SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. – Senate Bill 5974, passed the Senate floor session and is headed to the Washington House of Representatives. Ahead of those pivotal votes, Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels is sharing concerns with the community.
“I have significant concerns, as do several other sheriffs, most other sheriffs and citizens in the state of Washington about this legislation, which is currently passed the Washington State senate,” Nowels said in a Social Media post.
The bill proposes new standards for eligibility to run for sheriff. Currently, candidates must complete basic law enforcement training within a year of being elected. If the bill passes, candidates must be U.S. citizens, at least 25 years old, have a high school diploma, no felony or gross misdemeanor convictions, and have at least five years of continuous law enforcement service. An honorable discharge from the armed services is required if applicable.
Sheriff Nowels spoke with NonStop Local via Phone on Monday.
He broke down the notable changes.
“What would be new now is a background check ahead of being able to file,” Nowels said.
According to Nowels, background checks are already required but currently take place after a candidate takes office.
The proposed legislation would mandate these checks before a candidate is added to the ballot, with the cost covered by the county where the person is running.
“They have a polygraph,” Nowels described. “They have to have a psychological evaluation. This is after they won the election.”
Concerns have been raised in several public hearings about the lack of defined standards for background checks.
“By the way, there are no real standards set forth in this legislation, saying: “Okay, but in the background check, what would qualify you or disqualify you? So that’s left up for somebody to decide,”Nowels said.
Proponents of the bill argue that it sets necessary standards.
“Why do we need this legislation? My answer is, Why not? Why aren’t law enforcement leaders appointed or elected to the standards of accountability and professionalism that their subordinates are held to?, ” Sponsoring Senator Jon Lovick said on January 25.
The bill also suggests changes to volunteer responsibilities in sheriff’s offices. Volunteers would be restricted from enforcing criminal laws, engaging in pursuits, detaining or arresting individuals, using force, carrying firearms, using surveillance technology, or sharing information from law enforcement databases. They could assist with technical support, community crime prevention, vehicle maintenance, parking enforcement, and traffic management.
“It just means that I have to employ full-time deputies to do this work,” Nowels said. “It’s either work that would not get done in the future or we’d have to add full-time deputies to do it, which there’s no money in the county to do that with.”
Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney Preston McCollum emphasized the need for community awareness in the implications of the bill.
“At this point we have to act, and let the community know what the true intent of this bill is,” McCollum said.
The bill is now headed to the Washington House Safety Committee and could soon appear on the floor for a vote.
