Late last week, the controversial bill that grants the state the power to remove elected county sheriffs passed both the House and the Senate, and is now awaiting Governor Bob Ferguson’s signature.
The bill, Senate Bill 5974, passed in the House of Representatives on a party-line vote. The House of Representatives voted on the bill after approximately eight hours of debate. KIRO host John Curley had Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank on to discuss legislation.
“They now have the power if you or any other sheriff says something that they don’t like or does something they don’t like, you have to go before this committee, and then this committee takes a look at your behavior, and if they determine, even though you were elected by the people of Pierce County, the Washington state criminal justice commission will take away your job,” Curley told Swank…