Criminal Justice Training Commission.  The Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) was established in 1974 for the primary purpose of providing basic law enforcement training, corrections training, and educational programs for criminal justice personnel, including commissioned officers, corrections officers, fire marshals, and prosecuting attorneys.

Basic law enforcement officer training is generally required of all full-time commissioned law enforcement employees employed in Washington.  The training consists of a 720-hour program covering a wide variety of subjects, including constitutional and criminal law and procedures, criminal investigation, firearms training, and communication and writing skills.  The CJTC also certifies and, when necessary, decertifies peace officers. 

Two Year Grant Program.  The CJTC must establish a law enforcement professional development outreach grant program to encourage a broader diversity of candidates from underrepresented groups and communities to seek careers in law enforcement.  The grant program expires on July 1, 2023.

Eligibility.  Law enforcement agencies are eligible to compete for grant funding no later than December 1, 2021.  Grants must be awarded to local law enforcement agencies based on locally developed proposals.  Each proposal must include a plan for encouraging persons from underrepresented groups and communities to seek careers in law enforcement.  Two or more law enforcement agencies may submit a joint grant proposal for a multijurisdictional project. 

Restrictions.  No single grant award may exceed $60,000.  At least one grant recipient should be from Eastern Washington and one grant recipient from Western Washington.

Reporting Requirements.  The CJTC must submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature on the grant program by December 1, 2022, that summarizes the grant recipients, use of funds, and the potential impact on recruitment.

Funding.  Funding for the grant program is subject to the availability of the amounts appropriated.

PRO:  Washington State has a more reactive policing model due to the low per capita of law enforcement officers to the general population.  We need more of a community policing model where law enforcement officers are integrated into the community and have positive interactions and responses with families, individuals, and businesses.  This bill is to help the next generation of law enforcement officers.

The central aspect of effective policing is a police force that resembles the community they serve.  Our hope is this bill will bring a broader diversity of candidates into the law enforcement profession and also encourage a foundation of community policing, particularly in under-represented communities.   Aspects of the program in this bill track and could supplement WASPC's Wear the Badge Program which is funded by non-public dollars.

Law enforcement continues to experience substantial reductions in the volume and qualifications of applicants.  It has been a declining phenomenon for many years.  In some cases there are not enough applicants to fill positions.  This profession is faced with even more challenges due to the actions of a few.  The program proposed in this bill will help us recruit the communities we serve.

PRO:  Law enforcement in Washington is responsive instead of community policing.  This policy would engage communities that have been underrepresented in law enforcement.  This is about the next generation of law enforcement by engaging youth that want to serve their community.  An effective police force is one that represents the community that they serve.  There are few people applying for jobs in law enforcement and there has been a reduction in the quality of the applicants.