Drafter
Clerk 03/23/2020
Title
A MOTION establishing King County council's intent related to collective bargaining with the King County Police Officers Guild.
Body
WHEREAS, the metropolitan King County council is charged with the responsibility of providing oversight to county agencies and departments, including the sheriff's office, and
WHEREAS, the council exercises its responsibility to provide oversight of county agencies and departments in a variety of ways, including the establishment of offices within the legislative branch to provide specialized oversight services, and
WHEREAS, recognizing the need to bolster public confidence and to ensure proper oversight, in 2006, the council began deliberations on legislation that would implement civilian oversight of the sheriff's office. The councilmembers heard testimony from representatives of the sheriff's internal investigations unit, the ombudsman/office of citizen complaints and the Seattle police department's office of professional accountability, and reviewed materials detailing models for civilian oversight and evaluated the types and effectiveness of existing systems for police agency oversight. Councilmembers also visited jurisdictions that have established successful systems for civilian oversight, and
WHEREAS, in a parallel effort, the sheriff, with input from the county council, executive and prosecutor, established a volunteer ten-member "blue ribbon panel" of citizen experts to make recommendations concerning needed improvements for the sheriff's misconduct/discipline policies, procedures and practices. The panel ended its deliberations with a final report that made recommendations in six major areas including the need for civilian oversight. The council adopted the panel's final report as Motion 12337, and
WHEREAS, as a result of the council's efforts, including visits to other jurisdictions and the blue ribbon panel's recommendations, the council recognized that a vigorous and effective...

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