CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to the Seattle whistleblower protection code; expanding the definition of "report" in the City of Seattle's whistleblower protection ordinance to include reporting to the Office of Inspector General for Public Safety; amending Section 4.20.805 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
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WHEREAS, in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, and 2013, the City Council has recognized the important public policy inherently expressed by the City's whistleblower protection provisions in Subchapter III of Seattle Municipal Code Chapter 4.20; and
WHEREAS, it is in the public interest to encourage public employees to report instances of improper governmental action in order to give the governmental entity the opportunity to correct improper governmental actions; and
WHEREAS, the most effective way to encourage public employees to report improper governmental action is to provide an effective whistleblower protection program that includes a clear reporting process and effective protection from retaliation; and
WHEREAS, in 2017 the City created the Office of Inspector General for Public Safety (OIG) as part of the police accountability ordinance, Ordinance 125315, and therein charged that office with helping to "ensure the fairness and integrity of the police system as a whole in its delivery of law enforcement services by providing civilian auditing of the management, practices, and policies of SPD and OPA and oversee ongoing fidelity to organizational reforms implemented pursuant to the goals of the 2012 federal Consent Decree in United States of America v. City of Seattle, 12 Civ. 1282 (JLR)" for "ensuring constitutional, accountable, effective, and respectful policing" (Ord. 125315, 3.29.010.B); and
WHEREAS, OIG is also authorized under the accountability ordinance to "conduct audits and reviews for any areas that may (a) involve potential conflicts of interest; (b) involve possibl...
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