Locally, Sens. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver, and Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver, are sponsors of SB 5352 and Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, supports it. Reps. Sharon Wylie, D-Vancouver, Monica Stonier, D-Vancouver, Paul Harris, R-Vancouver, Greg Cheney, R-Battle Ground, Stephanie McClintock, R-Battle Ground, and Kevin Waters, R-Washougal, sponsor or support companion HB 1363.
Unfortunately, in the Senate, this bipartisan consensus could be upended by a single liberal Democrat, Sen. Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond, chair of the Senate Law & Justice Committee. Dhingra earlier opposed even moving SB 5352 out of committee, but has since indicated she may allow a hearing.
Of Dhingra’s power to single-handedly kill the measure, Rep. J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, stated “one person absolutely should not be able to do it, and the only way they can do it is if their caucus empowers them to do that.”
On the other side of the Democratic divide, Sen. John Lovick, D-Mill Creek, former state trooper and Snohomish County sheriff, is the bill’s sponsor. Lovick, also Senate vice president pro tempore, must marshal his considerable powers to persuade Dhingra to hold a hearing.
Pursuit reform has a better outlook in the House. On Jan. 31, Clark County Sheriff John Horch submitted testimony. Horch asserted that “many in my community are wondering what authority we have if we can’t hold people accountable.” Cases in which pursuits were not permitted have included kidnappings, domestic violence assaults and burglaries, he observed.
Clark County Public Safety Alliance, activists opposing the crime surge, notified Horch and legislators that “we need HB 1363.”
Taking decisions away from police officers in vehicle pursuits hasn’t worked. Returning a limited measure of discretion to law enforcement will send a message to criminals that they do not hold all the power, to police officers that we expect them to use good judgment, and to their supervisors to apply leadership, training and accountability.