Trending Now - Washington House Approves Bill to Empower Board Over Sheriffs

WHO:

Washington House of Representatives

Criminal Justice Training Commission

Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders

Sen. John Lovick (D) - Mill Creek, co-sponsor of the bill

Rep. Travis Couture (R) - District 35

Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank

WHAT:

Senate Bill 5974 passed in the Washington House

The bill allows the Criminal Justice Training Commission to decertify sheriffs or police chiefs, effectively removing them from office

The bill sets minimum requirements for elected sheriffs and police chiefs, including age, experience, and background checks

The vote was party-line after nearly eight hours of debate

WHERE:

Washington State

Thurston County

Pierce County

WHEN:

The bill passed early on Friday, March 6, 2026

The bill will head back to the Senate for concurrence after passing the House

WHY:

Supporters argue the bill modernizes standards for law enforcement leaders

Critics claim it undermines local elections and shifts power away from voters

HOW:

The bill was debated for nearly eight hours before the vote

It provides a mechanism for the state to remove elected sheriffs or police chiefs through decertification

QUOTES:

Derek Sanders: "This is one of the most unpopular, hypocrisy ridden bills ever passed... it doesn’t solve any real problems facing Washingtonians while artificially creating new ones."

Sen. John Lovick: “Why not hold law enforcement leaders appointed or elected to the standards of accountability and professionalism that their subordinates are held to?"

Rep. Travis Couture: “We are taking away the right of the people to select and elect their own county sheriff."

Keith Swank: “This is about things that I said that the left, the Democrats, don’t like... Nobody is going to tell me I can’t speak and say my peace...”

Swank: “No, I’m not worried for my job... that is overreach, that is too much.”

On Friday, March 6, 2026, the Washington House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 5974, which allows the Criminal Justice Training Commission to decertify sheriffs or police chiefs, effectively removing them from office. The bill, which sets minimum requirements for elected law enforcement leaders, sparked nearly eight hours of party-line debate, with supporters arguing it modernizes standards while critics claim it undermines local elections. Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders called it "one of the most unpopular, hypocrisy ridden bills ever passed," while Sen. John Lovick emphasized the need for accountability in law enforcement leadership.