Summary

King County Executive Dow Constantine today announced a supplementary budget request of $400,000 for de-escalation training for King County Sheriff’s Office deputies. Executive Constantine also proposes $418,000 for additional Crisis Intervention Training.

Story

King County Executive Dow Constantine has proposed a special $400,000 appropriation to ensure that King County Sheriff’s Office deputies receive training in de-escalation and anti-bias.  The Executive had proposed $800,000 for this training in the 2017-2018 budget. The County Council approved $400,000 with a requirement for the King County Sheriff to develop a plan for a full training program. This proposal brings forward the next $400,000 to complete funding for all deputies to receive the proposed training by the end of 2018.

“As recent events have shown, the public demands that the resources be provided so that officers are thoroughly trained in de-escalation techniques to protect themselves and others,” said Executive Constantine. “I have proposed additional funding to provide intensive training to the officers who are sworn to protect us every day, so that they can better resolve difficult situations, and the community can have even greater confidence in how we keep people safe.”

The Office of Law Enforcement Oversight has worked closely with the Sheriff’s Office to develop the training program, which incorporates best practices from around the country. The U.S. Department of Justice has recognized social science research that shows even the most well-intentioned people experience some degree of “implicit bias,” the unconscious and often subtle associations made between groups of people. State and local law enforcement agencies across the country have integrated implicit bias education into their training programs.

The Executive and Sheriff John Urquhart have also proposed an additional $418,000 to ensure that all patrol deputies receive 40 hours of Crisis Intervention Training by the end of 2018. This training is intended to provide deputies with information and tools to respond to people in behavioral crisis.  Some deputies have already received this training, but existing funding is insufficient for the entire department. Sheriff Urquhart and the Office of Law Enforcement Oversight both recommended that all deputies take the 40-hour Crisis Intervention Training, as well as ongoing in-person refreshers every year.

The supplemental budget ensures that 251 patrol officers including both sergeants and deputies who haven’t received the training will go through the 40-hour course. The existing Crisis Intervention Training program, funded by the 0.1 percent Mental Illness and Drug Dependency sales tax, will provide the training and reimburse a portion of the training costs incurred by the Sheriff’s Office. 

Provided at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, Crisis Intervention Training involves working in a team with mental health practitioners, law enforcement, medical personnel, and other first responders. The focus is to provide the best services possible to those in crisis.

Most of the funds would come from General Fund revenues.

Quotes

As recent events have shown, the public demands that the resources be provided so that officers are thoroughly trained in de-escalation techniques to protect themselves and others. I have proposed additional funding to provide intensive training to the officers who are sworn to protect us every day, so that they can better resolve difficult situations, and the community can have even greater confidence in how we keep people safe.

As the Council unanimously agreed yesterday, our communities can’t afford to wait anymore for these needed reforms. The Executive’s proposed funding comes at a crucial time and will complement the planning now in motion by the Sheriff – we must get this done.

The Executive’s move is a good first step as King County tries to conduct more cultural relevant and anti-racist trainings. But we must also take a radically different approach to developing training modalities, because if we continue with the same tools and training, we will never significantly improve relations between police and communities, especially people of color and underserved communities.

Police use of force should be the last resort, not the first. These additional funds for training are critical in ensuring our deputies have the tools they need to end encounters safely.

De-escalation training, especially scenario-based role-playing, can provide deputies with essential tools to achieve outcomes that ensure the safety of the public and officers alike.

For more information, contact:

Alex Fryer, Executive Office, 206-477-7966