The King County Council appointed Tamer Abouzeid as the new director of King County’s Office of Law Enforcement Oversight during its meeting on July 27.

Abouzeid will officially take over the position effective Sept. 20.

Abouzeid will direct the office which is responsible for overseeing independent investigations into misconduct and use of force by the King County Sheriff’s Office. The office also creates reports and advises policy for the sheriff’s office.

District 7 King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer was the only no vote.

Abouzeid currently works as an attorney at a civil rights law firm in Chicago that focuses on disrcimination and policing. Abouzeid also works as legal counsel for Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, an organization founded in 1973 to free Angela Davis and other political prisoners, according to its website.

Abouzeid previously worked for Chicago’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability, an institution similar to King County’s Office of Law Enforcement Oversight.

“Tamer Abouzeid brings the combination of experience and drive needed to rise to these challenges,”Council Chair Claudia Balducci said. “I am delighted to welcome him as our incoming Director of OLEO.”

The Office of Law Enforcement Oversight was established in 2006 by a county ordinance; it began operating in 2011. The office’s goal is to create a more accountable policing system and to build public trust.