Our community faces a serious decision in establishing a fair and just police ombudsman program.

First, we must recognize that every city and county in the state have to deal with the same problem. Many smaller communities and counties cannot afford the luxury of justice oversight of their local police.

Communities may go for months or years without this need. However, at some time, each and every community may be in dire need of some form of citizen oversight of police and law enforcement. In Spokane, we are addressing this concern, but what about our larger community, Spokane County? Is it exempt from police oversight?

For these reasons, I propose a Washington state ombudsman council. In this manner, any community in the state would have access to this valuable service when and if the need arises.

Whenever a police officer is involved in the death of a citizen, we usually call in investigators from a different law enforcement agency, such as the Washington State Patrol, as a neutral authority. It stands to reason that a state authority, not connected to the community, would be the most unbiased and just authority to oversee such complications.

A state authority could be assembled and represent the interests of all citizens and justice for all communities. A state authority would have no local ties and yet would represent the interests of all parties. That authority’s expense would be shared on a per capita population basis of each county. There would be no need for communities to be burdened by another bureaucracy that may or may not be necessary. An independent agency would be available and ready to serve every community.

I propose that our city leaders lobby for a statewide ombudsman council that could serve all communities at a fraction of the expense of Spokane’s current proposal. I believe our city and county are temporarily in good hands with the current police chief and sheriff. Both have demonstrated great integrity and discipline in the public’s interest and elevated the respect, trust and pride of their personnel.

The economic forecast is not looking well, and now is not the time to be adding another expensive bureaucracy to local government. We may well be faced with serious cuts in police personnel in the next few years. Do we want more protection or more bureaucracy to survive these difficult times? Crime rates escalate extensively in the worst of economic decline.

Our city could hire the best candidate available, spend a lot of money and still fail to achieve the neutrality and justice that we are desperately seeking.

We are fortunate to have leaders who will exercise professional discipline with integrity for years to come. However, the future demands better oversight, not only locally but for all communities of the state. Crime and overzealous responses of police authority have no borders.

We should spare this huge expense in these difficult economic times and pursue a long-term solution that will serve all citizens of our state with the best expertise, professionalism and justice for all communities.