Newhouse Stands Up for Central Washington Law Enforcement, Supports Proposed Changes to State Law Enforcement Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) released the following statement as the State House Public Safety Committee conducts hearings on legislation that will have serious ramifications on officers across Washington state. These bills include SB 5919, HB 1788, and HB 2037.

“Governor Inslee and the state legislature, especially over the past year, have repeatedly tied the hands of our law enforcement officers and made it nearly impossible for them to carry out their essential work instead of empowering our law enforcement officers to protect our families and businesses. I have met with officers across Central Washington, and they have been clear: the current state legislation impedes their ability to do their jobs and puts the safety of our communities, our children, and our officers at risk.

At a time when our crime rates are growing exponentially, the safety of our communities depends on the support we provide to those who protect and serve. As a concerned Central Washingtonian, I urge our state representatives to listen to the men and women who know best, our law enforcement officers, and revise or rescind these harmful bills. I fully support the proposed rollback of many of these overreaching, anti-police bills that have plagued our local departments for far too long. I also urge the men and women in Central Washington to contact your state representatives and let them know that these absurd policies have made our communities less safe, and that you support the abilities of our police officers to do their jobs.”

Background:

• SB 5919 – Concerning the standard for law enforcement authority to detain or pursue persons
  • Would permit the use and re-deployment of less-lethal tools that were previously defined as “military equipment”
  • Requires potential suspects to be stopped by Deputies and other law-enforcement officials when an investigation is being conducted
  • Redefines “Physical Force,” something that was previously left open for interpretation
  • Restores authority for law enforcement to pursue a suspect vehicle if it is deemed a safety risk to the public
• HB 1788 – Concerning vehicular pursuits
  • Allows an officer to engage in a vehicular pursuit when there is reasonable suspicion that a person in the vehicle has committed or is committing a criminal offense, subject to certain safety restrictions.
  • would restore some ability for police departments to resume pursuits of suspect vehicles that was removed by HB 1054.
• HB 2037 – Modifying the standard for use of force by peace officers
  • Modifies the standard for use of physical force by peace officers by allowing an officer to use physical force, subject to the requirement to exercise reasonable care, to the extent necessary to:
    • protect against a criminal offense when there is probable cause that the person has committed or is committing the offense;
    • prevent a person from fleeing a temporary investigative detention;
    • or take a person into custody when authorized or directed by statute

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