Take 21 » Police Accountability

What’s hot in local politics? Watch City Inside/Out

george — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 21:06:52 +0000

As City Inside/Out closes out our season, we welcome four journalists to give us context on the biggest recent stories coming out of City Hall. We’ll discuss the performance of Mayor McGinn, City Council elections, police accountability and, of course, the ongoing civic saga over the replacement of the Alaska Way Viaduct.

We ask our guests: Will the August referendum on the tunnel plan make any difference to the viaduct’s replacement? What Council seats are in play this fall? How is new Seattle Police Chief John Diaz doing? And we get answers to these questions and more from The Seattle Times’ Editorial Writer Joni Balter, KIRO TV Political Correspondent Essex Porter, Crosscut.com’s Publisher David Brewster and Publicola’s Editor Josh Feit.

Fun! Knowledge! Political Brawls! on City Inside/Out, Friday, June 17, 7:00 p.m., SEATTLE CHANNEL, Cable 21 or right here on http://www.seattlechannel.org/. Did you see our program about Sound Transit’s light rail? Watch it now by visiting http://www.seattlechannel.org/CityInsideOut/.

Cop Cameras on City Inside/Out

george — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 18:44:21 +0000

Cop cameras: More and more police departments across the country are mounting recording devices directly on officers to capture their interactions with citizens. After a string of high profile cases involving police use of force, many, including Seattle Police Chief John Diaz, say it is time to use cop cams in Seattle. But others, including the ACLU of Washington, say concerns about privacy and the potential for tampering with the technology should keep cop cams out of the city.

This week, City Inside/Out takes up the debate. We begin by taking a trip across the water to Bainbridge Island and visiting one local police department that has already brought cop cameras onboard. Our studio guests are Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell, American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Deputy Director Jennifer Shaw, Seattle Police Officers Guild President Rich O’Neill and Seattle Human Rights Commission Chair Roslyn Solomon.

Our cameras are always rolling! City Inside/Out, Friday, April 29, 7:00 p.m., SEATTLE CHANNEL, Cable 21 or right here on http://www.seattlechannel.org/. Did you see last week’s program about the legal issues surrounding the ballot measures on the deep-bore tunnel? Watch it now by visiting http://www.seattlechannel.org/CityInsideOut/.

SEATTLE CHANNEL EXCLUSIVE – Three Top Candidates, One Studio, C.R. Douglas. See who can take the heat.

Nicole — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 21:12:47 +0000

This week, on City Inside/Out, Friday, June 4, 7 p.m., The Search for Seattle’s Next Police Chief. Will it be Seattle’s John Diaz, Sacramento’s Rick Braziel or East Palo Alto’s Ronald Davis?

Friday night, we bring you an exclusive: the only joint appearance of the three finalists for Seattle’s new Police Chief! Dynamic interviewer C.R. Douglas will press interim Seattle Police Chief John Diaz, Sacramento Police Chief Rick Braziel and East Palo Alto Police Chief Ronald Davis about their qualifications and how they would make Seattle a safer city. What will they do to repair relationships with the Latino community after the troubling video showing Seattle police officers kicking an unarmed Hispanic man? How will they address the department’s budget problems? What will they do to reduce crime in Seattle? Watch and decide for yourself who should be Seattle’s next top cop!

Don’t miss this episode, Friday, June 4, at 7 p.m., to City Inside/Out, SEATTLE CHANNEL, Cable 21 or www.seattlechannel.org. Did you miss our show about Walk.Bike.Ride.? Watch it right now by visiting http://www.seattlechannel.org/CityInsideOut/.

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Council confirms former Judge Michael Spearman as police auditor

george — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:10:32 +0000

On June 8, 2009, the Seattle City Council confirmed former Judge Michael Spearman as the new Office of Professional Accountability (OPA) auditor. Spearman told the council, “I will do my best to insure that we have a fair, thorough and progressive policy in regards to investigating all complaints of [police] misconduct.” The auditor plays a key role in Seattle’s system of police accountability.

Last year, Mayor Greg Nickels and the City Council agreed to expand the powers of the auditor in order to strengthen the City’s process for investigating police misconduct. Spearman’s powers as auditor include recommending to the OPA director when the director should investigate a complaint further. The auditor may also require additional investigation under certain circumstances. In addition, the OPA auditor examines any and all OPA records to review them for thoroughness, fairness and timeliness.

Spearman was King County Superior Court judge from 1993 to 2007. Currently, he is a mediator and arbitrator at Judicial Dispute Resolution, providing services in all types of civil matters. You can read more about his background in Clerk File 309978. Spearman will serve for a three-year term and can earn up to $143,000 annually at an hourly rate of $160.

Mayor nominates former Judge Michael Spearman as police auditor

george — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:12:38 +0000

On April 20, 2009, Mayor Greg Nickels nominated former Judge Michael Spearman as the new Office of Professional Accountability (OPA) auditor.

“Judge Spearman is an excellent fit for this important position,” said Nickels. “He has the integrity, temperament and reputation to continue making a great department even better.”

“I am honored to be appointed to this position,” said Spearman. “I look forward to working with OPA director Kathryn Olson and the members of the [OPA] Review Board to ensure an open and fair accountability process for Seattle’s police officers and the citizens they serve.”

The three parts of Seattle’s police oversight include: the OPA auditor, the OPA director, and the OPA Review Board (OPARB). The OPA auditor’s position was expanded last year after the mayor’s Police Accountability Review Panel called for 29 changes to Seattle’s police accountability system.

The auditor recommends to the OPA director when the director should investigate a complaint further and may also require additional investigation under certain circumstances. The OPA auditor examines any and all OPA records to review them for thoroughness, fairness and timeliness.

Spearman was King County Superior Court judge from 1993 to 2007. Currently, he is a mediator and arbitrator at Judicial Dispute Resolution, providing services in all types of civil matters.

Spearman’s appointment is subject to confirmation by the Seattle City Council.