Inslee to announce proposal expanding training, support for officer recruitment

On Thursday, Gov. Jay Inslee and law enforcement leaders are expected to announce a proposal that will expand law enforcement training and support new officer recruitment.

Inslee will join law enforcement leaders at the state Criminal Justice Training Commission for the announcement.

According to a release, an expansion to new regional training centers will help address recruitment issues.

The expansion will accelerate training, reduce shortages at agencies, and open the door for agencies to recruit diverse and qualified candidates.

According to the release, one barrier to quickly filling positions is the limited capacity of training.

While new recruits and lateral officers are required to complete training at the CJTC campus in Burien, expansion to regional campuses will allow officers to train closer to home and reduce barriers for those looking to get into the profession.

However, the high standards for training will continue at the regional campuses with an emphasis on de-escalation and the updated standards that have been approved by legislators.

The regional campuses might help agencies recruit locally and hire officers that are more representative of the communities they serve, the release stated.