FRANKLIN COUNTY, Wash. – Franklin County Sheriff Jim Raymond is raising concerns about House Bill 1399, fearing it could shift the power to elect sheriffs from the public to the state.
Raymond, who has spent nearly 40 years in law enforcement in the Tri-Cities area, is worried about the potential changes HB 1399 could bring to sheriff offices in Washington State.
"It takes away your right to vote for who you want to be your sheriff," Sheriff Raymond said.
Currently, sheriffs can only be removed from office through recall or by being voted out. If HB 1399 is passed, the state could decertify sheriffs and remove them from office without a public vote, based on a finding of "unsuitability."
Sheriff Raymond expressed his concerns about the state's potential authority.
"They want the commissioners of the county, or more so the legislators of the state to appoint who they want in the sheriff's offices across the state. And it's just wrong. It's against the constitution," Sheriff Raymond said.
Raymond cited the Washington State Constitution, specifically Article 1, Section 19, which states, "All Elections shall be free and equal, and no power, civil or military, shall at any time interfere to prevent the free exercise of the right of suffrage."
During a hearing in the House Appropriations Committee, an immigrant rights advocate mentioned that updating laws on how authorities operate could help restore immigrants' faith in law enforcement. This is due to some agencies assisting federal agents in deportation raids, which others believe violates the Constitution.
Heather Kelly from the League of Women Voters emphasized the need for more police accountability.
"Standards will be the same, regardless of where you live. Whether you have a police chief or sheriff. Whether that person is elected or appointed. Whether they share your politics or not," Kelly said.
Links to HB 1399 can be found here.
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