NCJ Number
156014
Date Published
1995
Length
59 pages
Annotation
This report contains summaries of 165 citizen complaints and 14 ethics violation investigations conducted by the King County Office of Citizen Complaints (Washington State) between January 1, 1994, and December 31, 1994.
Abstract
The Office of Citizen Complaints was established by King County voters in 1968. The authority of the Office of Citizen Complaints was further expanded in 1990. Authority to investigate and enforce the Ethics Code encompassed alleged violations that involved elected officials, boards, and commissions, as well as all administrative agency employees. The mission of the Office of Citizen Complaints is to promote public confidence in King County Government by responding to citizen and ethics complaints in an impartial, efficient, and timely manner and to contribute to the improved operation of county government agencies by making recommendations based upon the results of objective complaint investigations. Each complaint handled by the Office during 1994 is summarized by county department. Closed complaints are classified into one of four categories: "resolved" (complaints reconciled); "supported" (complaints corroborated by evidence discovered during the investigation); "unsupported" (complaints were not corroborated by evidence discovered during the investigation); and "unfounded" (complaints determined to have no basis). General complaint summaries and detailed findings are presented for various county departments. Appended relevant section of King County Home Rule Charter and the King County Code 2.52 Office of Citizen Complaints