City Council president plans to form task force for oversight of police

Seattle City Council President Nick Licata plans to form an advisory group to strengthen citizen oversight of the police, after an oversight-board report was leaked last week questioning police Chief Gil Kerlikowske's involvement in an internal investigation into a controversial drug arrest.

Licata, who has not yet asked anyone to join the board, wants the group to work with police-accountability experts to study civilian review, the role of the chief and of the department in policing itself, as well as the council's role. He also wants the group to review oversight standards and procedures. He said he hopes the it will present recommendations by the council, but intends to let the group decide that.

The report, which examined a January arrest in which the officers' report did not match up with surveillance video, accused the chief of directing the internal investigation to affirm the officers' version of events. It was written by the Office of Professional Accountability Review Board, which reports to City Council.

Licata, who chairs the council's public safety committee, declined to offer any specific recommendations about how to improve citizen oversight but said the chief's "attitude now is he had the right to participate in the [internal] investigation. That cannot continue."

Licata also declined to say whether he had lost confidence in the chief: "I'm not going to be drawn into supporting or not supporting the chief."

Mayor Greg Nickels, whom Licata invited to participate in the task force, said he continues to support Kerlikowske.

Sharon Pian Chan: 206-464-2958 or schan@seattletimes.com