Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

Model Policy

The law requires the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) to develop a model policy on law enforcement use of force and de-escalation tactics consistent with new standards adopted into law. Consistent with the legislative directive, the model use-of-force policy applies to all peace officers in Washington, but does not apply to corrections officers working in jails, correctional, or detention facilities.

Model Use of Force Policy:

Letter in Support from 46 Organizations

Model Use of Force Policy in Other Languages:

Process of Developing the Model Policy

The AGO developed the statewide Model Use-of-Force Policy following extensive engagement with community stakeholders and law enforcement officers. The AGO reviewed use-of-force policies that have been implemented locally and nationally. Members of the public were invited to provide feedback on a draft of the policy by submitting comments through an online portal or by phone.

Status

Washington law requires all law enforcement agencies to either:

  1. Adopt a use-of-force policy that is consistent with the AGO model policy, and submit that policy to the AGO; or
  2. Submit the agency’s inconsistent use-of-force policy to the AGO along with:
    1. The reasons for departing from the AGO model policy, and
    2. An explanation for how the agency’s policy is consistent with RCW 10.120.020.

This webpage includes all law enforcement use-of-force policies received by the Attorney General’s Office, including the agency’s self-report as to whether its policy is consistent with the AGO model policy, and, as applicable, the agency’s explanation for not adopting a consistent use-of-force policy.

Agencies that have not yet provided information, or those that need to update their submission, can do so using the form linked here.

Use-of-Force Policies

The assessment of whether an agency’s policy is consistent with the model policy is made by the law enforcement agency itself. The date indicates when the agency reported last updating its policy.

Use of Force Policies

Law Enforcement Agency Agency's use-of-force policy is consistent with the AGO model policy Last Updated
Aberdeen Police Department Yes
Adams County Sheriff's Office Yes
Airway Heights Police Department Yes
Algona Police Department Yes
Anacortes Police Department Yes
Arlington Police Department Yes
Asotin County Sheriff's Office Yes
Asotin Police Department Yes
Auburn Police Department Yes
Bainbridge Island Police Department Yes
Battle Ground Police Department Yes
Beaux Arts Police Department Contracts with King County Sheriff's Office
Bellevue Police Department Yes
Bellingham Police Department No
Benton County Sheriff's Office Yes
Bingen Police Department Yes
Black Diamond Police Department Yes
Blaine Police Department Yes
Bonney Lake Police Department Yes
Bothell Police Department Yes
Bremerton Police Department No
Brewster Police Department Yes
Brier Police Department Yes
Buckley Police Department Yes
Burien Police Department Contracts with King County Sheriff's Office
Burlington Police Department Yes
Camas Police Department Yes
Carnation Police Department Contracts with King County Sheriff's Office
Castle Rock Police Department No
Central Washington University Police Department Yes
Centralia Police Department Yes
Chehalis Police Department Yes
Chelan County Sheriff's Office Yes
Cheney Police Department Yes
Chewelah Police Department Yes
Clallam County Sheriff's Office Yes
Clark County Sheriff's Office Yes
Clarkston Police Department Yes
Cle Elum Police Department Yes
Clyde Hill Police Department Yes
Colfax Police Department Yes
College Place Police Department Yes
Colton Police Department Yes
Columbia County Sheriff's Office Yes
Colville Police Department Yes
Connell Police Department Yes
Cosmopolis Police Department Yes
Coulee Dam Police Department Yes
Coupeville Police Department No Policy Submitted
Covington Police Department Contracts with King County Sheriff's Office
Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office Yes
Darrington Police Department Contracts with Snohomish County Sheriff's Office
Des Moines Police Department Yes
Douglas County Sheriff's Office Yes
DuPont Police Department Yes
Duvall Police Department Yes
East Wenatchee Police Department Yes
Eastern Washington University Police Department Yes
Eatonville Police Department Yes
Edgewood Police Department Contracts with Pierce County Sheriff's Office
Edmonds Police Department Yes
Ellensburg Police Department Yes
Elma Police Department Yes
Enumclaw Police Department No
Ephrata Police Department Yes
Everett Police Department No
Evergreen State College Police Department Yes
Everson-Nooksack Police Department Yes
Federal Way Police Department No
Ferndale Police Department Yes
Ferry County Sheriff's Office No Policy Submitted
Fife Police Department Yes
Fircrest Police Department Yes
Forks Police Department Yes
Franklin County Sheriff's Office No
Garfield County Sheriff's Office Yes
Garfield Police Department Yes
Gig Harbor Police Department Yes
Gold Bar Police Department Contracts with Snohomish County Sheriff's Office
Goldendale Police Department Yes
Grand Coulee Police Department Yes
Grandview Police Department Yes
Granger Police Department No Policy Submitted
Granite Falls Police Department Yes
Grant County Sheriff's Office Yes
Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Office Yes
Hoquiam Police Department Yes
Ilwaco Police Department Contracts with Long Beach Police Department
Index Police Department Contracts with Snohomish County Sheriff's Office
Island County Sheriff's Office No Policy Submitted
Issaquah Police Department Yes
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office No Policy Submitted
Kalama Police Department Yes
Kelso Police Department Yes
Kenmore Police Department Contracts with King County Sheriff's Office
Kennewick Police Department No
Kent Police Department No
Kettle Falls Police Department Yes
King County Airport Police Department Contracts with King County Sheriff's Office
King County Metro Transit Police Department Yes
King County Sheriff's Office Yes
Kirkland Police Department Yes
Kitsap County Sheriff's Office Yes
Kittitas County Sheriff's Office Yes
Kittitas Police Department Yes
Klickitat County Sheriff's Office Yes
La Center Police Department Yes
Lacey Police Department Yes
Lake Forest Park Police Department Yes
Lake Stevens Police Department Yes
Lakewood Police Department Yes
Langley Police Department Yes
Lewis County Sheriff's Office Yes
Liberty Lake Police Department Yes
Lincoln County Sheriff's Office Yes
Long Beach Police Department Yes
Longview Police Department Yes
Lynden Police Department No
Lynnwood Police Department Yes
Mabton Police Department No Policy Submitted
Maple Valley Police Department Contracts with King County Sheriff's Office
Marysville Police Department Yes
Mason County Sheriff's Office Yes
Mattawa Police Department Yes
McCleary Police Department No Policy Submitted
Medina Police Department Yes
Mercer Island Police Department Yes
Mill Creek Police Department Yes
Milton Police Department Yes
Monroe Police Department Yes
Montesano Police Department Yes
Morton Police Department No Policy Submitted
Moses Lake Police Department Yes
Mossyrock Police Department Contracts with Lewis County Sheriff's Office
Mount Vernon Police Department Yes
Mountlake Terrace Police Department Yes
Moxee Police Department Yes
Muckleshoot Police Department Contracts with King County Sheriff's Office
Mukilteo Police Department Yes
Napavine Police Department No Policy Submitted
Newcastle Police Department Contracts with King County Sheriff's Office
Newport Police Department Yes
Normandy Park Police Department Yes
North Bend Police Department Yes
Oak Harbor Police Department Yes
Oakesdale Police Department Yes
Oakville Police Department Contracts with Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Office
Ocean Shores Police Department Yes
Odessa Police Department Yes
Okanogan County Sheriff's Office Yes
Olympia Police Department Yes
Omak Police Department Yes
Oroville Police Department Yes
Orting Police Department Yes
Othello Police Department Yes
Pacific County Sheriff's Office Yes
Pacific Police Department No
Palouse Police Department Yes
Pasco Police Department Yes
Pe Ell Police Department No Policy Submitted
Pend Oreille County Sheriff's Office Yes
Pierce County Sheriff's Office No
Pierce Transit Police Department Yes
Port Angeles Police Department Yes
Port of Pasco Airport Yes
Port of Seattle Police Department No
Port Orchard Police Department Yes
Port Townsend Police Department No
Poulsbo Police Department Yes
Prosser Police Department Yes
Pullman Police Department Yes
Puyallup Police Department Yes
Quincy Police Department Yes
Rainier Police Department Yes
Raymond Police Department Yes
Reardan Police Department Yes
Redmond Police Department Yes
Renton Police Department Yes
Republic Police Department No Policy Submitted
Richland Police Department Yes
Ridgefield Police Department Yes
Ritzville Police Department Yes
Rosalia Police Department Yes
Roy Police Department Yes
Royal City Police Department Yes
Ruston Police Department Yes
Sammamish Police Department Contracts with King County Sheriff's Office
San Juan County Sheriff's Office Yes
SeaTac Police Department Contracts with King County Sheriff's Office
Seattle Police Department Yes
Sedro-Woolley Police Department Yes
Selah Police Department Yes
Sequim Police Department Yes
Shelton Police Department Yes
Shoalwater Bay Tribal Police Yes
Shoreline Police Department Contracts with King County Sheriff's Office
Skagit County Sheriff's Office Yes
Skamania County Sheriff's Office Yes
Skykomish Police Department Contracts with King County Sheriff's Office
Snohomish County Sheriff's Office Yes
Snoqualmie Police Department Yes
Soap Lake Police Department Yes
Sound Transit Police Department Contracts with King County Sheriff's Office
South Bend Police Department Yes
Spokane Airport Police Department Yes
Spokane County Sheriff's Office Yes
Spokane Police Department Yes
Spokane Valley Police Department Contracts with Spokane Police Department
Springdale Police Department Yes
Stanwood Police Department Contracts with Snohomish County Sheriff's Office
Steilacoom Police Department Yes
Stevens County Sheriff's Office Yes
Sultan Police Department Contracts with Snohomish County Sheriff's Office
Sumas Police Department Yes
Sumner Police Department Yes
Sunnyside Police Department Yes
Suquamish Tribal Police Yes
Tacoma Police Department Yes
Tenino Police Department Yes
Thurston County Sheriff's Office Yes
Tieton Police Department Yes
Toledo Police Department No Policy Submitted
Tonasket Police Department Contracts with Okanogan County Sheriff's Office
Toppenish Police Department Yes
Tukwila Police Department Yes
Tumwater Police Department Yes
Twisp Police Department Yes
Union Gap Police Department Yes
University of Washington Police Department Yes
University Place Police Department Contracts with Pierce County Sheriff's Office
Vader Police Department Contracts with Lewis County Sheriff's Office
Vancouver Police Department Yes
Wahkiakum County Sheriff's Office Yes
Walla Walla County Sheriff's Office No
Walla Walla Police Department No
Wapato Police Department Yes
Warden Police Department Yes
Washington State Department of Corrections Yes
Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife Yes
Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Yes
Washington State Department of Natural Resources Yes
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services No
Washington State Gambling Commission No
Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board Yes
Washington State Lottery Commission Yes
Washington State Medicaid Fraud Control Division – Office of the Attorney General Yes
Washington State Office of Independent Investigations No
Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner Yes
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Yes
Washington State Patrol Yes
Washington State University Police Department Yes
Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission No
Washougal Police Department Yes
Wenatchee Police Department Yes
West Richland Police Department No
Western Washington University Police Department Yes
Westport Police Department No Policy Submitted
Whatcom County Sheriff's Office Yes
White Salmon Police Department Yes
Whitman County Sheriff's Office Yes
Wilbur Police Department Yes
Winlock Police Department No Policy Submitted
Winthrop Marshal's Office Yes
Woodinville Police Department Contracts with King County Sheriff's Office
Woodland Police Department Yes
Woodway Police Department Yes
Yakima County Sheriff's Office Yes
Yakima Police Department Yes
Yarrow Point Police Department Contracts with Clyde Hill Police Department
Yelm Police Department Yes
Zillah Police Department Yes

Tribal Agencies

Tribal Governments are not subject to this state law.  Tribal police departments do have the option to voluntarily submit information to be displayed on this webpage.

 

Best Practices

The AGO also developed Best Practices on key force-related topics:

Best Practices for Use-of-Force Reporting, Investigation and Review

Best Practices for Use of Force in Crowd Management Incidents

References