Building a more transparent and accountable Tacoma Police Department that operates in line with best practices and the expectations of our community continues to be a top priority for the City of Tacoma.

As part of its response to the Community’s Police Advisory Committee’s recommendations around police oversight, the City of Tacoma is working to create a new liaison position to augment its current complaint review process and support the Community’s Police Advisory Committee in a consultative capacity.

To help the City of Tacoma achieve its priority goals, this liaison will bring a deep understanding of both legal requirements and law enforcement practices – including investigations – as well as the necessary policy expertise and analytical skills.

One of the first things this liaison will address, once onboard, is to assist in the City Council’s ongoing review and analysis of the remainder of the Community’s Police Advisory Committee recommendations, including its recommendations on police oversight.

Ultimately, the City of Tacoma seeks to establish a model for police oversight that supports long-term systems transformation, and the Community’s Police Advisory Committee’s recommendations will continue to inform the City of Tacoma’s ongoing work.

Our new police contract includes two notable elements that have established Tacoma as a leader in police accountability.

• If an officer is charged with a felony crime, the Chief of Police will now be required to place that officer on unpaid leave.  
• The Chief of Police now has the flexibility to complete an internal investigation while a criminal investigation is ongoing. An internal investigation includes actions such as conducting officer interviews, completing internal investigations and fact-finding, and determining if a policy violation occurred which would warrant discipline.

The City of Tacoma has made good progress toward building a more transparent and accountable Tacoma Police Department. The Tacoma Police Department is working to establish a home for more detailed information, as well as any updates as needed, on its webpage. As soon as a hyperlink becomes available, it will be posted here as well.