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New report: $1 million in excessive overtime at SPD

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SEATTLE, Wash. — A new city watchdog report found a million dollars in excessive overtime at the Seattle Police Department.

Acting on a tip, the Office of Professional Accountability investigation focused on SPD's training unit, known as the Education and Training Section, or ETS.
According to the report released Tuesday, investigators found ETS supervisors "failed to keep overtime spending within budget, did not have tight supervisory controls and did not keep accurate records."
The report found the majority of overtime spending in 2013 was related to drafting curriculum for the department's reform initiative, known as 20/20.
The report found "the money spent produced little of value" and that much of the training curriculum developed for 20/20 was never delivered.
The report said one training employee was paid for 31.5 hours of overtime in a single day and that the employee's supervisor approved the timesheet.
The report found some officers earned overtime and used leave on the same day, and some trainers were scheduled to start work four hours before training would begin, virtually guaranteeing overtime.
The OPA investigation highlighted problems at ETS in 2013 and indicates an improvement in the unit in 2014, something OPA director Pierce Murphy called "heartening."
In a statement, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray said, "In light of this report, I have directed the chief to again review ETS management structure, fiscal accountability measures and program outcomes."
KIRO 7 requested an interview with SPD Chief Kathleen O'Toole.
Instead, the department sent a statement saying O'Toole has requested a city audit of the training division and overtime practices.
Council member Nick Licata told KIRO 7, "I think that taxpayers should be upset knowing (officers) had no constraint on their overtime."
"It's time to clean house in the police department's ability to manage itself," Licata said. "I'm so glad we have a new police chief."
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