Fighting for statewide police reforms
CPC priorities
The CPC is committed to uplifting and amplifying the voices of our community in police accountability and reform across Washington State.
Working with the City of Seattle and other community groups, the CPC has identified eight main areas we'll be fighting for during legislative session.
- Remove police accountability from the bargaining process
- Remove arbitration as a route of appeal for police misconduct
- Repair Washington's broken decertification system
- Institute truly independent investigations
- Ban tear gas in Washington State
- End qualified immunity
- Strengthen requirements for officers to intervene
- Ensure community has a voice in statewide police training and reform
*Asterisk signifies this bill is a companion bill
Bill Tracker
Status:
House: Not yet introduced, Senate: In committee
Summary:
- Prohibits collective bargaining agreements covering law enforcement officers from including certain provisions related to discipline and oversight.
- Prohibits the use of arbitration for appeals of the discipline of law enforcement officers for misconduct and requires appeals of the discipline to go through a civil service commission, hearing examiner, or administrative law judge.
- Prohibits, on an appeal of the discipline of an officer, the reduction of the discipline imposed by the employer unless the discipline was arbitrary, capricious, or based on an illegal reason.
- Establishes a list of specific misconduct that must result in the discharge of the law enforcement officer.
Status:
House: In committee, Senate: Not yet introduced
Summary:
- Prohibits peace officers from using chokeholds and neck restraints.
- Prohibits peace officers from using unleashed police dogs to arrest or apprehend persons.
- Prohibits law enforcement agencies from acquiring or using tear gas and certain types of military equipment.
- Prohibits uniformed peace officers from intentionally covering, concealing, or obscuring the number or other identifying information on their badges.
- Prohibits a peace officer from seeking, and a court from issuing, a search or arrest warrant granting an express exception to the "knock and announce" rule.
- Establishes restrictions on vehicular pursuits
Status:
House: In committee, Senate: Companion bill in committee
Summary:
- This is a companion bill to SB 5051
- Modifies the priorities and composition of the Criminal Justice Training Commission to center community voices.
- Expands the background investigation requirements for persons applying for peace officer, reserve officer, and corrections officer positions.
- Strengthens the certification and decertification processes for peace officers and corrections officers.
Status:
House: Companion bill in committee, Senate: In committee
Summary:
- This is a companion bill to HB 1082
- Modifies the priorities and composition of the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC)
- Expands the background investigation requirements for persons applying for peace officer, reserve officer, and corrections officer positions
- Expands the conduct for which the certification of a peace officer or a corrections officer may be revoked.
- Requires employing agencies to report all separation and disciplinary matters regarding a certified officer to the CJTC.
- Removes confidentiality of complaints, investigations, and disciplinary actions for certified officers and requires information be maintained on a publicly searchable database.
Status:
House: Companion bill in committee Senate: In committee
Summary:
A summary of this bill has not yet been submitted, but the companion bill (HB 1092) in the House:
- Requires law enforcement agencies to report certain information to the Washington State University (WSU) when an incident occurs involving a fatality, great bodily harm, or substantial bodily harm in connection with use of force by a law enforcement officer, and when an officer uses or deploys certain types of weapons or other force.
- Requires state and local governments to report information to the WSU on any tort payouts involving allegations of the improper use of force by an officer.
- Requires the WSU to publish the information on its website and submit semiannual reports to the Legislature.
Status:
House: In committee, Senate: Companion bill in committee
Summary:
- This is a companion bill to SB 5259
- Requires law enforcement agencies to report certain information to the Washington State University (WSU) when an incident occurs involving a fatality, great bodily harm, or substantial bodily harm in connection with use of force by a law enforcement officer, and when an officer uses or deploys certain types of weapons or other force.
- Requires state and local governments to report information to the WSU on any tort payouts involving allegations of the improper use of force by an officer.
- Requires the WSU to publish the information on its website and submit semiannual reports to the Legislature.