Valley Independent Investigative Team (VIIT) - Community Member Volunteer

The City of Tukwila Police Department is seeking at least two community members to work alongside the Police Chief to meet the requirements of the Law Enforcement Training and Community Safety Act (LETCSA).

Part of the 2019 LETCSA as outlined in Washington Administrative Code (WAC 139-2) calls for at least two community representatives to serve on behalf of the Chief of Police or Sheriff, as the non-law enforcement representatives (N-LER) to an independent investigative team (IIT) during officer involved shootings (OIS) or other deaths and serious injuries where officers are involved. The goal of this requirement is to enhance accountability and increase trust to improve the legitimacy of policing for an increase in safety for everyone.

The Tukwila Police Department is part of the Valley Independent Investigative Team (VIIT) consisting of investigators from the following law enforcement agencies: Auburn, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Port of Seattle, Renton, and Tukwila. If a Tukwila officer is involved in an OIS, Tukwila VIIT investigators would not participate in the investigation; however, the Tukwila N-LERs would participate per the criteria set by the WAC.

As stated in the LETCSA, transparency is the critical element of procedural justice that allows community members to assess whether the process of the investigation is conducted in a trustworthy manner and complies with the standards set forth in WAC 139-12 (attached).

The non-law enforcement representative is selected by and serves on behalf of the Chief of Police. WAC 139-12 determines the scope of that participation. A minimum of two non-law enforcement community representatives will be assigned to each independent investigative team (IIT) to:

a. Participate directly in the vetting, interviewing, and/or selection of the independent investigative team (IIT) investigators. (Existing teams will have until January 2021 to provide necessary information about the qualifications of current IIT investigators to the non-law enforcement community representatives for review.)

b. Review conflict of interest statements submitted within 72 hours of the commencement of each investigation by the investigators;

c. Be present at the briefings with the involved agency(s) chief or sheriff;

d. Have access to the investigation file when it is completed;

e. Be provided a copy of all press releases and communication to the media prior to release; and

f. Review notification of equipment use of the involved agency.

g. Participating in a quarterly Use of Force Review Board

The non-law enforcement community representatives must sign a binding confidentiality agreement at the beginning of each police use of deadly force investigation that remains in effect until the prosecutor of jurisdiction either declines to file charges or the criminal case is concluded.

If the confidentiality agreement is violated, the non-law enforcement representative may be subject to prosecution under RCW 9A.76.020 (obstructing a law enforcement officer) and chapter 10.97 RCW, Washington State Criminal Records Privacy Act.

The Chief of Police for the jurisdiction will determine the selection criteria, and the community member reports to the Chief.

a. City of Tukwila community members

b. Must not have any felony convictions

c. Recommendation via a three-person panel to the Chief of Police

d. Letter of interest and resume

e. Interview by the three-person panel (Equity and Social Justice Commission Panel Members)

f. Criminal records check (CJIS compliance since the candidate will have access to law enforcement sensitive information and personal identifying information (PII)

g. The Equity and Social Justice Commission will rank the top 5 candidates and forward the packets to the Chief's panel (Chief of Police, Deputy Chief of Police, Council President) for final selection.

h. Must be willing to attend some basic training such as the Community Police Academy hosted by the Tukwila Police Department or other training that may enhance basic knowledge of proper investigation protocols.