‘I couldn’t disagree more’: Jake clashes with WA senator over bill stripping counties of sheriff decisions

Washington State Senator John Lovick is pushing for Senate Bill 5974, which would allow a sheriff who has lost their peace officer certification to be removed by a state oversight board.

Lovick told “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio that the bill is about holding sheriffs to the same standards as their deputies.

“The keyword here is accountability,” he said. “We have not updated our sheriff standards since 1854. Georgia and Texas have updated theirs. And what we’re trying to do is hold our sheriffs, our elected sheriffs and police chiefs, to the same standards of accountability that they hold their subordinates to. And I don’t think that is asking too much. I really feel that that’s what we should expect of them, and that’s what I believe the public expects.”

The bill would give the board the power to remove an elected sheriff from office by decertifying them, but the appointment of a replacement would still be done by local counties.

Jake challenges Lovick: ‘Who knows what Adams County needs?’

KIRO Newsradio host Jake Skorheim challenged Lovick on concerns that the bill strips power from counties.

“As I understand it, under current laws, if a sheriff breaks a law, there’s an investigation that would happen, like an independent investigation, either Washington State Patrol, or it could be federal. The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission can also initiate investigations and revoke or suspend certifications for sheriffs. There’s also a recall that can happen for sheriffs, and in those cases where they have to be removed, the local county officials will appoint a successor,” Jake explained.

“Now, take Adams County, or something like that, you’re going to take the power away from Adams County. Who knows what Adams County needs? And you’re going to give it to people appointed, not elected, but in this council, in this board, appointed by Bob Ferguson in Olympia. Why is that a better system than what we already have?” he asked.

Lovick countered that the recall process is slow and expensive.

“If you think about it, a recall process takes time, and it takes money, and it’s very, very difficult to do,” he said. “I’m not saying it’s a good or bad process, but it’s very difficult to do, and it’s somewhat of an intimidating process. While the sheriff is decertified, we will have a decertified officer serving as sheriff, and that’s just not a good look for what we want to do to accomplish in our public safety environment.”

WA counties with elected sheriffs unlikely to support bill, Lovick acknowledges

Jake asked: Of the counties with elected sheriffs, how many support the bill?

“I would doubt if any of them would support this bill,” Lovick said.

“Don’t you think that’s a problem?” Jake pushed back.

“No, it’s not,” Lovick responded. “We have a process in place. Let me just start by saying that no one who fails to respect the law should be there enforcing our laws, and that’s what we’re talking about.”

Jake: Let voters decide, not the governor

Jake said he agrees sheriffs should be held accountable, but trusts local voters to decide on their next sheriff, not the governor.

“I do trust voters in local counties to know who should be running the local counties more than I do somebody who’s appointed by the governor of our state. That’s my personal feeling. You may disagree,” Jake shared.

“I absolutely trust the voters,” Lovick responded. “Also, there’s never been a word about distrust. I think you’ve used the word a lot, but I trust the voters. But I’m saying that if we have a person who is decertified, they should not hold the office of sheriff.”

Lovick ended by saying, “I think you’re going to find that this is going to be something that you’re going to really appreciate when we talk about what we’re going to be doing with respect to the office of sheriffs.”

“I appreciate you coming on the show. I couldn’t disagree more, but thank you for coming on the show,” Jake responded.

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.