Walla Walla County sheriff warns against proposed legislation allowing removal of elected sheriffs
By Dan Thesman on Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – Walla Walla County Sheriff Mark Crider is speaking out against pending state legislation that he warns would allow unelected officials to overturn the will of voters by removing elected sheriffs from office.
In a letter to state lawmakers, Crider, president of the Washington State Sheriff’s Association, characterized House Bill 1399 and Senate Bill 5974 as a “direct and blatant attempt” to assert legislative control over the executive branch. The proposed measures would grant the Criminal Justice Training Commission – a board largely composed of non-law enforcement members – the authority to remove an elected official.
Crider argues the legislation, which includes new educational requirements for candidates and regulations on volunteer involvement, is a politically motivated effort to curate who can run for office. He noted that while the bill seeks to impose new standards on sheriffs, state legislators are not required to be attorneys.
Defending the current system, Crider cited the 2021 recall of Benton County Sheriff Jerry Hatcher and the 2022 election defeats of sheriffs in Snohomish and Thurston counties as evidence that voters already hold officials accountable.
The sheriff also accused the Senate Law and Justice Committee of being “exclusionary” by allegedly uninviting law enforcement policy directors from discussions. While supporters of the reform argue the bills are necessary for statewide consistency, Crider maintains that the office of sheriff belongs to the people, not the legislature.
A public hearing on this matter will be held tomorrow (Thursday) at 10:30 a.m. in Olympia before the Senate Law and Justice Committee. At the link below, the public can view the bill as presently written, send a comment to legislators, sign up to testify, or submit written testimony for or against this bill.
https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5974&Year=2026
File photo of Sheriff Mark Crider
