The appointment of the final member of the committee that will help select the next Spokane police ombudsman was delayed after questions arose about the NAACP's lack of support for finalists.

Former Spokane Mayor Dennis Hession is among three finalists under consideration to serve as the Spokane police ombudsman commission’s attorney. Hession was an early advocate to create a police ombudsman position during his two years as Spokane mayor from 2005 to 2007. He told commissioners that he’s well-equipped to offer legal advice because of his past experience, and stressed the importance of believing in the commission’s mission of providing oversight.

Former Spokane mayor Dennis Hession is among the three attorneys the police ombudsman commission is considering contracting with for independent legal advice.

After formally accepting the resignation of police ombudsman Tim Burns on Wednesday, members of the Police Ombudsman Commission appointed one of their own to serve on the selection committee to find Burns’ replacement.

After five and a half years on the job, Spokane's first police ombudsman announced Friday he'll be retiring in early 2015.

Depending on whom you ask, the timing of Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich’s request for the Spokane police ombudsman to assume a similar role for the county may be perfect, or politically motivated. Discussions between Knezovich and Tim Burns, the man who’s conducted internal reviews of police cases since 2008, have ramped up in recent weeks to formalize a long-standing relationship between the two agencies, the two men said. Knezovich said his pitch to county commissioners Tuesday morning is the culmination of months of discussions he’s had with Burns and the Center for Justice to develop an oversight structure of the department similar to the one in place at the city.

Idaho typically elects conservative officeholders with skeptical views of government and then allows them to lower the blinds on public information. One would think voters would want the government closest to them to be the most open, but that’s not how it works in the Gem State.

A five-member advisory board to give further oversight of the Spokane Police Department will include the former director of a human rights organization and a retired military official who most recently served at the Pentagon. Voters approved the creation of the citizen oversight commission in early 2013, and members are expected to begin their work within a month, after they pass criminal background checks and the City Council officially approves their appointments.

BOISE – Gov. Butch Otter seemed a bit surprised that he’d already received a public records request for documents related to his move to create a public records ombudsman position in his office, before he’d even formally announced the move. “Did you hear about that?” he asked reporters before his press conference in the governor’s office, referring to the request from AP reporter Rebecca Boone. “She asked for public records on the executive order I’m signing about public records today!” When a reporter – OK, it was me – responded, “What a great idea!” a laughing Otter said, “You guys – get outta here.”