Sheriff's review panel picked

Former King County Executive Randy Revelle will chair a committee named Thursday to review the Sheriff's Office's handling of misconduct allegations against sheriff's deputies.

Revelle, vice president for policy and public affairs of the Washington State Hospital Association, said he hopes the 10-member committee will complete its work in four to six months.

County Executive Ron Sims, Prosecuting Attorney Norm Maleng and leaders of the County Council chose the committee members at the request of Sheriff Sue Rahr. She called the panelists "completely objective outside parties."

"This is a very important step for us to regain and rebuild public trust in the Sheriff's Office and for us to rebuild a Sheriff's Office we can all be proud of," Rahr said at a new conference in her office.

Rahr last month announced formation of the blue-ribbon panel in response to Seattle Post-Intelligencer articles alleging officer misconduct and breakdowns in discipline and accountability. Rahr has said her department has been wrongly portrayed as a place where misconduct is tolerated.

Other members of the Sheriff's Blue Ribbon Panel are SeaTac City Councilman and Port of Seattle Police Lt. Tony Anderson; Seattle University School of Law professor and former King County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Dave Boerner; retired state Supreme Court Justice Faith Ireland; former Seattle Assistant Police Chief Michael O'Mahony; Seattle University assistant professor Wilson Edward Reed; American Civil Liberties Union Washington Legislative Director Jennifer Shaw; retired Washington State Patrol Lt. Richard K. Smith; former U.S. Department of Labor regional representative Pat Stehl; and attorney and former U.S. Magistrate D. Gene Wilson.

The King County Council's Law, Justice and Human Services Committee is considering a proposal by council members Bob Ferguson and Julia Patterson for a civilian oversight office to deal with complaints against sheriff's deputies and an independent auditor to track the handling of internal investigations.

Keith Ervin: 206-464-2105 or kervin@seattletimes.com