Terrence Carroll appointed interim OPA Auditor
Mayor McGinn names retired judge to fill vacancy

SEATTLE — Mayor Mike McGinn announced today that retired Judge Terrence Carroll will serve as interim Auditor for the Office of Professional Accountability (OPA), which provides civilian oversight to the Seattle Police Department's internal investigation process. The OPA includes a civilian director, who reports to the police chief, and an auditor, who reports to the Mayor and the City Council.

Judge Michael Spearman was appointed to a three-year term as OPA Auditor beginning in May 2009, but resigned the position last month following his appointment to the State Court of Appeals.

Judge Carroll previously served as the Internal Investigations Auditor for the Seattle Police Department from 1992 to 2003. In 2007, he chaired the Police Accountability Review Panel, which recommended a number of changes to the Department’s civilian oversight structure. He is a board member on the Dispute Resolution Center for King County, and a Distinguished Jurist in Residence at Seattle University School of Law, where he teaches a course on Police, Law and Community.

"Civilian oversight is an important element in the city's internal investigation process, and I'm pleased to have Judge Carroll's insights and experience as interim auditor," Mayor McGinn said.

"Judge Carroll is well respected in our community and has extensive experience with police oversight, procedures and operations. He was our city's first civilian auditor of police internal investigations in the 1990s. His engagement will provide the community with assurance that all investigations will be rigorous, thorough and fair," said Councilmember Tim Burgess, chair of the Council's Public Safety and Education Committee.

Judge Carroll will serve until a permanent appointment is offered by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council in accordance with Seattle Municipal Code § 3.28.850.

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Office of the Mayor