SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5552

BYSenate Committee on Governmental Operations (originally sponsored by Senators Bailey, Bender, Nelson and Johnson)

Providing standards for appointment of chief law enforcement officers.

Senate Committee on Governmental Operations

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 24, 1987; March 4, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5552 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Halsan, Chairman; Garrett, Vice Chairman; DeJarnatt, Talmadge, Zimmerman.

Senate Staff:Sam Thompson (786-7754); Eugene Green (786-7405)

                  March 13, 1987

AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 12, 1987

BACKGROUND:

All full-time law enforcement employees in cities and towns must complete a course in basic law enforcement.  The course, sponsored or conducted by the Criminal Justice Training Commission, is 440 hours of instruction.  It must be completed within the initial 15 months of law enforcement employment.

In certain cases, a certificate of equivalent basic training may be obtained from the Commission.  In other cases, the training requirement may be waived.

Completion of the course in basic law enforcement is not a prerequisite to appointment.  Presently, the only preappointment requirements of a city or town's chief law enforcement officer are those applying to any civil service position.  Applicants must be U.S. citizens who can read and write English.  They must also be of an age suitable for the position applied for, in good health, of good moral character, and of temperate and industrious habits.

The growing complexity of law enforcement has led to the suggestion that applicants for chief law enforcement officer be subject to preappointment requirements relating to training and experience.

SUMMARY:

The Legislature finds that the increasing complexity of law enforcement requires minimum qualifications for candidates for chief law enforcement officer in cities and towns.

Requirements for appointment include completion of at least two years of regular full-time commissioned law enforcement employment involving enforcement responsibilities with a government law enforcement agency.  An applicant must have been certified as a regular and commissioned enforcement officer, having met the state's basic training requirement or its equivalency.  Other requirements:  U.S. citizenship; a high school or general equivalency diploma; no convictions for felonies; no convictions for gross misdemeanors or crimes involving moral turpitude within five years of the date of application; and a general discharge under honorable conditions for any military service.  Applicants must provide a sworn statement that they meet these requirements.

Prior to appointment, the appointing agency must complete a thorough background investigation of a candidate according to standards set by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Bob Kane, Chief of Police, Stanwood; Jim Palmer, Chief of Police, Brier; Mike Redman, Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys