Alrighty, so the story goes something like this. Governor Bob Ferguson of Washington was all about getting $100 million in the budget to hire more police officers. He was like, “I’m not signing anything without that cash.” And you know what? He got his wish when he put his John Hancock on House Bill 2015.
This bill, brought to you by state Rep. Debra Entenman, a Democrat from Kent, is all about setting up a grant program to help cities and counties bring in new law enforcement peeps. The state lawmakers were like, “Sure thing, Bob,” and threw $100 million into the pot in the final budget.
During the signing shindig, Ferguson was like, “Hey, Washington is dead last in the country for cops per person. That’s gotta change.” So, this bill not only gives out grant money but also makes sure these officers get the proper training. Plus, it lets communities figure out what public safety stuff they need the most. Sounds like a win-win, right?
But wait, there’s more! This bill lets cities and counties snag cash for hiring new officers through two ways. First up, there’s a grant from the Criminal Justice Training Commission, all funded by the state. Cities gotta meet some requirements to get in on that action. The other option is a sales tax thing where counties or cities can slap on a 0.1% tax without asking voters first. Pretty sneaky, right?
And get this, the money can be used for hiring peer counselors, behavioral health co-responders, and more. It’s all about training on crisis stuff, de-escalation, and how to use force properly. The grant program lasts until June 30, 2028, so there’s plenty of time to get those officers hired.
So, the big question is, will this bill really make a difference? Well, who knows, but at least it’s a step in the right direction. Let’s hope it all works out in the end and we see some positive changes in our communities.
