Citizens Review Panel Study Materials

Series

Identifier: 9514-01

Scope and Contents note

Materials gathered and consulted by the Citizens Review Panel in the course of preparing its report. Includes SPD policy and procedure manuals, curriculum materials from the Law Enforcement Academy, union contracts, and reports previously published about the police department. Also includes information solicited from other cities and agencies regarding police auditors, internal investigations, and other relevant programs. The panel's final report is cataloged separately in the Published Documents Collection.

Dates

Creation: 1984-1999

Creator

Citizens Review Panel (Seattle, Wash.) (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access note

Records are open to the public.

Historical Note

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.