WASPC SEEKS FEEDBACK ON PROPOSED LAW ENFORCEMENT REFORMS

On June 25, 2020, the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) sent a letter to the Governor and each of Washington’s 147 state legislators making certain acknowledgements and commitments, and sharing 13 recommendations to improve the public service of law enforcement in Washington.

Since that time, WASPC has been working to author legislation to enact each of the 13 recommendations. While these documents are still in draft form, they do represent the most current version of each proposal.

WASPC now seeks formal feedback from legislators, stakeholders, advocates, and labor partners regarding these bill drafts.

Each of the 13 recommendations are listed below, hyperlinked to its most current bill draft.

Those interested in providing feedback regarding any of these proposals should submit their feedback to James McMahan, WASPC Policy Director, at [email protected]. Please be sure to be specific about which proposal your feedback is regarding, and be as specific as possible about what changes in the text you would recommend. Those interested in formally endorsing any of these proposals should do so via the same email address.

WASPC has conducted a series of virtual briefings to discuss each of its 13 recommendations. Each briefing lasts approximately 90-120 minutes, plus time for questions and discussions. Those interested in participating in a future virtual briefing to learn more about WASPC’s recommendations should email James McMahan, WASPC Policy Director, at [email protected].

Finally, WASPC and its members have begun to produce a series of videos in the interests of public engagement and dialogue to improve the public service of law enforcement. These videos are produced in partnership with WASPC’s #wearthebadgewa program.

Message from Valley Police Chiefs of King County from Kent TV21 on Vimeo.

WASPC Recommended Reforms

Use of Force:

#1

Standardize the use of force policies and training centered on the cornerstone principle of the sanctity of human life. De-escalation, proportionality, and the use of time, cover and distance will be emphasized, and the required training from I-940 should be accelerated. This required curriculum also includes training on implicit bias and the history of race and law enforcement.

#2
Require all law enforcement officers to intervene and report to their agency whenever another law enforcement officer uses excessive force or knowingly violates the rights of any person. Violation of this duty should be cause for discipline, up to and including termination.

Transparency and Accountability:

#3

Establish and expand wellness, resiliency and mental health support for law enforcement and corrections officers.

#4
Establish clear and meaningful support for law enforcement and corrections agencies to become accredited (undergo a Best Practice Audit) by a recognized state or national law enforcement or corrections accreditation entity.

#5
Reform the civil service system to provide greater access for more diverse candidates into the law enforcement profession and enable Sheriffs and Police Chiefs greater flexibility to hire and promote law enforcement officer who are best suited to carry out the agency’s mission.

#6
Assist law enforcement and corrections agencies to establish intervention programs to identify troubling patterns and behaviors among law enforcement and corrections officers so intervention and support can be offered in a non-disciplinary manner.

#7
Establish a monitoring and review mechanism to ensure existing requirements for independent investigations regarding the use of deadly force are followed. Additionally, explore models for creating a completely independent statewide deadly force investigative team governed by a board that includes community members.

#8

Facilitate the implementation and use of body cameras.

#9
Reform binding interest arbitration to provide greater authority for Chiefs and Sheriffs to dismiss officers who are not helpful to the agency’s mission or betray the public’s trust.

#10

Change licensure rules to provide that a law enforcement officer can lose their Peace Officer Certification for excessive use of force, showing a pattern of failing to follow public policy, and other serious breaches of the public’s trust.

#11
Require all Washington law enforcement agencies to submit data regarding the use of deadly force (creation of a statewide data base as proposed in SHB 2789 in 2020).

Defining the role of law enforcement:

#12

Partner with the Washington Commission on African American Affairs, Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, Commission on Hispanic Affairs, and the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs to build relationships and trust between law enforcement and the community.

#13

Study and establish clear expectations for state investments and expansions of programs that support social services to address mental illness, substance use, and other adverse events that are shown to increase the likelihood of future criminal justice involvement.