Washington lawmakers hear public testimony on bill to define the role of sheriff's 'posses'
A bill that seeks to establish parameters for volunteers acting on behalf of a local sheriff’s office had a public hearing at the Washington State Legislature on Monday.
The legislation comes two months after InvestigateWest profiled Klickitat County Sheriff Bob Songer and his posse of over 100 volunteers who assist with anything from administrative tasks to controversial cougar hunts.
Sheriff’s volunteers, sometimes called specially commissioned officers or posse members, often assist law enforcement agencies with security at community events, traffic control, and search and rescue operations. But in some areas, the volunteer role in law enforcement activities has grown, raising concerns around training, liability and accountability.
The bill, House Bill 1399, would not allow volunteers to assist in law enforcement actions, including the “carrying of firearms or other weapons, the detention and arrest of others, and the use of force and deadly force,” unless the person has completed peace officer training and certification requirements, according to the bill. While the bill doesn’t specifically define what would fall under “law enforcement activities,” it would require agencies to include policies that lay out permissible roles.
https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/02/02/washington-lawmakers-hear-public-testimony-on-bill-to-define-the-role-of-sheriffs-posses/
Songer is part of the “constitutional sheriff” movement