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Ombudsman report finds March takedown outside policy; commission adopts ten recommendations
Summary
A Spokane use-of-force closing report concluded an officer's takedown in March 2024 was outside department policy and urged changes to review-board procedures, supervisor responsibilities and training. The commission accepted the report’s ten recommendations and SPD leaders described immediate steps and training adjustments.
The Office of Police Ombudsman presented a closing report on an officer-involved takedown that occurred in March 2024 and concluded the action was outside Spokane Police Department policy; the commission voted to accept the report’s ten recommendations.
"The officer picks up the subject by their waistband...and then slams them onto the ground," the report presenter said while describing cell-phone video from a neighbor that captured the moment force was used. The subject sustained an elbow injury and later sought medical care; the report noted the injury and that the incident led to review-board proceedings.
The report said the takedown involved an "exceptional technique" not in SPD's defensive-tactics manual and raised concerns about the review-board process, timeliness of reviews, supervisor accountability, and how training failures are characterized. The ombudsman's findings criticized what it described as a reluctance in the chain of command to find policy violations and recommended clearer definitions of the board’s purpose, annual training for review-board members, explicit supervisor responsibilities, tighter timelines for reviews, and other procedural changes.
Commissioners discussed the report at length. Commissioner Amy McCollum called the incident troubling and said the citizen video was essential: "That could have been me," she said, summarizing why the public should record interactions when safe to do so.
SPD Lieutenant Jake Jensen, the department’s lead defensive-tactics instructor, attended and described steps the department is taking since the incident. Jensen said the department is revising defensive-tactics training and pre-field training for laterals, increasing supervisory training on reviews, and consulting with the Criminal Justice Training Commission on technique standards. "If I can train...officers more, especially in defensive tactics use of force, and yes, properly, then hopefully the performance will increase," Jensen said.
The commission voted to accept all ten recommendations in the ombudsman’s closing report (motion moved and seconded on the record). The roll call was recorded as ayes and the chair declared the motion passed.
Why this matters: The report addresses policy, training and accountability gaps that affect how Spokane Police Department supervisors review officer conduct and how the department adapts training to prevent injuries. The commission’s acceptance signals formal oversight urging changes and follow-up.
Votes at a glance - Motion: Accept the ten recommendations and closing report F-20419; mover: not specified in the record; second: not specified; outcome: approved (ayes recorded during open vote). - Consent agenda (agenda and minutes from Dec. 3, 2024): approved by voice vote at the start of the meeting.
Steps reported by SPD and next steps: SPD leaders told commissioners they have held executive-level briefings, reassigned review-board membership, begun mentor-based feedback to supervisors, are reworking defensive-tactics materials and pre-field training for laterals, and scheduled follow-up training and reviews. The commission asked for continuing updates and indicated it would monitor whether the department implements the recommended changes.
