News and Updates
Reminder - OII set to respond to use of deadly force cases starting December 1, 2024
Nov. 27, 2024
The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) remains on track to begin actively responding to use of deadly force cases on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024.
OII announced in July that it would begin responding to active incidents in Southwest Washington and the Olympic Peninsula. This is a reminder of the approaching date when OII will begin active operations.
In order to manage its resources, OII is starting in phases. Of its… Read more
OII to hold virtual community meeting Nov. 13
The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) will host a virtual community meeting as it prepares to actively respond to use of deadly force cases in Southwest Washington and on the Olympic Peninsula.
OII Seeks Defense Attorney to Fill Board Member Vacancy
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.
The opening comes after Dustin Howie, who was appointed to the board in May, announced that he is taking a position with the Alaska Public Defender Agency, prompting him to relocate and resign his position.
Members of the OII Advisory Board review agency policies and approve the hiring of any applicants for OII investigative positions who have been in law enforcement… Read more
OII is set to respond to use of deadly force cases starting December 1, 2024
On Dec. 1, 2024, the Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) will start actively responding to use of deadly force cases in Southwest Washington and on the Olympic Peninsula. These investigations are currently conducted by independent teams of local law enforcement agencies.
To effectively manage its resources, OII will begin its statewide operations in phases. The agency has six areas of operations across the state. It will begin its… Read more
Spokane attorney Dustin Howie joins OII Advisory Board
A new defense attorney has joined the Washington State Office of Independent… Read more
OII now accepting requests to review prior investigations of deadly force cases
The Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) is now accepting requests to review prior cases of the use of deadly force by law enforcement, if new evidence is brought forth not included in the original investigation and the incident resulted in a fatality.
The OII Prior Investigations Program is now live on the agency’s website at oii.wa.gov/investigations, where requests can be submitted for OII to review specific cases.
… Read moreOII seeks defense attorney to fill advisory board vacancy
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.
OII launches public website
The Office of Independent Investigations (OII) has launched its public website, oii.wa.gov, a significant milestone for the agency and a key means of ensuring that information about OII’s work will be easily available to the public.
The website is mobile friendly… Read more
OII releases report on status of agency Implementation Plan
This week, OII released the “Status Report on the OII Implementation Plan" [PDF] which details for the Legislature how the agency plans to operate and conduct investigations of incidents where law enforcement officers use deadly force.
“Building a new agency from the ground up poses significant challenges, but also remarkable opportunities to get it right.” Director Roger Rogoff said. “This report provides a snapshot of the work my team and I are… Read more
Visit to Spokane proves fruitful for OII team
The Office of Independent Investigations (OII) met with a host of Spokane area organizations recently, including community advocacy groups and both local and federal law enforcement. During the trip, the team also visited a potential OII office in Spokane.
“As the second largest city in the state, we have long identified Spokane as a site where we would want one of our regional offices, so touring a potential location made sense,” OII Director Roger Rogoff said. “But even more important was meeting local law enforcement, community… Read more
Inslee names Roger Rogoff director of Office of Independent Investigations
Gov. Jay Inslee today named Roger Rogoff director of the newly created state Office of Independent Investigations (OII). The OII was established by the Legislature and signed into law by Inslee in May 2021. The agency was created as a result of the demand to provide competent, unbiased, and thorough investigations of police use of deadly force, often affecting people of color, that will be independent of the involved law enforcement… Read more
Inslee announces members of Office of Independent Investigations advisory board
Gov. Jay Inslee today announced the appointment of 11 members to serve on the Office of Independent Investigations (OII) advisory board. The OII is a new office created to conduct independent, unbiased, competent and thorough investigations of cases involving police use of deadly force.
Inslee requested the creation of the new office based on recommendations from his 2020 task force convened following the deaths of George Floyd and Manuel Ellis.
The OII advisory board will provide advice and input to the director on the creation and operation of the office. The OII… 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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