SEATTLE — The Criminal Justice Training Commission typically flies under the radar, unless you’re a cop.

But the agency took center stage this year when state legislators started discussing a wide-ranging bill that would strengthen standards for law enforcement leaders, with elected sheriffs and Republicans from across the state voicing their opposition.

On Wednesday, Gov. Bob Ferguson signed into law Senate Bill 5974, with the promise from supporters that it would even the playing field between rank-and-file officers and those tasked with leading them. It will take effect April 30, with some parts delayed until 2027.

While Ferguson did put pen to paper, he said he had reservations about the process for creating a vacancy.

“I’ve had good conversations with the sponsor and other legislators as well about that, and we’ll probably do a little work on the interim,” he said. “But the main message today is this is a great bill, and it’s been a lot of hard work from a lot of stakeholders over a long period of time, which we certainly recognize, and an important issue for us as well.”

The new law will require several benchmark qualifications to serve as the head of a police agency in Washington. Candidates, both elected and appointed, will need to have five years of law enforcement experience, be at least 25 years old and undergo a background check.

But debate around the bill grew most heated over a provision tying a sheriff’s ability to stay in office to their peace officer certification, meaning a sheriff will automatically lose their position if the Criminal Justice Training Commission revokes that certification.

Here’s what to know about the training commission, the decertification process and the bill’s impact.

What is the CJTC?

To be a law enforcement officer in Washington, one must obtain a peace officer certification through the Criminal Justice Training Commission. Failing to maintain the certification results in an officer losing their job. However, before the bill, state law did not clearly require an elected sheriff to leave office upon decertification.

Established in 1974, the training commission is a state oversight body made up of 21 members appointed by the governor. Those members are selected to fill specific roles outlined in state law, rather than serving as elected or explicitly partisan officials.

Commission members include law enforcement and corrections officials, tribal representatives, prosecutors, plaintiffs’ attorneys, and relatives of people affected by police use of force.

The commission oversees both law enforcement training and certification, including the authority to deny, suspend or revoke an officer’s certification based on complaints submitted to the group — though much of that work is carried out by its certification staff and hearing panels.

If someone without a law enforcement background is elected sheriff, they must obtain certification. But before SB 5974, state law did not spell out what happens if a sheriff fails to keep that certification.

How does decertification work?

Anyone can file a complaint against a sworn officer. Kimberly Bliss, who oversees the commission’s certification division, said there are 1,875 open cases as of January 2026.

Of all 39 sheriffs in Washington, 18 have open complaints against them. Bliss noted law enforcement leaders are more susceptible to complaints as public-facing police brass.

The decertification process is lengthy, “very due-process based” and includes investigations and appeal options, Bliss said. By the time charges are brought to the five-person committee, which includes three civilians and two law enforcement officers who are approved by the commission, at least five people within the certification division have reviewed the case.

“One of the narratives that is happening out there is that because we have three civilians on these hearing panels and two law enforcement officers, that it’s somehow politically stacked against law enforcement,” Bliss said.

The data says otherwise.

Since 2021, 11 cases have been heard by a hearing panel. Of those, eight cases were decided unanimously.

“We have never had a case with a 3-2 split, particularly one where the civilians disagreed with the two law enforcement panelists on the outcome,” Bliss said in an email.

Many officers chose to surrender their certification voluntarily.

Will CJTC decertify any sheriffs?

It seldom happens, but a sheriff has been decertified before.

In 2023, then Lincoln County Sheriff Wade Magers was decertified after investigators found he made false statements about his son’s DUI. Magers decided to retire instead of getting fired.

One of the most vocal opponents of SB 5974, Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank, has frequently said that Democrats plan to use the bill to get rid of sheriffs they don’t like to further their political goals. Last week, while talking to conservative radio talk show host Jason Rantz, he said he expects the commission could review complaints against him within about a year.

“I think it’s going to be exciting to see what happens when they do it,” said Swank, noting he would fight back if decertification is on the table. “I think it needs to happen. I’m OK with being that person that it happens to, because, like, you know, and your listeners know, I was a retired cop when I became the sheriff, so I don’t need this job.”

Bliss said the CJTC doesn’t remove cops or law enforcement leadership; that decision is up to state law.

“All we’re doing is we’re following the same process to determine whether it’s a preponderance of the evidence of misconduct,” Bliss said.

Are there any sheriffs who don’t meet the new qualifications?

One, technically

Pacific County Sheriff Daniel Garcia was not a cop before being elected sheriff. Thus, he doesn’t meet the 5-year experience requirement. But lawmakers made an amendment that allows incumbents without enough experience, like Garcia, to keep their position.

He appears to be the only current sheriff in the state who wouldn’t meet that bar, Rep. Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland, said. Goodman sponsored the bill in the House.

Is SB 5974 constitutional?

Opponents of the bill, like Swank and Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen — who heads the state Republican Party — have called the legislation unconstitutional.

But according to experts, the bill falls within the Legislature’s purview.

Hugh Spitzer, a retired associate dean at the University of Washington’s School of Law and an expert on Washington’s constitution, disagrees. He said the Legislature is allowed to make laws surrounding law enforcement.

“They can certainly make the argument that the policy is wrong, but to say that (sheriffs) are outside of the control of the Legislature — the elected Legislature (that) is elected by the people — is simply not consistent with the basic structural rules for state and local government in Washington,” Spitzer said.

Anne Levinson, a former Seattle judge turned police accountability expert, worked with Sen. John Lovick, D-Mill Creek, to pen the bill. She said the bill was years in the making and is needed to protect the rule of law.

“Sheriff qualifications are subject to legislative control,” Levinson said in an email.

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