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 from Gonzaga University School of Law, previously served as Administrative Law Judge with the Office of Administrative Hearings, and spent 10 years with the Spokane County Public Defender’s Office. Foley currently is in private practice.
"As a criminal defense attorney, I believe in the mission of the Office of Independent Investigations,” Foley said. “By joining the OII Advisory Board, I intend to give back to the community, while adding my experience and perspective to discussions we have.”
The OII Advisory Board reviews policies and protocols that OII develops and must approve the hiring of potential OII investigators who have been in law enforcement within 24 months of applying. The advisory board also recommends candidates for the agency's director position, which is a three-year appointment. The OII advisory board does not have a role in OII investigations.
By statute, the board must include a defense attorney. The other advisory board positions are required to be filled by family members impacted by incidents of police use of deadly force, law enforcement, a police chief who is a member of an Independent Investigation Team, community members, a representative of a federally recognized Tribe in Washington, a mental health professional, a prosecutor, and a representative from the Criminal Justice Training Commission. These positions are appointed by Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson’s Boards and Commissions.
The OII Advisory Board co-chair Eric Drever, chief of the Tukwila Police Department, welcomed Foley’s appointment to the board.
"Representation across the state is critical in the work we do within the board, and for OII as an agency,” Drever said. “It will be good to have a fresh voice join our discussions.”
OII Advisory Board members are not compensated for their time. They meet monthly in virtual meetings with members participating statewide.
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The Washington 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 board that reviews and provides input on agency policies. To view this on the web, visit oii.wa.gov/news-and-updates.
Media inquiries can be directed to Kimberly Garcia, Media Relations Coordinator, kimberly.garcia@oii.wa.gov or 360-870-8115.