News and Updates
OII to expand use of force investigations in Pierce County
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tumwater, Wash. – A year after it began investigating use of deadly force incidents in Southwest Washington and the Olympic Peninsula, the Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) is announcing it plans to expand services into Pierce County beginning on May 01, 2026.
OII has six regions statewide based on the average number of fatal use of force cases… Read more
New board member joins OII Advisory Board
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tumwater, Wash. – Brooke Foley has joined the Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) Advisory Board to fill the vacant defense attorney position.
Foley was appointed on Tuesday, November 25 to join the OII Advisory Board. She is from Spokane, Washington and will fill a seat that has been vacant since August 2024 following the resignation of former board member Dustin Howie, who relocated to Alaska.
Foley, who has a law degree… Read more
Update 3 - Officers named in deadly force Port Angeles incident
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Case Number: OII-2025-0012
Olympia, Wash. - The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) has identified the officers involved in a use of deadly force incident that occurred in Port Angeles.
The three involved officers are all with the Port Angeles Police Department (PAPD).
They are:- Sgt. David Arand, patrol sergeant, 22 years with PAPD.
- Officer Whitney Fairbanks, patrol officer and K9 program coordinator, 10 years with PAPD.
- Officer… Read more
Update 2- Name released of deceased in Port Angeles deadly force incident – tip line set for OII investigation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Case Number: OII-2025-0012
Tumwater, Wash. - The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) has established a tip line as it continues to investigate a fatal use of deadly force incident that occurred in Port Angeles, Washington on Monday, November 17.
Anyone who may have information regarding the incident is asked to call the OII Tip Line at (564) 999-3608.
The Clallam County Coroner’s Office confirmed today that… Read more
Update 1- OII investigating deadly force incident in Port Angeles
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Case Number: OII-2025-0012
Tumwater, Wash. - The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) is investigating a fatal officer use of deadly force that occurred in Port Angeles, Washington on Monday, November 17.
The Port Angeles Police Department notified OII of the incident at 1:37 p.m. on November 17. The first OII investigators arrived and reported to the scene just before 3:45 p.m. Initially, 22 OII investigators responded to the incident.
According to a… Read more
OII to Investigate Use of Deadly Force Incident in Port Angeles, Washington
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Case Number: OII-2025-0012
The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) received notification at 1:37 p.m. on November 17, 2025, from the Port Angeles Police Department that a use of deadly force incident occurred around 1:20 p.m. near West Ninth and South E streets in Port Angeles.
OII will be investigating this incident. More information to follow.
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The Washington State Legislature created OII in 2021 to conduct independent investigations… Read more
New board member joins OII Advisory Board
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tumwater, Wash. A new member has joined the Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) Advisory Board as one of the founding board members steps down.
Jerrell Wills, Deputy Director for the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC), was appointed Monday, Oct. 27 to join the OII Advisory Board. Wills replaces Monica Alexander, Executive Director of CJTC and one of the original… Read more
Update 4 – Investigation of Use of Deadly Force Incident in Clark County reaches 90-day point
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Update 4 – Investigation of Use of Deadly Force Incident in Clark County reaches 90-day point
Case Number: OII- 2025-0009
Olympia, Wash. (Oct. 29, 2025) – The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) is 90 days into its investigation of a use of deadly force incident that occurred in Vancouver, Wash., on July 30, 2025.
By statute, OII is directed to complete its investigations within 120 days or report the reason… Read more
OII celebrates move to new headquarters and evidence facility
Tumwater, Wash. (Oct. 1, 2025) – The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) is moving to a new location, the new OII Headquarters & Central Evidence Facility, that will house agency staff and support its work by providing a secure location for central evidence storage.
To commemorate this historic move, OII will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony and has invited state officials, community members, and others interested in OII’s work and mission.
- What: Ribbon cutting for the new OII Headquarters & Central… Read more
Update 3 – Names released of person killed and deputy involved in deadly force incident in Vancouver
Case number: OII-2025-0009
Olympia, Wash. (August 6, 2025) – The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) has identified the deputy involved in a use of deadly force incident that occurred on July 30 as Clark County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Gonzalez.
Deputy Gonzalez has been with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office since 2021 and is currently assigned as a patrol K9 handler.
The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the person who died as Branden Michael… Read more
Update 2 - OII tip line for deadly force incident involving Clark County Sheriff’s Office
Case number: OII-2025-0009
Olympia, Wash. (Aug. 2, 2025) – The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) has established a tip line as it continues to investigate a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred in Vancouver, Wash.
Anyone who may have information regarding the incident is asked to call the OII Tip Line at 564-250-3396.
The Vancouver Police Department notified OII of the incident at 11:07 p.m. on July 30, although it was a deputy with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office who used deadly force.
… Read moreUpdate 1 - OII investigation of deadly force incident involving Clark County Sheriff’s Office
Case number: OII-2025-0009
Olympia, Wash. (Aug. 1, 2025) – The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) is investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred in Vancouver, Washington on Wednesday, July 30.
The Vancouver Police Department notified OII of the incident at 11:07 p.m. on July 30, although it was a deputy with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office who used deadly force. The first OII investigators arrived and reported to the scene just past midnight on July 31. Initially, a… Read more
OII to investigate Use of Deadly Force Incident in Clark County, Washington
The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) received a notification at 11:06 p.m. on July 30, 2025 from the Vancouver Police Department that a use of deadly force incident involving the Clark County Sheriff’s Office had occurred around 10:45 p.m. on Main Street near East 19th Street, Vancouver, Wash.
OII will be investigating the incident. More information to follow.
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The state Legislature created OII in 2021 to conduct independent and unbiased investigations of deadly use of force by law enforcement. It works with an 11-member advisory… Read more
Update 5 – OII completes investigation of Centralia police shooting
Case number: OII-2025-0001
Olympia, Wash. (July 24, 2025) – The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) has completed its investigation of a use of deadly force incident that occurred in Centralia, Wash. on Jan. 12, 2025.
OII’s Final Case Report, OII-2025-0001 Final Case Report (Redacted), describing the incident and its investigation is now available on the OII website.… Read more
Death of OII Advisory Board member’s son referred to prosecutor for new investigation
Case number: OII-2023-0008
Olympia, Wash. (July 21, 2025) – The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) has informed the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office that a determination has been made by a neutral reviewer to open a new investigation into the death of Leonard Thomas, who was shot and killed by law enforcement officers in 2013.
Leonard Thomas’ mother, Annalesa Thomas, had requested OII open a new investigation into their son’s death through OII’s Prior Investigation Review… Read more
Update 3 - OII passes 60-day point in Clark County Sheriff’s Office use of deadly force investigation
Case number: OII-2025-0008
Olympia, Wash. (July 11, 2025)- The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) is just past 60 days into its investigation of a use of deadly force incident that took place Thursday, May 07 in Ridgefield, Wash. By statute, OII is directed to complete its investigations within 120 days or report any delay to the OII Advisory Board.
The incident under investigation occurred at the Ridgefield Port… Read more
Update 3 – OII passes 60-day mark in Poulsbo and Kitsap County investigation
Case Number: OII- 2025-0002
Olympia, Wash. (July 10, 2025) – The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) is just past 60 days into its investigation of a use of deadly force incident that occurred in Poulsbo, Wash. on May 7, 2025. By statute, OII is directed to complete its investigations within 120 days or report the reason for the delay to the OII Advisory Board.
The incident occurred after officers with the Poulsbo Police Department stopped a car with the assistance of Kitsap County Sheriff’s… Read more
Update 2 - Names released of person killed and officers involved in deadly force incident in Poulsbo
Case Number: OII-2025-0002
Olympia, Wash. (May 14, 2025) - The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) has identified the officers involved in a use of deadly force incident in Poulsbo, Wash. as Poulsbo Police Officer Nickolas Brown and Kitsap County Sheriff's Deputy Wyatt Galbreath.
Officer Brown, who is 28 years old, has been with the Poulsbo Police Department since 2023 and is currently working a Patrol assignment. Deputy Galbreath, also 28 years old has been with the Kitsap County… Read more
Update – OII investigation of deadly use of force incident involving Poulsbo Police Department and Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office
Case number: OII-2025-0002
Olympia, Wash. (May 13, 2025) – The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) is investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred in Poulsbo, Washington on Wednesday, May 7.
According to Poulsbo Police Department and Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, the use of deadly force incident happened about 9:15 p.m. after Poulsbo police officers stopped a car with the assistance of Kitsap… Read more
Update 2 – Name released of person killed and deputy involved in deadly force incident in Clark County
Case number: OII-2025-0008
Olympia, Wash. (May13, 2025) – The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) has identified the deputy involved in a use of deadly force incident that occurred on May 07 as Clark County Sheriff’s Deputy Bryson Layton.
Deputy Layton has been with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office since May 2023 and is currently working a patrol assignment.
The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the person who died as Marc Fogle, age 54, of… Read more
Media Contacts
Hector Castro
Community Relations and Communications
360-870-8115
Hector.Castro@oii.wa.gov
Kimberly Garcia (formerly Diaz)
Media Relations Coordinator
360-790-1247
Kimberly.Garcia@oii.wa.gov
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