The following is from the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office:
On March 28, 2025, the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs released a Press Release Supporting SB 5068-Law Enforcement Employment.
This press release shows the above Association is supporting the hiring of non-citizens for law enforcement positions.
I called and talked to Mr. Steven Strachan, the Executive Director of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. Mr. Strachan informed me the Board Members of the Association approved supporting SB 5068, the hiring of non-citizens in law enforcement positions.
I strongly disagree with hiring non-citizens in law enforcement positions. I further informed Mr. Strachan to remove my membership from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. He agreed to do so.
On April 2, 2025, I sent Executive Director Strachan an official letter resigning my membership from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.
My letter stated the following
“I am in receipt of your statement from March 28, 2025 the WASPC Support of SB 5068 — Law Enforcement Employment. Supporting non-citizen applicants to be sworn law enforcement members is disrespectful to those of us who have spent our careers upholding the laws of the State of Washington. I am proud of my 56 year law enforcement career, and my position as a Constitutional Sheriff.
I request my membership for the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs be immediately cancelled.
Signed by Bob Songer. Sheriff
Proud member of the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association.”
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