A state senator from Sequim says police accountability laws passed in 2021 would be improved in several areas by legislation introduced early this legislative session.
“Every year the Legislature passes laws that wind up getting adjusted and updated with clean-up legislation in subsequent years, and it’s no different with the police accountability bills we passed in 2021,” said Sen. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim in a Jan. 13 Washington State Senate Democrats news release.
“Those went too far and are hurting both the public and officers.”
Senate Bill 5577 would restore the prior threshold for vehicle pursuits, provide a definition for “physical force” based on an objective standard, and clarifies the circumstances where the use of physical force by police is allowed, according to the news release. In numerous instances, the bill introduces definitions to make existing law more clear.
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