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“Chief” means the chief of the Spokane police department.
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“Commission” means the office of police ombudsman commission.
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“Complainant” means any person who files a complaint against any commissioned member of the Spokane police department.
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“Complaint” means a complaint by any person of alleged police misconduct.
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“Designee” means a commissioned member of the Spokane Police Department.
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“Finding” means a conclusion reached after investigation.
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“IA” or “internal affairs” means the Spokane police department’s investigative unit, whose responsibilities and procedures are described in the Spokane police department’s Policy and Procedure Manual, as amended from time to time, to receive and investigate allegations of misconduct by Spokane police department employees.
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“Material to the outcome,” “material statement,” and “material fact” are those facts, evidence, or statements which tend to influence the trier of fact because of its logical connection with the issue. It is a fact which tends to establish any of the issues raised by the complaint or the defenses to the complaint.
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“Mediation” means a private, informal dispute resolution process in which a neutral third person, the mediator, helps disputing parties to reach an agreement. The mediator has no power to impose a decision on the parties.
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“Member” means a sworn employee of the Spokane police department about whom a complaint has been submitted to the Spokane police department or the OPO.
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“Misconduct” means conduct by a member during an encounter with a citizen, which conduct violates Spokane police department policies, procedures and/or canons of ethics.
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“OPO Involved Investigation” means an IA investigation where the complaint giving rise to the investigation, whether made to the police department or the OPO, is a complaint of a serious matter (complaints that could lead to suspension, demotion or discharge) involving allegations that an employee either improperly used force or improperly/inappropriately interacted with citizens.
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“Policy-related issue” means a topic pertaining to the Spokane police department’s hiring and training practices, the Spokane police department’s policies and procedures, equipment, and general supervision and management practices, but not pertaining specifically to the propriety or impropriety of a particular officer’s conduct.
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“Serious matter” means any complaint that could lead to suspension, demotion, or discharge.
