Public Safety Spotlight: May Issue
WACOPS Session Interim Newsletter
Issue Spotlight: State Auditor Finds CJTC Significantly Behind in Mandatory Training for WA Peace Officers
As you may have seen, last month, the Washington State Auditor's Office released a performance report regarding law enforcement officer's progress in meeting continuing education requirements mandated by the 2019 Law Enforcement Training and Community Safety Act (LETCSA) and administered by the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC). WACOPS has long advocated for officer-informed, properly resourced training – which is why we were one of the organizations that urged the Auditor to conduct this independent review.
The report found that only 14% of new officers and 16% of veteran officers have completed the mandated 40 hours of continuing education the CJTC is charged with delivering. This confirms what our members have been telling us for years: that agencies do not have the funding or staff to handle the direct costs of training and the burden of officer hours taken off patrol. Washington’s officers embrace the opportunity to develop their skills and improve how they serve our state's communities, but in its current form, LETCSA represents an unfunded mandate that is colliding head-on with our state's chronic police staffing crisis. We urge the legislature to take this seriously next session: acknowledge that unfunded training requirements will only lead to continued shortfalls in compliance, convene the holistic work group the audit recommends to bring CJTC and partners together on practical go-forward solutions, and provide financial support to agencies so that we can train our officers to be as effective as possible.
Public Safety by the Numbers:
51st – for the 15th Consecutive Year
Washington ranks dead last among all 50 states and D.C. for law enforcement officers per capita, with just 1.37 officers per 1,000 residents – that's less than half the national average of 2.3. The state added just 68 officers in 2025, which was outpaced by population growth, pushing the ratio further in the wrong direction.
WACOPS in Action: Representing Law Enforcement at our 2026 Day on the Hill
Earlier this year, over 30 law enforcement unions from across the state visited the Capitol for dozens of conversations with lawmakers, exchanging ideas and working towards solutions to our challenges. During session, WACOPS engaged on a range of issues – including training mandates, use-of-force standards, retirement benefits, face coverings, automated license plate readers, and more. We look forward to continuing to work with the legislature and hope to see more of you during our next Day on the Hill. In the meantime, if you have any questions about our priorities, or want to discuss ways we can work together to improve the law enforcement profession and public safety in Washington, our door is always open.
Meet Our Team: Teresa Taylor, Executive Director
Teresa Taylor has served as Executive Director of WACOPS since 2017, bringing with her more than three decades of experience in state and local government and public policy. A former legislative liaison and nonprofit executive, Teresa is WACOPS' primary point of contact for legislators and legislative staff on public safety and law enforcement labor issues — from bill analysis and testimony to direct member engagement. Whether you are navigating a public safety vote, looking to better understand how a proposal would affect officers in your district, or seeking a credible law enforcement labor perspective, Teresa and the WACOPS team are available to help. She can be reached at ttaylor@wacops.org or (360) 352-8224.
What We're Reading: Coverage Worth Your Attention
- NBC Tri Cities & Yakima: Washington ranks last in police staffing for 15 consecutive years
- KOMO News: 'Not even treading water': Washington state continues to lag in police hiring
- Washington Association of Sheriffs & Police Chiefs: WASPC/WACOPS Joint Statement on Public Trust and Immigration Enforcement