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Thursday, March 9, 2006 Oversight task force begins its review King County Sheriff Sue Rahr -- in opening remarks last night to a task force formed to address inadequate accountability and oversight of her deputies -- welcomed the new panel's "independent, objective eyes." The task force was announced in January in response to a series of stories in the Seattle P-I that have detailed deputy misconduct. Appointed by King County Executive Ron Sims, prosecutor Norm Maleng and the County Council, the panel's 10 members are charged with conducting a top to bottom review of the Sheriff Office's internal investigations and disciplinary systems. When its work is done -- by no later than Labor Day -- the group could recommend to Sims, the council and Rahr the establishment of some form of civilian oversight of the Sheriff's Office. Council Chairman Larry Phillips told the panel that council members "have been deeply troubled by some of the revelations. It is important for us to move in a thoughtful and effective way to address some of those issues." Phillips said any new policies promulgated as a result of this process must "restore public trust, bring transparency" and appropriate action when "individuals cross the line and need to be disciplined." In response to panel member Faith Ireland, a former state Supreme Court justice, Phillips said the panel is welcome to make recommendations on whether the county's charter should be changed to make the sheriff's job appointed rather than elected. But he said he sees such a recommendation as primarily the role of the county Charter Review Commission, which will convene later this year. King County Council Vice Chairwoman Jane Hague told the panel that "the public deserves to have confidence ... that they (deputies) are ethical, morally upright, that they are doing the right thing and that they are supervised well." As members of the new panel introduced themselves, perhaps the strongest comments came from two former police officers. "I, like the rest of you, after looking at the newspaper was really disappointed," in the Sheriff's Office, said retired Washington State Patrol assistant district commander Richard Smith. "I believe it's their obligation to investigate all allegations of misconduct ... and hold people accountable." Former Seattle Police Department Assistant Chief Michael O'Mahony said: "I have strong feelings about police officers who violate the trust. It has to be open. There's got to be a transparency there. There has to be accountability." Former King County Executive Randy Revelle leads the task force, with Ireland as its vice chairwoman. Also on the panel, in addition to Smith and O'Mahony, are: P-I reporter Paul Shukovsky can be reached at 206-448-8072 or paulshukovsky@seattlepi.com.
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