Washington's police decertification law falls short as officers evade accountability

Washington enacted Senate Bill 5051 in 2021 to tighten the decertification process for officers convicted of felonies, certain misdemeanors, or egregious use of force, requiring agencies to promptly report separations and misconduct. An analysis of state employment records by InvestigateWest shows that many departments continue to hire or retain officers with serious allegations, citing unclear statutory language. Examples include a police chief who allegedly defrauded taxpayers, a driver who fled a DUI crash, and a former officer whose certification remained active despite a felony conviction.

The Criminal Justice Training Commission often postpones investigations, with a backlog exceeding 1,500 cases, and sometimes declines to act at all. Critics argue that the law’s discretionary provisions and weak penalties for non-reporting allow “wandering officers” to persist, undermining public trust and exposing communities to risk. Lawmakers such as Rep. Roger Goodman and former judge Anne Levinson stress the need for stricter oversight and clearer definitions of disqualifying conduct.