Drafter
Clerk 11/05/2013
Title
A MOTION requiring that the sheriff's office provide to the council annually a report with data on the results of its internal review of complaints and investigations of employee misconduct.
Body
WHEREAS, the justice and safety goal of the King County Strategic Plan prioritizes keeping people safe in their homes and communities, and
WHEREAS, the service excellence goal of the King County Strategic Plan prioritizes building a culture of service that is responsive and accountable to the community, and
WHEREAS, according to the sheriff's General Orders Manual, "a law enforcement agency must maintain a high level of personal and official conduct if it is to command and deserve the respect and confidence of the public it serves," and
WHEREAS, although the overwhelming majority of deputies and employees of the sheriff's office serve with honor and distinction, stories or instances of misconduct, even if isolated and infrequent, can damage the reputation of the entire sheriff's office and erode community trust, and
WHEREAS, to build and maintain community trust, it is incumbent on sheriff's office leadership and managing supervisors to foster an environment in which ethical and conscientious behavior is expected and each individual is responsible for meeting those expectations, and
WHEREAS, a culture that values integrity and holds individuals accountable is critical for sustaining community trust, and the community must know that issues of concern will be reviewed objectively, investigated thoroughly and resolved in a fair and just manner, and
WHEREAS, a strong and effective internal investigations unit and system for investigating complaints of misconduct reinforce a culture of integrity and accountability, and are crucial components for building and maintaining community trust, and
WHEREAS, the council has stated in several pieces of legislation that it is the policy of the county to increase the level of public t...

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