The City of Sequim Police Department is seeking a diverse group of non-law enforcement Sequim area residents interested in helping with independent investigations following incidents of use(s) of deadly force.
In 2018, voters of the state of Washington passed Initiative 940, a measure that would require law enforcement receive violence de-escalation, mental-health and first-aid training, and provide first-aid; and change standards for use of deadly force, adding a “good faith” standard and independent investigation.
These measures specify that when a law enforcement officer uses deadly force that results in death, substantial bodily harm or great bodily harm, an independent investigation will occur, conducted by an Independent Investigative Team (IIT), City of Sequim officials said last week in a press release.
An IIT is defined as “a team of qualified and certified peace officer investigators, civilian crime scene specialist, and at least two non-law enforcement community representatives who operate completely independent of any involved agency to conduct investigations of police deadly force incidents,” city representatives said.
According to the WAC, the non-law enforcement representatives, “should have credibility with and ties to communities impacted by police use of deadly force.”
Elected IIT members would have various responsibilities:
• participate in the vetting, interviewing, and or selection of IIT investigators
• review conflict of interest statements by the investigators during each incident
• be present at briefings with the involved agency’s chief or sheriff
• have access to the investigation file upon its completion
• review a copy of all press releases/communication to media prior to release
• review notification of equipment use of involved agency
• sign a binding confidentiality agreement within 72 hours at the beginning of each investigation in which they are involved
Representatives could be called upon to assist at various times throughout the year, to include weekends, holidays and overnight hours. There is no compensation for serving on the IIT.
For more information, contact Sequim Police Chief Sheri Crain at 360-683-7227 or visitsequimwa.gov.
