OLYMPIA – An unknown person knocks on your door claiming to be a police officer. Instead of pursuing justice, it becomes clear that this individual is not law enforcement and has ill intent. If this sounds concerning to you, rest assured that you are not alone and that the Washington legislature is taking action.
Requested by Governor Bob Ferguson and sponsored by Rep. Edwin Obras, D-SeaTac, House Bill 2165 bans anyone other than law enforcement from wearing badges or other law enforcement insignias. In doing so, it preserves the integrity of law enforcement uniforms and ensures that members of the public can trust that they are talking to actual police officers when they ask for help or are being interviewed.
“It’s just common sense and good community safety policy,” stated Obras. “If you talk to someone you believe is a law enforcement officer, you should be able to trust that they, in fact, are who they say they are. These unprecedented times, in which federal officials are arresting and detaining members of our communities, require us to ensure those creating additional chaos are held accountable.”
“We should all be worried about vigilantism, assault, or property crimes that become easier if someone impersonates a police officer. We are taking steps to prevent these crimes to ensure all communities are safe from harm,” continued Obras.
The Senate made minor changes, so the House will have to concur with the current version of the bill before sending it to the Governor’s desk.