Some Washington State leaders are hoping to control local elected Sheriffs with a new bill. House Bill 2387 adds language to the current law to say that any sheriff who is not a “certified peace officer” would not have the power to perform many law enforcement actions. To be a certified peace officer, a sheriff must abide by the standards and processes created by a state commission that is almost entirely appointed by the Governor.
The bill continues to say that if a sheriff’s conduct, according to those standards, causes the revocation of certification, a recall process will be started without the need to gather signatures from the people who elected him/her.
The bill will have a public hearing tomorrow (Tues) in the session that starts at 4pm.
Sponsors are calling it the “sheriffs accountability to the voters act”.
