The Law and Justice Committee on July 29 confirmed Jonathan Deeks to the King County Community Advisory Committee on Law Enforcement Oversight, voting 4-0 to move the appointment forward to the full council.
Leah Krekel Saapi of council staff described the Community Advisory Committee on Law Enforcement Oversight (OLIO) as an 11-member body that serves as liaison to the public, advises OLIO on training, and advises the King County Sheriff and the council on equity and opportunities for improvement.
Jonathan Deeks told the committee he is a 25-year resident of Newcastle who retired from business management in 2022 and serves on nonprofit boards. He said two personal experiences motivate his interest in police oversight: he is the parent of a son on the autism spectrum and his family experienced a police killing of his brother in 1991.
Deeks said, “My interest in police oversight is rooted in two important and personal experiences,” and described the need for oversight shaped by those experiences. He said he was encouraged by recent changes giving OLIO voter‑approved investigative capability and by the inclusion of investigative procedures in the King County Police Officers Guild agreement.
Krekel Saapi and committee members noted the nomination appears consistent with county code requirements; Krekel Saapi said the appointed term is a partial term that expires March 31, 2027, and that Deeks would serve as a representative from King County sheriff contract cities.
Vice Chair Balducci and other committee members thanked Deeks for bringing lived experience to the role. The committee voted to confirm the appointment under proposed motion 2025-0170; Council members Balducci, Dombowski, Mosqueda and Chair Badon recorded “aye.” The chair said the item will be placed on the consent agenda for the Aug. 19 full council meeting.
The staff report cited the committee’s duties to advise OLIO and the sheriff’s office and to serve as a community liaison; the committee’s confirmation satisfies county code appointment requirements and releases no discretionary funding by itself.