Burnett condemns House passage of bill allowing unelected commission to remove county sheriffs

‘This bill takes authority away from voters and puts it in the hands of an unelected board in Olympia,’ Burnett

Rep. Brian Burnett, R-Wenatchee, says legislation approved by the Washington State House of Representatives undermines voter authority and ignores the realities of local law enforcement.

The proposal, 2SSB 5974, gives the state’s Criminal Justice Training Commission the ability to decertify a sheriff and declare the office vacant if certification is lost. Burnett, a former Chelan County sheriff who has served more than two decades in law enforcement, said that approach disregards the constitutional role sheriffs play in Washington’s system of government.

“This bill takes authority away from voters and puts it in the hands of an unelected board in Olympia,” said Burnett. “Sheriffs answer directly to the people who elected them. If a sheriff violates the public trust, the voters already have a remedy through the recall process. When an unelected state commission can effectively remove that sheriff from office, we are shifting authority away from voters and toward bureaucracy.”

Unlike police chiefs, who are appointed by local officials, county sheriffs are elected constitutional officers. Burnett said that distinction is intentional and has long been a cornerstone of local accountability in Washington communities.

“Sheriffs are not bureaucrats working for a state agency,” said Burnett. “They are elected by the people in their counties and answer directly to those communities.”

The bill also expands the state’s role in reviewing and certifying individuals who serve in local law enforcement leadership positions. Burnett said that approach moves decision-making authority farther away from the communities those leaders are meant to serve.

“Sheriffs are elected by the people of their counties, not appointed by Olympia,” said Burnett. “When the state keeps adding layers of control over who can serve and how that office operates, we risk eroding the direct relationship between voters and their sheriff.”

As someone who spent much of his career wearing the badge, Burnett said the legislation also reflects a lack of trust in local law enforcement and the communities they serve.

“Most sheriffs take their oath seriously and work every day to protect the people in their counties,” said Burnett. “When problems arise, there are already systems in place to address misconduct. What we should not do is weaken the role voters play in choosing their own sheriff.”

Burnett warned the bill could also lead to costly legal challenges, which will cost taxpayer dollars at a time when the state is already in a significant budget hole.

“The constitutional validity of this proposal is going to be challenged in the courts,” said Burnett. “The majority party passed this bill knowing there would be legal challenges that will further burden taxpayers.”

But for Burnett, the issue ultimately comes down to preserving the relationship between voters and the officials they elect to serve them.

“The people should decide who their sheriff is. Period. Full stop,” said Burnett. “That principle has served our state well for generations, and it should not be replaced by decisions influenced by the powers that be in Olympia.”

The bill passed with no Republican support. Because 2SSB 5974 was amended in the House, it now moves back to the Senate for concurrence.

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Washington State House Republican Communications
houserepublicans.wa.gov