HomeMy WebLinkAboutVIIT Valley Independent Investigation Team Agreements - signedVALLEY INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION TEAM AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into on August 19, 2020, by and between the Police Departments
of Auburn, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Renton, and Tukwila, and the Port of Seattle.
RECITALS
Many years ago, the Police Departments of Auburn, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Renton, and Tukwila,
and the Port of Seattle (hereinafter "Member Agencies") created the Valley Investigations Team, now
referred to as the Valley Independent Investigations Team ("VIIT"). VIIT was formed to provide a
mechanism whereby South King County police agencies would not investigate their own officers' uses of
deadly force.
VIIT established a team of experienced and highly qualified leadership, detectives, and others from each
Member Agency to respond to incidents in which peace officers of Member Agencies use deadly force that
results in death, serious bodily harm, or great bodily harm.
Years later, in 2019, the state of Washington enacted RCW 10.114.011. This statute requires that whenever
the use of deadly force by a peace officer results in death, substantial bodily harm, or great bodily harm, an
Independent investigation must be completed to inform any determination of whether the use of deadly
force meets the good faith standard established in Washington law. The statute also tasked Washington's
Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) to establish criteria for independent investigations.
Earlier this year, the CJTC issued the criteria for independent investigations, which is set forth in Chapter
139-12 of the Washington Administrative Code. Chapter 139-12 WAC now requires agencies to establish
independent investigation teams, much like VIIT, and that law enforcement agencies enter into a written
agreement to investigate police uses of deadly force incidents in their geographical region.
NOW, THEREFORE, and in accordance with Chapter 139-12, the Member Agencies mutually agree as
follows:
AGREEMENT
1. AGREEMENT. Each Member Agency agrees and commits to support and participate in VIIT for the
purposes of investigating uses of deadly force by their respective peace officers that result in death, serious
bodily harm, or great bodily injury. In recognition that each incident of deadly force that arises is unique,
nothing in this Agreement shall limit a Member Agency from utilizing a different agency for the purposes
of conducting an independent investigation of a use of deadly force by one of its peace officers.
This Agreement constitutes the written agreement among Member Agencies to satisfy the requirement of
Chapter 139-12 WAC and shall also serve as a request for assistance pursuant to a mutual law enforcement
assistance agreement in accordance with Chapter 10.93 RCW.
2. TERM. This Agreement shall stay in effect until such time as the Member Agencies terminate the
VIIT; provided, individual agencies may withdraw from VIIT with reasonable notice, and the remaining VIIT
Member Agencies will continue to operate under this Agreement until such time as only one Member
Valley Independent Investigations Team
Agency remains. The addition of a police agency to VIIT, or the change in name of VIIT shall not require a
new agreement among Member Agencies.
3. ORGANIZATIONAL AND OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES. The Member Agency Chiefs shall govern the
organization and operations of VIIT, and to that end, have formed an Executive Board consisting of the
Chief of each Member Agency. Each Chief shall have a vote in determining the organization and operation
of VITT. The Executive Board has determined that VIIT will be organized and operated in accordance with
Organizational and Operational Guidelines which have been adopted by the Executive Board. The
Organizational and Operational Guidelines may be amended from time -to -time by the Executive Board.
By signing below, the signor certifies that he or she has the authority to sign this Agreement on
behalf of his or her Police Department, and his or her respective Police Department agrees to the terms of
tffis Agreement.
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Chikf, Cky'of Auburn Date Chief, City of Des Moines Date
Print Nam /f!jj' -0 A&QL Print Name:
Chief, City of Federal Way Date
Print Name:
Chief, City of Renton Date
Print Name:
Chief, Port of Seattle
Print Name:
Date
Chief, City of Kent
Print Name:
Chief, City of Tukwila
Print Name:
Date
Date
2 Valley Independent Investigations Team
VALLEY INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION TEAM AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into on August 19, 2020, by and between the Police
Departments of Auburn, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Renton, and Tukwila, and the Port of Seattle.
RFrITAI C
Many years ago, the Police Departments of Auburn, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Renton, and
Tukwila, and the Port of Seattle (hereinafter "Member Agencies") created the Valley Investigations Team,
now referred to as the Valley Independent Investigations Team ("VIIT"). VIIT was formed to provide a
mechanism whereby South King County police agencies would not investigate their own officers' uses of
deadly force.
VIIT established a team of experienced and highly qualified leadership, detectives, and others from each
Member Agency to respond to incidents in which peace officers of Member Agencies use deadly force
that results in death, serious bodily harm, or great bodily harm.
Years later, in 2019, the state of Washington enacted RCW 10.114.011. This statute requires that
whenever the use of deadly force by a peace officer results in death, substantial bodily harm, or great
bodily harm, an independent investigation must be completed to inform any determination of whether
the use of deadly force meets the good faith standard established in Washington law. The statute also
tasked Washington's Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) to establish criteria for independent
investigations.
Earlier this year, the CJTC issued the criteria for independent investigations, which is set forth in Chapter
139-12 of the Washington Administrative Code. Chapter 139-12 WAC now requires agencies to establish
independent investigation teams, much like VIIT, and that law enforcement agencies enter into a written
agreement to investigate police uses of deadly force incidents in their geographical region.
NOW, THEREFORE, and in accordance with Chapter 139-12, the Member Agencies mutually agree as
follows:
Ar.RFFMFNT
1. AGREEMENT. Each Member Agency agrees and commits to support and participate in VIIT for the
purposes of investigating uses of deadly force by their respective peace officers that result in death,
serious bodily harm, or great bodily injury. In recognition that each incident of deadly force that arises is
unique, nothing in this Agreement shall limit a Member Agency from utilizing a different agency for the
purposes of conducting an independent investigation of a use of deadly force by one of its peace officers.
This Agreement constitutes the written agreement among Member Agencies to satisfy the requirement
of Chapter 139-12 WAC and shall also serve as a request for assistance pursuant to a mutual law
enforcement assistance agreement in accordance with Chapter 10.93 RCW.
2. TERM. This Agreement shall stay in effect until such time as the Member Agencies terminate the
VIIT; provided, individual agencies may withdraw from VIIT with reasonable notice, and the remaining
VIIT Member Agencies will continue to operate under this Agreement until such time as only one
Valley Independent Investigations Team