AGO Opinion Topics: AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

(1) Under the law as it now exists, the Chief of the Washington State Patrol may not promote otherwise qualified minority and female commissioned officers to the line ranks of sergeant and lieutenant referred to in RCW 43.43.330 who do not occupy one of the top three positions on the promotion list noted in RCW 43.43.340. (2) While the Chief may so promote qualified minority and female commissioned officers to the staff ranks of sergeant and lieutenant, he may not then assign them, with those ranks, to line or field command positions.