Tag Archives: Criminal Justice Training Commission

Holy attends ribbon-cutting event for new law-enforcement training center

Sen. Jeff Holy, the Republican leader on the Senate Law and Justice Committee, joined a handful of other legislators and statewide officials at today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new law-enforcement training center in Arlington. Gov. Bob Ferguson and Monica Alexander, executive director of the state Criminal Justice Training Commission, spoke at the event.

“This new training facility was built to provide state-of-the-art training for incoming recruits to become highly effective law-enforcement officers in Washington,” said Holy, R-Cheney.

The new Northwest Regional Campus includes a Basic Law Enforcement Academy for 60 recruits a year, as well as advanced training for current officers. The facility has modern features and utilizes the latest technology, including a virtual reality simulation system that will place recruits in real-world policing situations, plus two simulation houses with movable walls for building searches and tactical training.

“This center is a good example of why our state needs to wisely spend money on law-enforcement officer recruitment and retention – to take full advantage of this specialized training,” added Holy. This session he has introduced Senate Bill 5060, which would have the state Criminal Justice Training Commission develop and implement a grant program to help local and tribal governments hire law-enforcement officers. A $100 million appropriation from the state general fund would support the grant program.

“Crime continues to be a problem in Washington,” said Holy, a retired Spokane police detective who serves the 6^th Legislative District. “We rank among the worst states in several categories, including murders, auto theft and retail theft. A key reason is that we also rank 51^st nationally for the number of law-enforcement officers per capita. By recruiting and training more officers in facilities like the new one in Arlington, we can help increase the number of officers in more communities, helping to make them safer.”

Senate panel passes Holy bill to help hire more law-enforcement officers

A bipartisan bill prime-sponsored by Sen. Jeff Holy to increase public safety by boosting the number of law-enforcement officers in Washington communities was approved by the Senate Law and Justice Committee today.

Senate Bill 5060 would have the state Criminal Justice Training Commission develop and implement a grant program to help local and tribal governments hire law-enforcement officers. A $100 million appropriation from the state general fund would support the grant program.

“It’s good to see this bill move forward because crime is a growing problem in our state,” said Holy, R-Cheney. “Washington ranks among the worst states in several categories, including murders, auto theft and retail theft. A key reason is that we also rank 51^st nationally for the number of law-enforcement officers per capita. As a retired police officer, I know we need more officers in our communities and on our roads.”

Holy, the Republican leader on the Law and Justice Committee, said he appreciates recent public comments by Gov. Bob Ferguson in support of the measure.

“During his inaugural address to legislators last week, Governor Ferguson said he would not sign a new operating budget if it did not provide the $100 million in funding for this program. It’s a clear signal that he not only understands the need to increase the number of law-enforcement officers in our state but also believes the best route is through this proposed grant program. It’s all about making our communities safer,” said Holy, who represents the 6^th Legislative District.

SB 5060 also would require the CJTC to establish policies for grant applications from local agencies, including review criteria and reporting requirements from local governments, and annually report on the grant program’s utilization, application and hiring data.

Before approving the measure, the committee adopted an amendment offered by Sen. Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond, chair of the Law and Justice Committee.

Several people testified in support of SB 5060 during the Law and Justice Committee’s public hearing on the proposal Tuesday morning, including officials from the governor’s office, city of Tacoma, Washington Retail Association, and the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. Mercer Island Mayor Salim Nice also testified in favor of the bill.

The measure is co-sponsored by Dhingra and 11 other senators, Republicans and Democrats alike.

TVW’s coverage of the public hearing on SB 5060 may be viewed here.

MEDIA ADVISORY: Senate panel to hear Holy bill seeking $100 million to help hire more law-enforcement officers

A bipartisan bill prime-sponsored by Sen. Jeff Holy, R-Cheney, to increase public safety by boosting the number of law-enforcement officers in Washington communities will receive a public hearing in the Senate Law and Justice Committee at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

The Law and Justice Committee meeting on Tuesday will be held in Senate Hearing Room 4 in the John A. Cherberg Building on the Capitol Campus in Olympia.

The bill is co-sponsored by Sen. Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond, chair of the Law and Justice Committee, and 11 other senators, Republicans and Democrats alike.

Gov. Bob Ferguson has publicly expressed support for the proposal introduced by Holy, who is the ranking Republican on the Law and Justice Committee.

Holy bill seeks $100 million to help hire more law-enforcement officers

Sen. Jeff Holy, the new Republican leader on the Senate Law and Justice Committee, has introduced a bipartisan bill ahead of the 2025 legislative session that aims to increase public safety by boosting the number of law-enforcement officers in Washington communities.

Holy’s proposal, Senate Bill 5060, would have the state Criminal Justice Training Commission develop and implement a grant program to help local and tribal governments hire law-enforcement officers. A $100 million appropriation from the state general fund would support the grant program.

“Crime is a growing problem in our state,” said Holy, R-Cheney. “Washington ranks among the worst states in several categories, including murders, auto theft and retail theft. A key reason is that we also rank 51^st nationally for the number of law-enforcement officers per capita.

“As a retired police officer, I know we need more officers in our communities and on our roads,” said Holy, who serves the 6^th Legislative District. “One of Governor-elect Ferguson’s campaign pledges this year was to increase the number of law-enforcement officers in our state – via a statewide grant program. I strongly agree with him on this issue, which is why I’m again sponsoring a bill that would add more officers throughout Washington. This could really help make our communities safer.”

SB 5060 also would require the CJTC to establish policies for applications from local agencies, including review criteria and reporting requirements from local governments, and annually report on the grant program’s utilization, application and hiring data.

The bill is co-sponsored by Sen. Manka Dhingra, chair of the Law and Justice Committee. The measure is expected to be sent to that committee for consideration.

The 105-day legislative session is scheduled to start Jan. 13 and end April 27.