cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/31043595

The Office of Independent Investigations is a state cabinet-level office tasked with reviewing law enforcement’s use of deadly force. The agency was activated on Dec. 1 and was notified by the Vancouver Police Department about Gunderson’s killing at 11:31 p.m. on Dec. 4. The first OII investigators arrived at the scene shortly after midnight, with 15 ultimately joining the initial response.

But OII isn’t yet responding to police killings in most of the state. Instead, the agency that’s been four years in the making is rolling out in phases.

Having broken up Washington into six regions, OII will, for now, solely respond to killings in Region 1, stretching from the state’s southwestern border with Oregon to the northernmost tip of the Olympic Peninsula. The split is based on the historical frequency of police killings. Region 2 covers Pierce County and Region 3 covers King County.