“When you try to remove me from office, thousands of Pierce County residents will surround the county city building in downtown Tacoma,” Swank told lawmakers.
OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs is considering expelling Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank after the organization said comments he made to lawmakers this week went beyond “reasonable dialogue” and could be perceived as threatening.
In a statement, WASPC leaders said they have “grave concerns” with SB 5974, a bill that would raise statewide standards for sheriffs, but said Swank’s testimony did not reflect the group’s views.
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“The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) has grave concerns with SB 5974. However, the inflammatory comments made by Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank at a legislative committee hearing on January 15 do not represent the views or the approach of WASPC,” the statement said.
“The scope of his testimony went beyond reasonable dialogue and devolved into what could be perceived as threatening to legislators and he challenged their constitutional authority,” it added.
WASPC said it intends to begin proceedings under its bylaws for its board to consider expelling Swank from the association.
Swank’s comments came during a hearing Thursday in the Senate Law and Justice Committee.
“I don’t recognize your authority to impose these controls over me, and when you try to remove me from office, thousands of Pierce County residents will surround the county city building in downtown Tacoma and will not allow that to happen. I hope it doesn’t come to that, but I and they are prepared. Are you prepared?” Swank said.
SB 5974 would add new statewide requirements for sheriffs, including being at least 25 years old, having at least five years of law enforcement experience, and passing a background check. The bill would also require certification and more oversight by the Criminal Justice Training Commission.
Some sheriffs argue the proposal could make it easier for the commission to decertify them, even though they are elected by voters.
KING 5 reported in September that Swank was the subject of three certification cases involving the Criminal Justice Training Commission, including cases tied to his social media posts. The commission said those inquiries could result in the sheriff losing his certification.
A similar bill was introduced in the House last year but did not make it out of committee. An executive session on SB 5974 is scheduled for next week, but there won’t be another public hearing, a representative for Sen. John Lovick said.