First audit of Office of Independent Investigations published

The investigation of a fatal shooting during a police response to a domestic disturbance in Centralia is the first case by the Office of Independent Investigations (OII) to be audited by the Office of the Washington State Auditor. 

This audit examined OII’s investigation into the 2025 shooting of a man by a Centralia Police Department officer. Auditors found that OII complied with most requirements designed to ensure its work is fair, thorough and transparent. However, auditors also found that OII did not follow all of its own policies related to conflict‑of‑interest disclosures. 

“Our audits are part of Washington’s robust accountability framework for police use of deadly force, like the Office of Independent Investigations itself,” said State Auditor Pat McCarthy. “We look forward to a constructive relationship with the office, providing insights that will help it improve its processes and assure the public these investigations are held to the highest standards.” 

Since 2022, the State Auditor’s Office has been systematically reviewing use of deadly force investigations and has published 131 reports. Until now, all audited investigations were conducted by regional independent investigation teams made up of local law enforcement agencies and the Washington State Patrol, which follow rules established by the state Criminal Justice Training Commission. 

The OII was created in 2021 as a civilian‑led state agency responsible for conducting fair, thorough and transparent investigations of police use of deadly force. Its duties include responding to incident scenes, conducting criminal investigations, publishing public reports and forwarding findings to local prosecutors. 

State law gives OII the authority to establish its own policies governing how investigations are conducted, including ensuring independence, interviewing involved officers and providing public updates on its work.  

OII began investigating cases in 2024 and has completed five to date. The State Auditor’s Office will compare the steps taken in OII investigations to the agency’s own policies. 

The Alecandro Castaneda case (PDF), published today, is the first OII investigation to undergo an audit. 

For more information about use of deadly force investigation audits and to view past reports, visit the State Auditor’s Office website: About Use of Deadly Force Audits. 

Media inquiries: Assistant Director of Communications Adam Wilson, Adam.Wilson@sao.wa.gov, 564-999-0799.