Tumwater, Wash. - The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) Advisory Board is seeking a new member for an open position on the board.
Tukwila Police Chief Eric Drever has served on the board since it was created in 2021. Chief Drever plans to retire this spring and will also leave the OII Advisory Board.
His departure creates an opening on the board for a “sheriff or police chief who is also a member of an independent investigation team,” a position required by statute.
The OII Advisory Board is offering to meet prospective candidates who are interested in more information about serving on the board. To meet with the OII Advisory Board, contact AdvisoryBoard@oii.wa.gov.
To be considered for this position, all interested candidates must submit an application at governor.wa.gov/boards-commissions/apply-serve. Please select the “Office of Independent Investigations Advisory Board” in the drop-down menu and follow the instructions to apply. It is recommended that candidates have the endorsement of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.
Chief Drever was one of the original board members and was serving his second term. As a police chief and a member of the Valley Independent Investigations Team, he filled a key position on the board. He also served as co-chair along with board member Fred Thomas.
“Serving as a founding member of the OII Advisory Board has been an extraordinary experience,” Chief Drever said. “I have welcomed the opportunity to have a role in shaping how the new Office of Independent Investigations fulfills its mission. I wish the board and the agency continued success in its work.”
OII's statute (RCW 43.102.130) requires the OII Advisory Board to include a specific roster of members with diverse perspectives. That includes three members of the general public who are not current or former law enforcement, an impacted family member, a member of a federally recognized Tribe in Washington, defense attorney and prosecuting attorney representatives, a representative of a police officer labor association who also has experience in homicide investigations, a credentialed mental health expert who is not current or former law enforcement, and a member of the criminal justice training commission.
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 board also recommends candidates for the agency's director position, which is a three-year appointment. It does not have a role in OII investigations.
OII Advisory Board members are volunteers who are not compensated for their time. They meet monthly in virtual meetings with members participating statewide.
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OII was created to conduct criminal investigations of use of deadly force by law enforcement. For media inquiries, contact Communications Director Hector Castro at hector.castro@oii.wa.gov or 360-870-8115. Visit News and Updates | OII to view this news release online.