Status: Closed Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: 8/13/2021 Officer Discipline: N/A |
| OPO: 21-12 | A complaint came into the OPO via phone. Complainant was frustrated that the officer who was serving them a trespass notice unlawfully detained them and refused to review the video footage they had. | Received: 5/26/2021
District: 3 Status: Training Failure Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: 12/21/2021 Officer Discipline: Training |
| OPO: 21-13 | A complaint came into the OPO via walk in. Complainant, an SPD officer, is concerned with the overall structure of their area in SPD and requests have gone without any change. In addition they have concerns that SPD officers are not trained, prepated or equiped for riot situations | Received: 6/1/2021
District: 2 Status: Sent to HR Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: N/A Officer Discipline: N/A |
| OPO: 21-14 | A complaint came in to the OPO via phone. Complainant frustrated that their calls for assistance involving a person who was harassing and stealing money from them ended up with responding officers telling them that it was a civil matter and they wouldn't get involved. | Received: 6/3/2021
District: 2 Status: Closed Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: 9/7/2021 Officer Discipline: N/A |
| OPO: 21-15 | Commendation | Received: 6/22/2021
District: NA Status: N/A Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: N/A Officer Discipline: N/A |
| OPO: 21-16 | Commendation | Received: 6/22/2021
District: NA Status: N/A Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: N/A Officer Discipline: N/A |
| OPO: 21-17 | Commendation | Received: 6/22/2021
District: NA Status: N/A Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: N/A Officer Discipline: N/A |
| OPO: 21-18 | Commendation | Received: 6/22/2021
District: NA Status: N/A Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: N/A Officer Discipline: N/A |
| OPO: 21-19 | A Complaint came into the OPO via Phone. Was served a trespass notice after being kicked out of an establishment for what they alleges was racism. The officer dismissed these claims without evidence | Received: 6/15/2021
District: 2 Status: Administratively Suspend - E Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: 7/29/2021 Officer Discipline: training on current procedures involving trespassing, and training on procedural justice- making sure people have a voice |
| OPO: 21-20 | A limited commission officer, harassed community member for doing chalk art outside of a business that didn't open for approximately 5 hours | Received: 6/17/2021
District: 2 Status: Closed Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: 8/13/2021 Officer Discipline: N/A |
| OPO: 21-21 | A complaint came into the OPO via Web/Email. Complainant was offering services to a chronically homeless individual when an officer approached demanding to see both their ID's. When they asked what for they were told that they were being detained for blocking the pedestrian sidewalk | Received: 6/21/2021
District: 2 Status: Administratively Suspend - C Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: 2/1/2022 Officer Discipline: N/A |
| OPO: 21-22 | A complaint came into the OPO via phone. Responding officers to a DV situation between a parent and minor allegedly mocked the parent and didn't offer assistance. | Received: 6/30/2021
District: 1 Status: Administratively Suspend - B Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: 7/20/2021 Officer Discipline: N/A |
| OPO: 21-23 | A Complaint came into the OPO via email. Responding officer to a stolen car report allegedly refused to file the report because it was his discretion. The complainant believes he was discriminated against because of his sexual orientation | Received: 7/4/2021
District: 3 Status: Closed Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: 8/20/2021 Officer Discipline: N/A |
| OPO: 21-24 | A complaint came into the OPO via phone. Responding officer to an alarm call was rude to complainants wife and did not do any perimeter checks. Was more focused on a different call he needed to get to. Complainant is frustrated that he was charged for a call when the officer did not do much to make sure his family was truly safe. | Received: 7/8/2021
District: 2 Status: Closed Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: 9/14/2021 Officer Discipline: N/A |
| OPO: 21-25 | A complaint came into the OPO via email. A Lui tenant was making comments regarding a former officer that the seen by the complainant as defamatory of character. | Received: 8/4/2021
District: NA Status: Administratively Suspend - E Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: 1/4/2021 Officer Discipline: N/A |
| OPO: 21-26 | A Complaint came into the OPO via Web. Complainant was allegedly assaulted and police were not interested in charging the assailant or were they willing to watch any of the videos the complainant was trying to present to them | Received: 8/16/2021
District: 2 Status: Administratively Suspend - E Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: TBD Officer Discipline: TBD |
| OPO: 21-27 | A complaint came into the OPO via phone. A Tourist called multiple time for assistance and was told by dispatch that the SPD were not going to respond | Received: 10/27/2021
District: 2 Status: Inquiry Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: 2/15/2022 Officer Discipline: N/A |
| OPO: 21-28 | A complaint came into the OPO via Phone. Complainants ex, spoke with an officer who was arresting them and asked the officer not to tow their car, since they were living in it. Officer stated they would not, but ended up towing the vehicle. | Received: 9/2/2021
District: 2 Status: Admin Suspend - E Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: 11/10/2021 Officer Discipline: Follow up with supervisor regarding the statement "I'm not going to tow your car." Even though he meant to tell him the truth, he did not and that was problematic. He had the legal authority to tow it but it's important to be truthful. |
| OPO: 21-29 | A Complaint came into the OPO via phone. Community member was involved in a traffic accident with a semi truck. Called for an officer to respond and was told they were too busy. Drove by an hour later and there were 2 officers were sitting in a parking lot. Called Police desk and officer hung up on him | Received: 9/28/2021
District: 1 Status: Administratively Suspend - B Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: 1/7/2022 Officer Discipline: N/A |
| OPO: 21-30 | A Complaint came into the OPO via phone. Community member alleges that while he was being falsely arrested for DV he was denied medical care, was not read his Miranda rights | Received: 10/19/2021
District: 1 Status: Closed Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: 1/4/2022 Officer Discipline: N/A |
| OPO: 21-31 | Commendation | Received: N/A
District: N/A Status: N/A Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: N/A Officer Discipline: N/A |
| OPO: 21-32 | A Complaint came into the OPO via phone. Community member called for assistance when a disgruntled employee was breaking into their business. Was told it was the employees word against theirs and that the complainant may be the problem because of how worked up they were | Received: 10/20/2021
District: 1 Status: Inquiry Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: 12/21/2021 Officer Discipline: N/A |
| OPO: 21-33 | Information from City emails and BWC appeared on national news before it is likely the records were released via a Public Records Request | Received: 10/29/2021
District: 2 Status: Admind Suspend - E Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: 4/31/2021 Officer Discipline: N/A |
| OPO: 21-34 | A complaint came into the OPO via email. Complainant, an attorney, had concerns regarding the potential false reporting of an officer. This interaction was viewed on body worn camera footage. | Received: 11/2/2021
District: 1 Status: TBD Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: TBD Officer Discipline: TBD |
| OPO: 21-35 | A complaint came into the OPO via phone. Complainant alleges that their significant other and friends were racially profilled for a shooting downtown. The SWAT team was dispatched to their home and took them into custody. They were released after taking their pictures | Received: 11/11/2021
District: Status: TBD Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: TBD Officer Discipline: TBD |
| OPO: 21-36 | A Complaint came into the OPO via phone. Complainant was frustrated that officers would not let them get their child from a shelter. They felt that the officers were "power tripping" | Received: 11/18/2021
District: 2 Status: TBD Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: TBD Officer Discipline: TBD |
| OPO: 21-37 | Commendation | Received: N/A
District: N/A Status: N/A Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: N/A Officer Discipline: N/A |
| OPO: 21-38 | A complaint came into the OPO via walkin. Complainant stated that while on a ride along with an officer they completed an assessment on them containing items that were not true. The assessment was ultimately posted to social media | Received: 11/18/2021
District: N/A Status: TBD Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: TBD Officer Discipline: TBD |
| OPO: 21-39 | A complaint came into the OPO via phone. Complainant stated that their son was assaulted by their relative. Police wouldn't charge the relative with assault due to the relative living out of state | Received: 11/23/2021
District: 3 Status: Administratively Suspend - E Ombudsman Findings: N/A Chief's Findings: 4/13/2022 Officer Discipline: N/A |
Office of Police Ombudsman
1st Floor, City Hall
808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.
Spokane, WA 99201
Phone: 509.625.6742
Fax: 509.625.6748
Regular Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday
opo@spokanecity.org
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Police Ombudsman
Luvimae Omana
Deputy Ombudsman
Christina Coty
Administrative Specialist
Tim Szambelan
Police Ombudsman Attorney
