Spokane weighs how much authority to give its police ombudsman

The City of Spokane is taking a hard look at police oversight after a major report about the conduct of the chief of police hit roadblocks in the mayor’s office.

The report examined allegations that the police chief was giving a group of downtown Spokane business owners “special access” to public records. The release of the ombudsman’s report, and recommendations, set off a firestorm at city hall with some wondering just how much authority the watchdog’s office should have.

In 2013 Spokane voters approved a measure to create the Office of Police Ombudsman. The office was designed to conduct independent investigations into complaints against the Spokane Police Department, and last December the Spokane Office of Police Ombudsman completed its first-ever investigation.

Since then, a debate has broken out over whether the office has enough authority in its charter to make meaningful investigations or recommendations when it comes to police misconduct.

Soundside spoke with Nate Sanford, a reporter for The Inlander covering city hall, about his recent story on the debate to expand the investigative authority of the ombudsman's office.