1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I strongly support SB 5974 which ensures equal accountability for all police leaders—sheriffs, chiefs, and marshals—so that no one in charge of public safety is exempt from basic professional standards. • Protecting Public Safety: Requiring background checks and certification before someone can run for or assume leadership promotes professionalism and reduces the risk of corruption or dangerous behavior at the highest levels of local enforcement. • Closing Volunteer Loopholes: Volunteers and cadets should never exercise police authority unless they meet the same training and certification standards as sworn officers; the bill helps prevent untrained individuals from carrying firearms or enforcing laws. • Modernizing Law Enforcement Roles: This reform brings decades-old statutes into alignment with contemporary expectations for training, ethics, and independent oversight in law enforcement leadership. • Building Community Trust: Clear standards and accountability mechanisms help restore trust with communities—including those historically harmed by policing—by showing that leaders must meet rigorous qualifications. • Ensuring Consistency Across Jurisdictions: Whether someone lives in a small town or a large county, they deserve law enforcement leaders held to the same standards of professionalism and fitness to serve.