Principles for Community Trust

Adopted January 15, 2019. Revised November 16, 2022. Revised November 12, 2025.

WASPC advocates for policies and systems to promote trustworthy, credible, well-resourced systems to uphold the rule of law, which should be consistently and fairly applied by supported professionals doing the job the right way. Communities and businesses cannot thrive without public safety and the knowledge that criminals will be held accountable by professionals doing the job the right way. 

  • Perceptions of Law Enforcement: Law enforcement remains one of the most respected professions in Washington. Ensuring that law enforcement is worthy of the public’s trust is top priority for WASPC. We take concerns about police interactions with the community seriously and continuously work to improve our policies, training, culture and transparency. There is a lack of understanding that the men and women who swear an oath to uphold public safety are required to face violent and chaotic situations. We accept that responsibility while we also ask individuals to take responsibility for their own actions, for policy makers and elected officials to bring our communities together and for all of us to work together for common solutions.

  • Rule of Law: WASPC strongly urges elected policy makers to create laws that are clear, supported, and can be consistently enforced. Disagreements or different applications of laws based on political expediency or policy makers’ unwillingness to make difficult decisions leads to reduced trust in the rule of law and is harmful to public safety and public trust.

  • Deadly Force: We will continue to work to improve training, focus on de-escalation, and provide transparency. We also expect the community to take responsibility for supporting law enforcement in the split-second decisions required, and to reinforce that reducing officer-involved deadly force incidents will be enhanced by not attacking or fighting with law enforcement. De-escalation is for everyone. We strongly support the following “Tips for Safety” from the Washington State American Civil Liberties Union 4 (ACLU)1: 
STAY CALM AND STAY PUT. Don’t run or suddenly move.
KEEP YOUR HANDS where the officer can see them and free of any objects if possible.
NEVER TOUCH any police officer. 
FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS. You can always make a complaint later if you feel your rights were violated. 

  • Criminal Justice Reform: WASPC acknowledges that implicit and institutional bias and discrimination exist in all aspects of society: criminal justice, education, housing, health care, finance, and more. We will work in concert with policy makers and others to make systemic improvements to understand, reduce and control the implicit and institutional biases and barriers that inhibit every person’s success. Reform in the criminal justice system should be based on public safety outcomes and should not ignore concern for law enforcement, victims of crime, and justice. Assisting individuals with re-entry, providing necessary resources to break the cycle of offending, behavioral health and substance use disorder, and reducing recidivism is good for public safety. Achievement of these goals are worth our state’s investment of time, money, and resources.

  • Accountability: We advocate for ensuring that public safety and victims of crime are front and center when considering changes to policy. According to the WA Department of Corrections, the number of persons incarcerated in the state’s prisons has been reduced by 25% in the last six years, while the capacity of the system has been reduced 8% while the population has grown 7%. 85% of persons in our state prisons have been sentenced for violent crimes2. WASPC believes that releasing offenders without first establishing alternative infrastructure and ensuring public safety provides the worst of both worlds; less public safety, more repeat offenders, and fewer resources to break the cycle. Increased accountability including incarceration is an important part of public safety.

  • Justice for Victims: WASPC supports public safety policy that provides justice to victims of crime. We believe public safety is a core function of government, and the men and women of law enforcement need to have the tools to provide justice for victims.

  • Behavioral Health & Substance Use Disorder: WASPC strongly urges our policy makers to fund and support a robust, “wrap-around’ system for those with unmet behavioral health needs. This system is underfunded, understaffed and does not have the capacity to effectively replace criminal justice responses at this time, and the system should be in place before removing law enforcement responses. WASPC does not believe that further placement into the community and overall reductions of institutions for those with most serious illnesses is good policy. Placing people with serious health issues out onto the street is not compassionate and can result in increased calls for service, and potential violent interactions with the public and law enforcement. WASPC believes there is a positive role for incentivized treatment through potential criminal sanctions.  

  • Homelessness: WASPC supports a comprehensive approach to homelessness. There are many complex dynamics that contribute to the issue. Criminal transients and those who willingly commit crimes should be prosecuted within the law. They are not in the same category as those experiencing homelessness, including those with behavioral health problems and addictions, who need and will accept help. We urge policy makers to delineate between these two groups and solutions should recognize their differences.

  • Law Enforcement and Corrections Training: Washington should fully fund the law enforcement and corrections officer academies and mandated continuing training. Funding of law enforcement training is a state responsibility.

  • Public Safety Funding and Staffing: Public safety is a core function of government and should be funded that way. According to the FBI data, Washington ranks last in the nation in law enforcement officers per capita3. More officers prevents crime, promotes de-escalation, enhances accountability through proper supervision and training, and serves victims by providing the response and follow up they deserve.

  • Illicit Drug Trafficking Enforcement: The harm and violence related to illicit drug trafficking is both a public health and public safety crisis. WASPC supports responses that include criminal accountability, reducing supply, and aggressive enforcement against organized criminal enterprises.

  • Use of Data: WASPC supports making policy decisions based on data that is comprehensive, objective, and credible. Policy decisions should not use selective data which is misleading or serves a political narrative. 
  1. Wallet Card: Your Rights with the Police - ACLU of Washington (Accessed 10/6/25)
  2. Data Analytics | Washington State Department of Corrections
  3. Table 77 in the "Law Enforcement Employees Data" collection