The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) has an opening on the 11-member OII Advisory Board and is seeking a defense attorney interested in serving.
Board members play a critical role by reviewing agency policies and protocols and approving the hiring of any potential OII investigators who have been in law enforcement within 24 months of applying. The board also recommends candidates for the position of agency director, who is appointed to a three-year term. The board does not have a role in OII investigations.
The current opening on the board is the result of the appointment of board member Breean Beggs as a Spokane Superior Court judge.
“We want to thank Breean Beggs for his continued support and commitment to the Office of Independent Investigations,” OII director Roger Rogoff said. “Breann is a founding member of the board, and his hard work, dedication, and vision are key reasons the OII board exists. The team at OII and I wish him the best in his future endeavors as a Superior Court judge serving the Spokane community.”
According to OII's statute (RCW 43.102.130), the advisory board must include family members affected by incidents of police use of deadly force, law enforcement, a police chief who is a member of an Independent Investigations Team, community members, a representative of a federally recognized Washington tribe, a mental health professional, a prosecutor, a member of the Criminal Justice Training Commission, and a defense attorney.
OII Advisory Board members are not compensated for their time. They meet monthly and meetings are held virtually with members across the state.
All interested candidates can submit their applications at governor.wa.gov/boards-commissions/apply-serve. In the drop-down menu, select the Office of Independent Investigations Advisory Board to apply.
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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. OII is unique in the nation in that a civilian director leads it. It also works with an 11-member advisory board that reviews and provides input on agency policies. OII is not yet conducting investigations but has activated a hotline for law enforcement agencies to report incidents of use of deadly force.
Media inquiries can be directed to Kimberly Diaz, Media Relations Coordinator, Kimberly.Diaz@oii.wa.gov, 360-790-1247.