Rep. Brian Burnett joins Lars Larson to discuss Democrat attempts to allow locally elected sheriffs to be removed from office by unelected bureaucrats

February 12, 2026

Rep. Brian Burnett, a former Chelan County Sheriff, spoke during a recent radio interview about legislation (Senate Bill 5974) he believes could affect the authority of locally elected sheriffs. Burnett emphasized that sheriffs are constitutional officers chosen by voters and said maintaining that direct accountability to local communities is an important part of public safety governance.

Burnett said he remains focused on supporting local governments and ensuring decisions about law enforcement leadership remain close to the communities those agencies serve. He also highlighted ongoing conversations with statewide law enforcement groups as the issue continues to be debated in Olympia.