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Police ombuds reports rise in community contacts, flags police review-board practices
Summary
The city police ombuds reported a sharp increase in public contacts in 2024, delivered three closing reports that included recommendations on canine deployments, body-worn-camera audio, charging decisions and review-board membership and conduct.
Bart, the city police ombuds, told the Public Safety Committee on Feb. 3 that his office saw a substantial uptick in public engagement in 2024 and has made recommendations after reviewing several use-of-force and review-board cases.
The ombuds said his office recorded 3,091 community contacts in 2024, up from 1,820 the previous year, and attended 53 community meetings (roughly double 2023). He said the office generated 98 total complaints between the ombuds office and Spokane Police Department case work, referred 63 cases to outside agencies and issued three closing reports delivered in December and January.
Those closing reports addressed…
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