Bloglander

Spokane County Commissioners hired Greg Conner to lead the sheriff's Office of Professional Standards, the internal investigative arm of the department. The commissioners voted unanimously for the hire this afternoon.

Conner, who recently retired as an undersheriff for the county, will be hired on through a contract as a consultant, which means he won't receive medical or retirement benefits.

According to Lt. Gary Smith, who currently leads the office, Conner will "manage and oversee all the internal affairs functions of the department," including allegations against commissioned officers and non-commissioned personnel, such as those that work at Geiger and the jail. Conner will also deal with public disclosure requests, civil lawsuits and risk management requests.

Conner left his job at the Sheriff's Office July 1 and, according to a report in the Spokesman, will only work 24 hours a week.

Smith just took over the office on May 1, from Lt. Earl Howerton. When Conner starts, Smith will be placed in the patrol division.

Conner set up the Office of Professional Standards in 1996 and ran it for more than a decade.