SPOKANE—Spokane’s new Use of Force Commission is scheduled to meet next week for the first time.
The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 29, in the city council chambers. The meeting is open to the public.
Mayor David Condon called for the independent commission to restore public trust in the police department.
Among other things, the Use of Force Commission will review the Spokane Police Department’s use of force policy and review and recommend improvement to how the City engages with the citizenry around use of force, especially when such force is challenged as being excessive.
The commission will determine the specifics of what it will include in its review and its finding and recommendations. The Commission is slated to conclude its work by June.
The members of the Commission include:
• Chair, Earl “Marty” Martin, Executive Vice President and former Law School Dean at Gonzaga University.
• Commission Vice Chair, William D. Hyslop, a principal at Lukins & Annis PS law firm and a former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
• Chief Justice (retired) Gerry L. Alexander, Washington State Supreme Court.
• Ivan Bush, Equal Opportunity Officer, Spokane Public Schools.
• Susan Hammond, Director of Outpatient and Psychology Services, Spokane Mental Health.
The establishment of the Use of Force Commission was one of the actions outlined by Mayor Condon at a news conference on Jan. 3 and is part of the Mayor’s 100-Day Action Plan.
