Washington State Legislative Building, from a distance

Office of Independent Investigations Advisory Board

The Office of the Independent Investigations (OII) is a new office created to conduct independent, unbiased, competent and thorough investigations of cases involving police use of deadly force. Governor Jay Inslee requested the creation of the new office based on recommendations from his 2020 task force convened following the deaths of George Floyd and Manuel Ellis.

The OII Advisory Board comprises 11 members appointed by the governor, and will provide advice and input to the OII Director on the creation and operation of the office. The OII Advisory Board does not determine which cases OII will investigate, conduct investigations, nor make any decisions on cases investigated by the OII.

Currently the OII Director has not yet been appointed and a national search is underway to identify candidates for the position.

Questions or communications to or regarding the OII Advisory Board members can be sent to AdvisoryBoard@oii.wa.gov or mailed to P.O. Box 40270, Olympia, WA 98504.

Founding OII Advisory Board members

The following founding OII Advisory Board Members were appointed by Governor Inslee on November 15, 2021:

    • Monica Alexander, Pierce County, Member of the Criminal Justice Training Commission
    • Breean Beggs, Spokane County, Defense Attorney
    • Eric Drever (co-chair), King County, Police Chief who is also the member of an independent investigations team
    • Norma Gallegos, Chelan County, General Public - not current or former law enforcement
    • Anthony Golik, Clark County, Prosecuting Attorney
    • Philip Harju, Thurston County, Tribal Member - Representing a federally recognized tribe in Washington (Cowlitz), who is not current or former law enforcement
    • Monisha Harrell, Snohomish County, General Public - not current or former law enforcement
    • Susie Kroll, Snohomish County, licensed mental health professional   
    • Faapouaita Leapai, King County, General Public - not current or former law enforcement
    • James Schrimpsher, King County, Representative of a police officer labor association with experience in homicide investigations
    • Fred Thomas (co-chair), Pierce County, General Public - Family impacted by an incident under the jurisdiction of the office