Proposed contract with Sheriff’s deputies may finally achieve independent oversight of Sheriff’s Office

The King County Police Officers’ Guild announced a tentative agreement with King County that will pave the way for implementation of a citizen review process of the King County Sheriff’s Office.

If approved, the new five-year contract may eliminate a final hurdle to realizing the County Council’s efforts to create an independent office to monitor citizen complaints involving the sheriff’s office. Creation of this independent office has been contingent upon the outcome of labor negotiations between the King County Executive and the Police Officers’ Guild.

“I am pleased that the Guild has taken this step to support the addition of civilian oversight in the law enforcement process,” said Councilmember Bob Ferguson, who spearheaded the effort to establish independent oversight of the sheriff’s office with Councilmember Julia Patterson in 2006.

After the Ferguson/Patterson legislation was introduced, the King County Sheriff’s Blue Ribbon Panel was established to make additional recommendations for improving the operations and accountability of the sheriff’s office. The panel’s recommendations were issued in a report presented to the County Council.

The County Council approved the Ferguson/Patterson legislation, creating the Office of Law Enforcement Oversight. The office is responsible for monitoring ongoing investigations of misconduct, helping to resolve cases, and identifying systemic issues within the sheriff’s office.

The legislation also established a permanent and ongoing law enforcement audit process that analyzes and suggests course corrections for investigative processes and policies. Finally, the legislation created an 11-member citizen panel to provide input to the director of the oversight office on policies, procedures, and practices relating to officer misconduct.

“Citizen review and independent oversight is the centerpiece of the reform package Councilmember Patterson and I introduced in January 2006,” said Ferguson. “Assuming it meets the criteria of our legislation, the proposed labor agreement will be an important step in implementing this good government reform. It will strengthen public trust and increase transparency within our King County Sheriff’s Office.”