Inslee proposes regional police academies
By Terry Murry on Friday, July 22nd, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
BURIEN – Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and law enforcement leaders Thursday announced a proposal to expand basic law enforcement training at new regional campuses statewide. The campuses will be in Pasco, Vancouver, Everett, and Bellingham.
Inslee said having the regional campuses gives trainees more time at home and lessens the burden for them having to travel to the academy at the Criminal Justice Training Commission in Burien, just south of Seattle.
Every peace officer in Washington is trained and certified by the commission. Completion of a 19-week basic law enforcement academy is required for entry-level officers, and an equivalency course is required for lateral officers. Most trainees complete the academy at the campus in Burien.
The idea of the regional campuses is to help law enforcement agencies recruit locally and hire more representative employees of the communities they serve. Pasco Police Chief Ken Roskey supports the idea.
“Having those regionally across the state is going to allow those communities to attend the graduation, to be a part of those academy classes,” Roskey said.
The proposal will be introduced in the 2023 legislative session.File photo of basic law enforcement training at CJTC campus in Burien
