Latest from The Spokesman-Review

• Council delays ombudsman vote

  September 29, 2011 in City on Page A7 The Spokane City Council isn’t giving up on stronger police oversight, at least not for two more weeks. The council voted 6-0 this week to delay a decision on whether … 1

• Panel won’t overturn decision on police ombudsman’s powers

  September 15, 2011 in City on Page A5 Efforts to expand the Spokane police ombudsman’s authority to conduct independent investigations into alleged officer misconduct have suffered another blow. The state Public Employment Relations Commission has not only rejected … 5

• Council debates oversight rules

  August 23, 2011 in City on Page A1 Spokane City Council members suggested they may need voters to save the stronger police oversight rules they approved last year, by working to place the concept on the ballot. Passions … 82

• Police ombudsman rules downgraded

  July 13, 2011 in City on Page A1 An arbitrator this week revoked a law that strengthened Spokane’s police ombudsman powers because the city did not consult the Spokane Police Guild before it was approved last year. The … 26

• Officer’s text message ruled a factor in pedestrian fatality

  June 29, 2011 in City on Page A1 A Spokane police officer who hit and killed an intoxicated pedestrian in his patrol car in January was typing a message into his onboard computer just before the crash. Officer … 90

• Law agencies see benefit of cameras

  March 21, 2011 in City on Page A1 For police agencies, cameras that record officer encounters with the public can help prove suspects are guilty and set the record straight if officers are wrongly accused of misconduct. “It … 42

• Complaints against police rose in 2010

    February 23, 2011 in City on Page A1 More citizens alleged misconduct by Spokane Police Department employees last year than the previous four years, but the number of complaints that resulted in discipline decreased. Police leaders attribute the … 29

• Shawn Vestal: Ombudsman shows aptitude for his job, however defined

  February 2, 2011 in City on Page A5 The police chief has an excellent question about the city’s cops watchdog. What, exactly, is Tim Burns’ authority? 5

• Editorial: Police chief’s comment no help in establishing role of ombudsman

  January 30, 2011 in Opinion on Page B8 The public knows the shaky history of police oversight in Spokane. It knows that the city used to respond to complaints against officers with intimidating countersuits. It knows that many … 10

• Use-of-force case leaves questions

    January 25, 2011 in City on Page A1 Brian Greear remembers the sirens that prompted him to stop his car. But the 27-year-old Spokane man says he can’t remember what happened before he awoke face down in a … 63

• Long wait by armed driver also at issue

  January 25, 2011 in City on Page A12 Spokane Police Ombudsman Tim Burns also declined to certify an investigation regarding a driver who had a permit to own a handgun but was given the gun back in pieces … 8

• Recent police shootings raise notion of inquests

  December 19, 2010 in City on Page A1 Nearly four months after their father was shot to death by a deputy sheriff in Spokane Valley, sons of Wayne Scott Creach are still looking for answers. Police detectives investigating … 70

• ACLU argues city denied rights

    September 23, 2010 in City on Page A5 The American Civil Liberties Union says the Spokane city attorney’s office violated the constitutional rights of a local attorney. In a letter to city officials last week, Michael Kipling, an … 8

• Police supervisors criticize news media

  July 22, 2010 in City on Page A8 An association of Spokane police supervisors is speaking out about perceived bias and negative press coverage of Spokane officers. Released to Spokane media and city officials Wednesday, a letter – … 16

• Ombudsman gains power

  June 29, 2010 in City on Page A1 Almost a year after he was hired, Spokane’s police ombudsman on Monday was granted the power to investigate cases of officer misconduct. The Spokane City Council voted unanimously to increase … 10

• Arrest of teacher still churns

      June 27, 2010 in City on Page A1 Her friends remember Beverly Saruwatari as a model citizen – an honored public school teacher, a goodwill ambassador on Spokane’s Nishinomiya Sister City Committee and a devoted single mother. She … 187

• Editorial: Ombudsman ordinance should only get stronger

  June 24, 2010 in Opinion on Page A11 Though we must wait another week, the Spokane City Council looks to be on the verge of adopting a stronger police ombudsman ordinance. This is good news, because the community … 3

• Spokane council postpones vote on police ombudsman

    June 23, 2010 in City on Page A5 The long debate over the power of Spokane’s new police ombudsman will last at least one more week. Early Tuesday morning, the Spokane City Council voted 6-1 to delay a … 5

• Council delays ombudsman decision

    June 22, 2010 in City The long debate over the power of Spokane’s new police ombudsman will last at least one more week. Early Tuesday morning, the Spokane City Council voted 6-1 to delay a … 3

• City Council delays vote on ombudsman request

    June 22, 2010 in City Spokane City Council President Joe Shogan announced just after midnight today that there would not be a vote during the session about providing the ombudsman the power to conduct independent … 6

• Police ombudsman debate runs late into night

  June 21, 2010 in City 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. 3

• Spokane police ombudsman wants to investigate

  June 18, 2010 in City on Page A1 Spokane’s police ombudsman has reversed his stance and is asking city leaders for the right to examine allegations of police misconduct independent of the Police Department’s own probes. When the … 14

• Editorial: Guild blocks opportunity to enhance police trust

  May 27, 2010 in Opinion on Page A11 The Spokane Police Guild joined the “Make a Splash” campaign this week by donating $250 to help cover swimming fees for children at the city’s pools. That’s a nice gesture … 8

• Ombudsman can’t polish police image

  May 25, 2010 in City on Page A5 For the record, I am all in favor of elevating our police ombudsman into something more than a Spokane Police Guild sock puppet. But do I think giving Tim Burns … 6

• Spokane City Council delays police oversight decision

  May 25, 2010 in City on Page A1 Two dozen people urged the Spokane City Council to let the city police ombudsman listen to someone other than police about police misconduct, but a confidential legal memo stood in … 20

• Council to consider plan for stronger ombudsman

    May 23, 2010 in City on Page B1 An effort to expand the powers of the city of Spokane’s police ombudsman may go before the City Council on Monday night. The proposed ordinance would allow Ombudsman Tim Burns … 20

• When it comes to cop shenanigans, answers often lacking

  April 22, 2010 in City on Page A5 There’s been so much crazy cop news around here lately that it’s hard to keep track of the mayhem. So I designed today’s helpful quiz as a way to test … 5

• Police ombudsman issues first report to city

    April 15, 2010 in City on Page A5 The first 18 of 19 internal investigations into police actions to be reviewed by Spokane’s police ombudsman have been labeled “timely, thorough and objective.” Spokane’s first police ombudsman, Tim Burns, … 2

• Police ombudsman clears 18 of 19 cases

    April 14, 2010 in City The first 18 of 19 internal investigations into police actions to be reviewed by Spokane’s police ombudsman have been labeled “timely, thorough and objective.” 5

• Greater ombudsman powers urged

    February 7, 2010 in City on Page B1 A coalition of organizations called on Spokane City Hall last week to create stronger oversight of its police force, but some elected leaders say they want to give the new … 10

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