华盛顿SB 5974通过众议院54-42,提高了治安官的资格,并允许州因不当行为撤销治安官的职务。 Washington’s SB 5974, raising sheriff qualifications and enabling state removal of sheriffs for misconduct, passed the House 54-42.

华盛顿的SB 5974,将提高警长候选人的要求, 并允许州监督去除当选的警长, Washington’s SB 5974, which would raise sheriff candidate requirements and allow state oversight to remove elected sheriffs, passed the House 54-42 after an eight-hour debate. 该法案规定,最低年龄为25岁,需要5年全职执法经验,授权进行背景调查,并与州刑事司法培训委员会进行联系认证。 The bill sets a minimum age of 25, requires five years of full-time law enforcement experience, mandates background checks, and ties certification to the state’s Criminal Justice Training Commission. 如果警长因不当行为而失去认证,他们可以被撤职,由县任命的官员取代。 If a sheriff loses certification due to misconduct, they could be removed and replaced by a county-appointed official. 支持者说,它加强了问责制和公众信任;反对派,包括几个治安官和共和党人,认为它破坏民主和选民选择。 Supporters say it strengthens accountability and public trust; opponents, including several sheriffs and Republicans, argue it undermines democracy and voter choice. 该法案现在提交参议院最后批准,然后可能提交总督Bob Ferguson批准。 The bill now returns to the Senate for final approval before potentially going to Governor Bob Ferguson.