9514-00. Citizens Review Panel

The Citizens Review Panel was convened by Mayor Paul Schell in 1999 to study the Seattle Police Department’s policies and procedures relating to accountability and the reporting of police misconduct. The panel consisted of a retired judge, two attorneys, and a retired FBI agent. While the group found no evidence of widespread corruption within the department, it did determine that the mechanisms for reporting misconduct were not sufficient. In its final report, the panel made several recommendations, perhaps the most important of which was the creation of an Office of Professional Accountability (OPA) to replace the Internal Investigations Section. Other recommendations involved training, performance evaluations, and rules for investigations. Most of the report’s recommendations were followed, including the creation of the OPA to handle complaints and investigate misconduct.