OLYMPIA, Wash – A bill, sitting in a Washington State House and Senate committee, could change the entire landscape of the election process for county sheriffs and the appointments of police chiefs.
House Bill 2027 and Senate Bill 5905 would allow the state to decertify a sheriff or police chief at any given time.
The bill would require sheriffs and police chiefs to go through a background check and comply with certification.
At any point, they could be decertified from an election or appointment.
Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels speaking out against the legislation.
Then the citizens who have elected me have lost their voice. That’s what it means to this community,” Sheriff Nowels said.
This bill prompting that response from Spokane County Sheriff Nowels and this letter from the Washington State Sheriffs’ Association, calling it “unconstitutional” and “politically dangerous.”
“I just think it’s dismissive of what our founding fathers put in place. My personal opinion is that they’re violating their oath of office by penning legislation and voting for legislation that is blatantly unconstitutional,” Sheriff Nowels said.
NonStop Local reached out to press secretaries of the house sponsors, but no representatives could comment before deadline. Juan Peralez with Uniting law enforcement and communities spoke before the house committee.
“This bill will go a ways in changing the culture of policing. We need people that are certified to do the job that are professionals in a trained way that is not out there doing what they want to do as officers,” Peralez said.
The bill would allow the Criminal Justice Training Commission, who’s appointed by the governor, to decertify a sheriff or police chief at any given moment.
“It is 100% an attempt to control what goes on in local government,” Sheriff Nowels said.
Authorities would have to get a background check before a sheriff files for candidacy or a police chief is appointed.
“And it drives for really high-quality public safety in our communities. This is about good governance,” Leslie Cushman with the Washington Coalition for Police Accountability said.
If you ask Sheriff Nowels though, he’ll tell you that this is not good governance.
“This is an attempt by one group to take control over another. You can look at who sponsored this bill. There are not centrists, these are not moderates from either side of the party, these are very very hard left progressive people, who are going after the constitution of the United States,” Sheriff Nowels said.
One of the sponsors is Representative Timm Ormsby of Spokane, whom Sheriff Nowels is encouraging you to contact if you’re concerned about this legislation.
“If they’re going to do this elected sheriffs, what other elected officials are they going to do this to next to where there is only one person who has the power,” Sheriff Nowels said.
Here is the letter from the Washington State Sheriffs’ Association:
