After careful investigation and discussion with community leaders, the King County Charter Review Commission recommended that the King County Charter be amended to provide subpoena power for the Office of Law Enforcement Oversight (OLEO). The Commission found that adding subpoena power would help strengthen police accountability and transparency. The King County Council agreed, forwarding this issue to voters. 

We urge a “yes” vote on this commonsense change to the County Charter. 

Without subpoena power, OLEO can request information from the Sheriff, but it has no ability to legally require it. Among civilian oversight agencies nationwide, the ability to issue subpoenas is commonplace, including those in both liberal and conservative-leaning areas. King County is an outlier because both the Sheriff and the union representing officers have consistently opposed this commonly accepted practice.

Given the recent officer-involved killings and the movement for Black Lives locally and nationally, the time is now to grant OLEO the sensible power it needs to effectively conduct its oversight mission.

Liz Ford, Nikkita Oliver, Rob Saka, EGFord@gmail.com

No statement submitted.

Statements in favor of and in opposition to a ballot measure are submitted by committees appointed by the jurisdiction. No persons came forward to serve on the committee and to write a statement in opposition. If you would like to be involved with a committee in the future please contact the jurisdiction.

Download full text of the resolution

Simple Majority (King County Charter, Section 800)

For questions about this measure, contact: Patrick Hamacher, Director of Council Initiatives, 
(206) 477-0880, patrick.hamacher@kingcounty.gov