[AUDIO REPORT] Imagine electing a sheriff—only to have the state remove them. Senate Republicans’ Tracy Ellis explains this could happen in the future.
TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO REPORT:
[Tracy Ellis] The state Senate, Democrats passed a bill that many say is unconstitutional because it allows an unelected state board to remove a duly elected county sheriff from office.
[Senator Drew MacEwen] The will of the voters should stand, and if they don’t like the job that a given sheriff is doing, they have the right to recall or to vote them out of office in the next election.
[Ellis] Senator Drew McEwen and other opponents argue the measure undermines democracy and could force sheriffs
to choose between their oath to the U.S. Constitution and new state mandates.
[Senator MacEwen] I had sheriffs and rank and file law enforcement officers say to me that this is a horrible bill. We’ve got to stop this, or at least dramatically overhaul. And they’re all for having standards, not the way this bill was written.
[Ellis] The Shelton Republican says with the legislation now heading to the House, he’s urging you to contact representatives to encourage them to vote no in Olympia. I’m Tracy Ellis.