Broad bill to tighten standards for sheriffs, chiefs and volunteers draws robust debate

Chair Goodman opened an extended public hearing on House Bill 1399, a comprehensive proposal to modernize eligibility, background‑investigation, certification and duties for sheriffs, police chiefs and marshals and to restrict law‑enforcement authority for volunteers and specially commissioned officers.

Major elements of the bill: HB 1399 would (1) set uniform eligibility criteria for police chiefs and marshals across jurisdictions, (2) require candidates for sheriff to submit background‑investigation requests to Washington State Patrol before filing and require CJTC verification, (3) require sheriffs to obtain CJTC certification within 12 months of assuming office, (4) limit volunteers and specially commissioned officers to roles that do not involve use of law‑enforcement authority or firearms unless those individuals are certified, (5) require CJTC to adopt by rule criteria for applicant suitability and publish summary records of certification actions, and (6) repeal obsolete statutory language about police matrons.

Suppor…