Local non-law enforcement residents sought to assist in WSP independent invesigations

The Washington State Patrol is looking for local residents who are not in law enforcement in both Grays Harbor and Pacific County to assist in independent use-of-force inquiries as needed.

In a release from WSP, they say that they are looking for community representatives for each county to assist in investigations within the county they reside.  

These non-paid volunteer positions will work as part of the Independent Investigation Team (IIT) and collaborate with the Washington State Patrol’s Criminal Investigation Division. 

With the passage of Washington State Initiative 940 in November 2018 and SHB 1064 in 2019,  incidents where the use of deadly force by a peace officer results in death, substantial bodily harm, or  great bodily harm require an independent investigation. 

These independent investigations are conducted in  the same manner as a criminal investigation and state law requires an “independent investigation”  completely independent of the involved agency. 

The goal of this requirement is to enhance  accountability and increase trust between law enforcement and the community. 

The Independent Investigative Team (IIT) will consist of a team of qualified and certified peace officer  investigators and at least two Non-Law Enforcement Community Representatives who operate  completely independent of any involved agency to conduct investigations of police deadly force  incidents. 

The IIT Non-Law Enforcement Community Representatives should have credibility with, and ties to,  the communities impacted by the police use of deadly force. 

Representatives selected will participate  directly in the vetting, interviewing, and/or selection of IIT certified law enforcement investigators,  media communications, and use of involved agency equipment requests.  

This position will require the community representative to pass a department/agency background  check and attend identified training that is relevant to officer involved deadly force incidents. The  Non-Law Enforcement Community Representative must sign a binding confidentiality agreement at  the beginning of each investigation. 

Responsibilities of the Position(s) Include: 

1. Participate in the selection of IIT certified law enforcement investigators. 
2. Understand and be knowledgeable of statewide best practices involving the investigation of  law enforcement use of lethal force investigations and applicable laws as they relate to the use  of force and officer involved deadly force incidents.  
3. Review and sign a Conflict of Interest Statement. 
4. Review and sign a binding Confidentiality Agreement. 
5. Attend officer-involved use of deadly force briefings with the involved agency chief  executive(s).  
6. Review or have access to the investigative file when completed. 
7. Receive media communication(s) and press releases prior to their release.  8. Review use of involved agency equipment requests.  

Length of Commitment: 

Length of commitment to this position is two (2) years. This commitment may be adjusted based  upon the needs of the agency and/or the willingness of the Non-Law Enforcement Community  Representative to serve. The Chief of the Washington State Patrol will make the final decision on the  length of the commitment. 

Supervision Received and/or Exercised: 

The IIT Non-Law Enforcement Community Representative will work with the assigned leadership  team (Commander, Assistant Commander, and/or Lead Investigator) on each assigned use of deadly  force incident.  

Hours of Commitment: 

The hours for this position will vary depending on the incident dynamics and the time and location of  briefings, meetings, and needs of the investigation. IIT Non-Law Enforcement Community  Representatives may be called to participate at various and unpredictable hours to include weekends  and holidays. 

Minimum Qualifications: 

The following are the minimum qualifications for the position of IIT Non-Law Enforcement Community  Representative. At the time of application, the applicant shall: 

1. Be a resident of the county you are applying for in Washington and provide proof of  residency within the county applied for.  
2. Be able to maintain a strict confidentiality agreement with each deadly force investigation. 3. Be at least 21 years of age. 
3. Have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to effectively perform the duties and responsibilities of  the position of IIT Non-Law Enforcement Community Representative.

www.wsp.wa.gov 

5. Willing to meet the time and commitments required of an IIT Non-Law Enforcement  Community Representative position. 

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

The following knowledge, skills, and abilities are essential to be successful in the position of IIT Non Law Enforcement Community Representative:  

1. Have the ability and willingness to learn and understand police use of force policy and laws.  2. Strong oral and written communication skills and the ability to interact effectively with members  of police/sheriff agencies, and community. 
2. Ability and willingness to maintain confidentiality. 
3. Ability and willingness to make sound and well informed decisions. 
4. Maintain high standards of ethics and integrity. 
5. Ability and willingness to communicate effectively and resolve conflicts in a tactful and effective  manner. 

Training: 

The IIT Non-Law Enforcement Community Representative selected for the position may be required  to attend relevant training related to the position, which will be provided at no expense.  

How to Apply: 

Interested, qualified applicants may submit the application materials listed below electronically to  [email protected] . Application materials must be received by Tuesday May 25, 2021. Application materials received after the deadline will not be considered. 

Application materials must consist of: 

1. The applicant’s full and complete name, date of birth, residential address, contact phone  number(s), and e-mail address. 
2. A letter of interest including a narrative identifying what the applicant believes his/her  particular strengths and challenges would be in the position of IIT Non-Law Enforcement  Community Representative. Letters of interest should be no longer than two pages. 
3. An up-to-date professional resume or explanation as to how their life experiences within the  community would allow them to perform the responsibilities in an unbiased, neutral and  effective manner.  

Selection Process: 

Following the closing date for this recruitment, a selection process will be administered. The Chief of  the Washington State Patrol will be the final determiner of selected applicants. Qualified applicants  will be notified of their application status at the conclusion of the selection process. This recruitment  and selection process will be used to establish a ranked list of qualified candidates.  

The full posting is also located on our website: WSP.WA.GOV