City of Seattle, police union will have to discuss panel's proposals

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels said 11 of 29 recommendations on how to improve police oversight and discipline will require discussion — and possible negotiation — with the officers' union.

"We are very much hoping to create an atmosphere of cooperation where the police unions and city work together to resolve this in a short time frame and not take months or certainly not years," Nickels said this morning during a news conference. He declined to set a deadline.

Last week, an 11-member panel appointed by Nickels made 29 recommendations to improve how the city handles police misconduct. The proposals included strengthening civilian oversight of the department, imposing stricter discipline on officers and giving the public more information about internal investigations.

The Seattle Police Officers' Guild said last week that any substantive changes would require negotiating under labor law, which could take years.

The panel, which included former Gov. Gary Locke and former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, was formed last year after complaints that Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske had not adequately disciplined officers in two cases.

Under the city's current system of oversight, complaints about police misconduct are investigated by the Office of Professional Accountability (OPA), a civilian-led office within the department. That office is overseen by a civilian auditor outside of the department and a citizens' review board.

The panel recommended expanding the role of the auditor to review cases and recommend policy changes. That recommendation will need to be discussed with the union, Nickels said today. The mayor will also discuss with the guild the following recommendations from the panel:

• The Police Department should presume that officers who are dishonest in their official duties will be terminated.

• Officers should not be allowed to use overtime or vacation pay when they have been suspended without pay.

• Internal investigation records should be made public, under public disclosure law.

• The OPA director should have the ability to hire the panel's deputy director and the OPA investigators.

• The police chief should explain in writing when he or she disagrees with recommendations made by the OPA director on internal investigations.

Nickels said 15 recommendations would be implemented immediately by the city, including proposals for the OPA office to have its own budget, for the two oversight agencies to work more closely together and providing more training to staff who conduct internal investigations.

Three of the recommendations fall under the City Council's authority, two of which the mayor believes will require discussion with the guild.

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