Sheriff announces oversight group

Thursday, February 23, 2006 · Last updated 3:15 p.m. PT

Sheriff announces oversight group
Panel follows scrutiny of problems in Rahr's department

By LEWIS KAMB
P-I REPORTER

King County Sheriff Sue Rahr today announced the names of 10 appointees to a blue-ribbon committee charged with reviewing department policies.

The committee was created to assess the department's officer disciplinary and internal investigations systems in the wake of problems revealed in a P-I special report about officer misconduct.

The panel's designees, selected separately over the past month by County Executive Ron Sims, Prosecutor Norm Maleng and members of the County Council, are:

* Randy Revelle: Vice president of Washington State Hospital Association. Revelle will serve as chairman of the panel. * The Honorable Faith Ireland: Washington State Supreme Court, retired. * Prof.essor David Boerner: Seattle University School of Law. * Michael O'Mahony: Assistant chief, Seattle Police Department, retired. * D. Gene Wilson: McKay Chadwell law firm, former federal magistrate and U.S. attorney. * Professor Wilson Edward Reed: College of Arts and Sciences/Criminal Justice, Seattle University. * Pat Stehl: Former adviser to the U.S. secretary of labor. * Richard K. Smith: Washington State Patrol, retired. * Tony Anderson: Sea-Tac City Council member; lieutenant, Port of Seattle Police Department. * Jennifer Shaw: Legislative director, ACLU of Washington.

"I believe the public must have confidence in their police department," Rahr said in a prepared statement. "Part of that trust has to be that we hold employees accountable for their actions and that our discipline process is open, honest and fair.

"I look forward to the scrutiny of the panel and any recommendations they have for improvement."

Over the next several months, task force members are expected to review department policies and issue recommendations for improvements to Rahr, who will decide whether to adopt any of the measures.

Formation of the task force comes in response to the P-I's special report, Conduct Unbecoming.

The ongoing report has revealed several cases of officer misconduct for which the Sheriff's Office discipline was light or non-existant. It also found evidence of a weak internal disciplinary system, and allegations of a pervasive insider network that suppresses complaints and castigates whistle-blowers.

The stories have spurred at least two FBI investigations, a state probe and an audit by the Prosecutor's Office of court cases dating back 26 years.

Aside from the blue-ribbon panel, the first-term sheriff says she also is implementing a "100-day plan" to make internal department changes and improve supervision.

Last month, two King County Council members also introduced a proposal that calls for implementing a permanent system of civilian oversight for the Sheriff's Office.

Such oversight would radically change the way the department's in-house system polices its own. The first public hearing about the proposal is expected in March.

Lewis Kamb can be reached at 206-448-8336 or lewiskamb@seattlepi.com.

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