Office of Police Accountability Review Board Subject Files, 2000-2013

The Office of Professional Accountability Review Board (OPARB) was created in 1999 as an independent office within the Seattle Police Department by Ordinance 119825. The intent was to ensure that Seattle police abide by the the laws, ethics, and policies governing their actions. Three members were elected by City Council for two years; these elected members must include a lawyer, an individual with criminal justice experience, and one person with a history of community organizing and outreach. The Board held meetings four times a month to review complaint records, internal investigations, and to answer civilian questions concerning police accountability. Due to new police accountability legislation in 2017, the Office of Professional Accountability Review Board was disbanded and reformed as two separate divisions: the Office of Police Accountability and the Community Police Commission.