Natural Resource Police Officer (NRPO)
State of Washington
FreshPosted Feb 26
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Posted: February 26, 2026 (1 day ago)
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Deputy Police Ombuds
City of Spokane
Office of Police Ombudsman
Location
Spokane, Washington, 99201
Salary
$88,656.48 - $124,695.36
per year
Type
Closes
May 1, 2026
SES Pay Grade
Base salary range: $147,649 - $221,900
Typical requirements: Executive-level leadership experience. Senior executive qualifications required.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
Job Description
Summary
The Deputy Police Ombuds assists the director in running an independent office that reviews complaints against police officers in Spokane, ensuring investigations are fair and timely while promoting accountability and public trust.
This role involves overseeing daily operations, analyzing complaint patterns, preparing reports, and stepping in for the director when needed.
It's a good fit for someone with experience in investigations, strong organizational skills, and a commitment to impartial oversight of law enforcement.
Key Requirements
- Knowledge of police oversight and accountability principles
- Understanding of police procedures, constitutional policing, and applicable laws
- Experience in conducting fair, thorough, and timely investigations of complaints
- Skills in supervision, including program planning, staff direction, and performance evaluations
- Ability to prepare reports, identify trends in citizen complaints, and ensure confidentiality
- Familiarity with fiscal budgeting processes
Full Job Description
The City of Spokane invites applicants for the position of
Deputy Police Omsbuds
DEPARTMENT PURPOSE
Provide independent civilian oversight for Spokane Police Department (SPD) conduct-related matters. The Office of the Police Ombuds (OPO) exists to promote public confidence in the professionalism and accountability of the members of SPD by providing an independent review of police actions, thoughtful policy recommendations, and ongoing community outreach. The Police Ombuds and any employee of the OPO must, at all times, be entirely independent. Any findings, recommendations, reports, and requests made by the OPO must reflect the independent views of the OPO.
POSITION PURPOSE
Act as assistant director and support the OPO’s mission by overseeing the operations of the department as well as assisting in providing quality investigations and making effective recommendations regarding policies and procedures.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED
Employee reports to the Police Ombuds. Has staff responsibilities for program planning and coordination. Assists in directing the activities of a department. May lead or provide work direction to office staff. Prioritizes and assigns work as well as conducts performance evaluations.
Requirements
The following responsibilities and requirements are functions the individual who holds or desires the position must be able to perform unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Identify patterns and trends in citizen complaints
- Ensure compliance with confidentiality agreements
- Serve as the Police Ombuds in their absence
- Ensure investigations of complaints against police officers are accomplished in a timely, fair, and thorough manner
- Assist in the preparation of monthly reports presented jointly to the Commission, the Mayor, the Police Chief, and the Public Safety Committee regarding the activities of the OPO
- Manage use of force dashboards program
- Observe police training
- Oversee internship program
- Primarily responsible for the preparation of an annual report presented to the City Council
- Attend administrative interviews on complaints
- Review completed investigation files to determine if the investigation was timely, thorough, and objective
- Oversee mediation program
- Conduct a review of all information that is relevant to a complaint
- Assist in overseeing all aspects of the complaint process from preliminary investigations through complaint resolution and reporting ensuring compliance with established timelines
- Review all aspects of cases, prepare feedback and attend administrative review boards for use of force, collisions, and pursuits as a participating observer
- Primarily responsible for identifying cases for closing reports, briefing the Ombuds, reviewing investigations, conducting research, and writing closing reports
- A more detailed description of the Police Ombudsman position is available in Spokane Municipal Code (SMC) Section 04.32
Receive complaints from any complaining party, including citizens or employees of the Police Department.
Conduct interviews with all necessary parties and investigate any matter necessary to fulfill the duties of the OPO in accordance with Spokane Municipal Code and applicable collective bargaining agreements
REQUIREMENTS
Knowledge of:
Knowledge of:
- Fiscal budgeting process
- Police oversight and accountability principals
- Police procedures, constitutional policing and applicable laws
- Principals of supervision, training, and performance feedback
Ability to:
- Identify problems, determine accuracy and relevance of information, use sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and make recommendations
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with public officials, co-workers, representatives of public and private agencies, and the general public
- Communicate with people of diverse backgrounds and interests in often difficult and stressful circumstances utilizing a high degree of tact and discretion
- Utilize the principles and practices of effective and persuasive communication to elicit information, negotiate problem resolution, influence and solicit cooperation, and seek and obtain support for various programs or policies
- Effectively lead and manage staff by developing and directing people
- Adapt to other duties as assigned and prioritize, organize, and plan work as needed to meet objectives
- Work independently with little to no supervision or support
Skill in:
- Written and verbal communication
- Providing strategic and objective analysis in areas of uncertainty where conflict and differences of opinion may arise
- Navigating political environment in complex and often controversial environments
Qualifications
The minimum qualifications for this position are defined in Spokane Municipal Code (SMC) Section 04.32.060. To serve as the Police Ombuds applicants must fulfill the following requirements:
A. Legal, investigative, or prosecutorial experience within the five (5) years prior to appointment
B. Recent or current familiarity with police procedures
C. Demonstrated ability to review investigations to ensure they are thorough and unbiased;
D. Successful completion of a criminal background investigation consistent with the requirements to become employed as a Spokane police officer
E. Demonstrated ability to work with confidential information
F. Record of community involvement
G. Ability to build working relationships with and communicate effectively with diverse groups
H. Established reputation for even-handedness in dealing with both complainants and the regulated parties and
I. Be a resident of Spokane County or become a resident of Spokane County within six (6) months of the beginning of the appointment term and maintain such residency during the remainder of the term
Any combination equivalent to the experience and education that would likely provide the relevant knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. Generally, this will include:
Education:
- Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in a closely related field. A Juris Doctorate is preferred, but experience may be substituted for education.
Licenses and Certifications:
- Valid driver's license or otherwise demonstrated ability to get to and from multiple work locations as required
Experience:
- Five (5) years of progressively responsible leadership experience and performing complex investigations or reviews.
- Five (5) years of experience in civilian oversight desired.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is conducted primarily in an office setting and may require frequent visits to external locations. It involves frequent attendance at meetings to include some irregular hours and potentially out-of-town travel. Incumbents in this classification are expected to communicate verbally, in person, via virtual meetings, and by telephone. A computer terminal is used and requires the use of repetitive arm and hand movements.
BEHAVIORAL STANDARDS
As an exempt employee of the City of Spokane, the Deputy Police Ombuds is subject to the City’s Code of Ethics set forth in Chapter 1.04A of the Spokane Municipal Code. As such, “it is the policy of the City of Spokane to uphold, promote, and demand the highest standards of ethics from all of its employees who shall maintain the utmost standards of responsibility, trustworthiness, integrity, truthfulness, honesty and fairness in carrying out their public duties, avoid any improprieties in their roles as a public servant including the appearance of impropriety, and never use their City position, authority or resources for personal gain.
EEO STATEMENT
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity within our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, familial status, genetic information, veteran/military status, or disability status.
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