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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Good morning,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Washington state has created a new Office of Independent Investigations. If your state has something similar, would you please share an organizational chart, job description sample and salary info for related
staff including investigators, forensic staff and salary information? I would appreciate your response by October 18, if possible. Thank you!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Here are highlights from WA’s statute:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/x2AiC2kNqWUpzw9BinuyaF?domain=app.leg.wa.gov">Chapter 43.102 RCW: OFFICE OF INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS (wa.gov)</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">The office of independent investigations is hereby established within the office of the governor for the purpose of conducting fair, thorough, transparent, and competent
investigations as authorized under this chapter. It is an investigative law enforcement agency, including for the purposes of the public records act, chapter <a href="https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/EGkuC31XrwupzQEyiqJc5s?domain=app.leg.wa.gov"><b><span style="color:#2B674D;text-decoration:none">42.56</span></b></a> RCW.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Hire or contract with investigators and other personnel as the director considers necessary to perform investigations conducted by the office, and other duties as required,
under this chapter.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">The director shall consider the relevant experience and qualifications of investigator candidates including the extent to which he or she demonstrates experience or understanding
of the following areas:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">(i) Extensive experience with criminal investigations, including homicide investigations;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">(ii) Behavioral health issues;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">(iii) Youth cognitive development;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">(iv) Trauma-informed interviewing;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">(v) De-escalation techniques and utilization; and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">(vi) Knowledge of Washington practices, including laws, policies, and procedures related to criminal law, criminal investigations, and policing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">The director shall consider the following prior to employing an investigator:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">(i) The investigators should not be commissioned law enforcement officers employed with any law enforcement agency as a peace officer at the time of application
with the office.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.75in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">(A) If the individual considered for a position as an investigator was a prior law enforcement officer, the director must conduct a review of prior disciplinary
actions or complaints related to bias.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.75in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">(B) The individual should not have been a commissioned law enforcement officer within 24 months of the date of the application for service as an investigator;
and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">(ii) The results of a background check that includes research of social media and affiliations to check for racial bias and conflicts of interest.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">The director may employ or enter into contracts for services to provide additional personnel as needed to conduct investigations of cases under the jurisdiction of the
office including, but not limited to, the following:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">(a) Forensic services and crime scene investigators;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">(b) Liaisons for community, family, and relations with a federally recognized tribe;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">(c) Analysts, including analysts to conduct evaluations on use of force data;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">(d) Mental health experts;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">(e) Bilingual staff, translators, or interpreters;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">(f) Other experts as needed; and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">(g) All staffing and other needs for the office.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:#1F4E79">Terri Parker </span></b><i><span style="color:#1F497D">(she/her/hers)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F4E79">Compensation Policy & Planning Analyst<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F4E79">OFM/ State Human Resources<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Cell 360-515-6299<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:terri.parker@ofm.wa.gov"><span style="color:#0563C1">terri.parker@ofm.wa.gov</span></a><span style="color:#1F497D"> |
</span><a href="mailto:labor.relations@ofm.wa.gov"><span style="color:#0563C1">labor.relations@ofm.wa.gov</span></a><span style="color:#1F497D">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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