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 within 24 months of applying. Another key role for board members is to recommend 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.
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.
OII is encouraging applicants from Central and Eastern Washington to consider applying for this current open position.
Any interested candidate must submit an application 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. The agency works with an 11-member advisory board that reviews and provides input on agency policies.
Media inquiries can be directed to Hector Castro, Director of Communications and Community Relations, Hector.Castro@oii.wa.gov or 360-870-8115.