PORT ANGELES – Local law enforcement leaders are expressing concerns about a series of proposed bills on “police reform” that are working through the legislature.
Ten pieces of legislation added this session would address law enforcement operations.
In one case, use of police dogs to apprehend suspects would be banned. Others would essentially eliminate police pursuits.
Port Angeles Police Chief Brian Smith says he’s not opposed to police reform, but the ideas seem to be throwing agencies that area already reformed and accredited in with others that aren’t.
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“I believe that Clallam County and our police departments here and sheriff’s departments, are best practice agencies. And I don’t think any of this is being directed at us. So another challenge is to separate ourselves from whatever this effort is out there and what we do with accreditation. I think much of Washington law enforcement is that way, in terms of wanting to do things better and improve. But what we’re seeing is the speed of this stuff and the detail.”
Port Angeles Police and Clallam County Sheriff’s Office are accredited, meaning they’ve undergone stringent review and incorporated reforms and best practices.
But, Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict says he has concerns about some of the policy changes that would be posed on law enforcement.
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“One way of looking at the changes is it would largely remove the autonomy and the authority of local citizens to either select their sheriff, or have someone run the sheriff’s office, as well as the local police departments.”
Benedict was referring to one bill that would set up unelected boards with unilateral authority over investigations into police conduct and operations.
One of the bills, House Bill 1054, that would eliminate engagement of suspects with police dogs has passed out of committee and could soon be headed to the house floor for a vote.