In sheriff’s testimony, WA legislators hear a clear threat

Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank faces backlash after he disputed the Legislature’s authority and questioned whether they were prepared to clash with his supporters.

Three Washington state senators said the biting testimony Pierce County’s sheriff delivered during a committee hearing Thursday was threatening to legislators. ¶Sheriff Keith Swank delivered the remarks to the Senate Law and Justice Committee, stating his opposition to legislation that would set stricter eligibility requirements for people to serve as sheriffs and in other law enforcement leadership jobs. … The sponsor of the bill on eligibility standards for law enforcement officials, Sen. John Lovick, D-Mill Creek, served as a state trooper and Snohomish County sheriff. ¶ He saw Swank’s comments asking if lawmakers were “prepared” as “very, very threatening.”