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June 21, 2010 in City
Police ombudsman debate runs late into night
The Spokesman-Review
The Spokane City Council Monday night debated late into the evening about a plan giving the city’s police ombudsman authority to conduct independent investigations into police misconduct.
More than two dozen people signed up to testify about the proposal, but the hearing didn’t start until nearly 11 p.m. and was expected to continue into early Tuesday.
Look for more coverage of the Council’s decision online Tuesday and for ongoing developments in Wednesday’s print edition.
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crikey on June 22 at 12:07 a.m.
Thought if they delayed it long enough, people would give up and go home. Hope the council got earsful about a lot of things, and that the ombudsmen are allowed to do their jobs.
Ron_the_Cop on June 22 at 12:58 a.m.
Crikey,
They ran to almost 1AM. Councilwoman Mclaughlin was no longer on the phone. She had been attending via phone. Council will retake up the debate at the beginning of the next Council Mtg. Council did throw a crew ball by passing out a revised ordinance just prior to the meeting making several changes to the one posted on the City’s website.
mtorres55 on June 22 at 8:41 a.m.
And that new version was as troubling as the earlier ones, though in different ways. It did move intervention (not investigation) to the front of the complaint process rather than after, but it also removed ombuds. authority to determine the validity of a complaint.
You can’t toss in legislation without giving those most involved a chance to read and study it and expect folks to be pleased. I was shocked that the law allows that.
Has the council forgotten that this entire Ombudsman position AND the resolutions attempting to undo the damage done by its weakening were brought to the City BY the Community? It did not originate with the City in any way, shape or form, and the Community needs to be a respected partner. Didn’t sound like that last night with the surprise version.