State Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, has filed legislation to allocate additional funding for public defenders to counties that meet minimum ratio requirements for law enforcement.
The proposal comes as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle seek funding for additional law enforcement.
“I realize these two issues are counterintuitive, but both are critical elements of public safety,” Couture said in a statement. “My goal with this bill is to take the politics out of this highly charged issue so lawmakers can focus on what’s important — providing adequate public safety.”
If passed, House Bill 2002 would allocate an additional $200 million a year to counties based on county population and criminal case filings. Under the legislation, counties could use the additional funding for either indigent defense or law enforcement.
If counties fail to meet the ratios outlined in the legislation, the funding would be required to be used on hiring additional police officers.
“My big concern — and the big impact this has on public safety — is that if counties can’t provide the constitutionally required public defense of a criminal suspect, or if that public defense cannot be provided in a timely manner, the courts must order the release of those suspects,” Couture said. “That means criminals are just being released back on the street without jail time and without being held accountable, and that puts the public at risk.”
The legislation sets a goal of replacing the 495 commissioned police officers lost since 2020 by the end of fiscal year 2025 and achieving a ratio of 1.5 officers per 1,000 people, up from the current rate of 1.12. By the end of fiscal year 2026, the goal would be an additional 2,200 cumulatively, with an objective of 1.75 officers per 1,000 residents.
By the end of fiscal year 2027, the goal would be an additional 7,400 officers cumulatively. If reached, the state would be in line with the national average of 2.33 officers per 1,000 residents.
Washington currently ranks last in the number of police officers per capita.
“Washington state has long lagged behind other states in our number of officers per capita, but that exodus of existing officers we have lost over the past few years due to retirement of morale issues has been detrimental to our state, and we see the evidence of that daily,” Couture said. “My bill will help ensure the funding is there for Washington to boost law enforcement staffing.”
In the run-up to the legislative session, Gov. Jay Inslee and Democratic legislative leaders also stated a desire to increase the number of police officers in the state.
“On public safety, we know we have considerable concerns in this regard,” Inslee said on Jan. 4. “We want to do multiple things, not just one thing. Number one, we need additional officers on the street.”
Inslee’s supplemental budget proposal for 2024 includes funding to fill 80 positions within the Washington State Patrol and an additional class for training cadets. The proposal also includes $10 million in grants to local government agencies to support recruitment and retention.
“I think what we’re likely to really focus on is continuing to grow the number of police officers in Washington state,” Speaker of the House Rep. Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, said on Jan. 4. “We’ve expanded the criminal justice training commission a lot over the past couple of years, and we’ll continue to look at doing that.”
HB 2002 was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.
The 2024 legislative session will end on March 7.
