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.

Agencies with delayed submissions are listed below the Use-of-Force Policies table.

Law Enforcement Agency Agency's use-of-force policy is consistent with the AGO model policy Last Updated
Aberdeen Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Adams County Sheriff's Office Yes 12/14/2022
Airway Heights Police Department Yes 03/01/2022
Algona Police Department Yes 11/18/2022
Anacortes Police Department Yes 11/25/2022
Arlington Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Asotin County Sheriff's Office Yes 10/10/2022
Asotin Police Department Yes 11/08/2022
Auburn Police Department Yes 11/09/2022
Bainbridge Island Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Battle Ground Police Department Yes 03/17/2022
Beaux Arts Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Bellevue Police Department Yes 06/22/2022
Bellingham Police Department No 03/25/2022
Benton County Sheriff's Office Yes 12/08/2022
Bingen Police Department Yes 11/07/2022
Black Diamond Police Department Yes 11/22/2022
Blaine Police Department No Policy Submitted
Bonney Lake Police Department Yes 11/29/2022
Bothell Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Bremerton Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Brewster Police Department Yes 11/17/2022
Brier Police Department No Policy Submitted
Buckley Police Department Yes 11/29/2022
Burien Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Burlington Police Department Yes 11/28/2022
Camas Police Department Yes 11/08/2022
Carnation Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Castle Rock Police Department No 11/08/2022
Central Washington University Police Department Yes 11/29/2022
Centralia Police Department Yes 11/17/2022
Chehalis Police Department Yes 11/30/2022
Chelan County Sheriff's Office Yes 11/30/2022
Cheney Police Department Yes 11/15/2022
Chewelah Police Department Yes 11/09/2022
Clallam County Sheriff's Office Yes 12/01/2022
Clark County Sheriff's Office Yes 09/20/2022
Clarkston Police Department Yes 11/10/2022
Cle Elum Police Department Yes 03/23/2022
Clyde Hill Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Colfax Police Department Yes 07/27/2021
College Place Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Colton Police Department Yes 11/21/2022
Columbia County Sheriff's Office Yes 11/29/2022
Colville Police Department Yes 07/28/2021
Connell Police Department Yes 07/23/2021
Cosmopolis Police Department Yes 06/02/2022
Coulee Dam Police Department Yes 11/20/2022
Coupeville Police Department No Policy Submitted
Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office Yes 11/30/2022
Darrington Police Department Yes 03/17/2022
Des Moines Police Department Yes 11/30/2022
Douglas County Sheriff's Office Yes 11/29/2022
DuPont Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Duvall Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
East Wenatchee Police Department Yes 11/15/2022
Eastern Washington University Police Department Yes 11/17/2022
Eatonville Police Department Yes 11/15/2022
Edgewood Police Department No 12/01/2022
Edmonds Police Department Yes 11/14/2022
Ellensburg Police Department Yes 11/09/2022
Elma Police Department Yes 08/10/2021
Enumclaw Police Department No 11/21/2022
Ephrata Police Department Yes 11/30/2022
Everett Police Department No 11/30/2022
Evergreen State College Police Department Yes 11/29/2022
Everson-Nooksack Police Department Yes 11/08/2022
Federal Way Police Department No 11/29/2022
Ferndale Police Department Yes 11/29/2022
Ferry County Sheriff's Office No Policy Submitted
Fife Police Department Yes 11/22/2022
Fircrest Police Department Yes 11/30/2022
Forks Police Department Yes 12/15/2022
Franklin County Sheriff's Office No 11/01/2022
Garfield County Sheriff's Office Yes 11/30/2022
Garfield Police Department Yes 11/29/2022
Gig Harbor Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Gold Bar Police Department Yes 03/17/2022
Goldendale Police Department Yes 11/29/2022
Grand Coulee Police Department Yes 11/08/2022
Grandview Police Department Yes 11/29/2022
Granger Police Department No Policy Submitted
Granite Falls Police Department Yes 03/17/2022
Grant County Sheriff's Office Yes 11/10/2022
Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Office Yes 12/01/2022
Hoquiam Police Department Yes 06/30/2022
Ilwaco Police Department Yes 12/07/2022
Index Police Department Yes 03/17/2022
Island County Sheriff's Office No Policy Submitted
Issaquah Police Department Yes 12/02/2022
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office No Policy Submitted
Kalama Police Department Yes 11/30/2022
Kelso Police Department Yes 09/15/2022
Kenmore Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Kennewick Police Department No 11/30/2022
Kent Police Department No 11/22/2022
Kettle Falls Police Department Yes 11/28/2022
King County Metro Transit Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
King County Sheriff's Office Yes 12/01/2022
Kirkland Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Kitsap County Sheriff's Office No 12/01/2022
Kittitas County Sheriff's Office Yes 09/14/2022
Kittitas Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Klickitat County Sheriff's Office Yes 08/09/2022
La Center Police Department Yes 11/07/2022
Lacey Police Department Yes 11/18/2022
Lake Forest Park Police Department Yes 11/10/2022
Lake Stevens Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Lakewood Police Department Yes 07/01/2022
Langley Police Department Yes 08/01/2022
Lewis County Sheriff's Office Yes 11/22/2022
Liberty Lake Police Department Yes 11/15/2022
Lincoln County Sheriff's Office Yes 11/07/2022
Long Beach Police Department Yes 12/07/2022
Longview Police Department Yes 11/28/2022
Lynden Police Department Yes 09/01/2022
Lynnwood Police Department Yes 11/30/2022
Mabton Police Department No Policy Submitted
Maple Valley Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Marysville Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Mason County Sheriff's Office Yes 11/30/2022
Mattawa Police Department Yes 12/06/2022
McCleary Police Department No Policy Submitted
Medina Police Department Yes 11/14/2022
Mercer Island Police Department Yes 11/01/2022
Mill Creek Police Department Yes 11/22/2022
Milton Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Monroe Police Department Yes 12/22/2022
Montesano Police Department Yes 08/11/2021
Morton Police Department No Policy Submitted
Moses Lake Police Department Yes 11/30/2022
Mossyrock Police Department Yes 11/22/2022
Mount Vernon Police Department Yes 11/30/2022
Mountlake Terrace Police Department Yes 11/10/2022
Moxee Police Department Yes 03/30/2022
Mukilteo Police Department Yes 08/09/2022
Napavine Police Department No Policy Submitted
Newcastle Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Newport Police Department Yes 11/28/2022
Normandy Park Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
North Bend Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Oak Harbor Police Department Yes 11/28/2022
Oakesdale Police Department Yes 12/16/2022
Oakville Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Ocean Shores Police Department Yes 11/30/2022
Odessa Police Department Yes 12/15/2022
Okanogan County Sheriff's Office Yes 12/15/2022
Olympia Police Department Yes 11/29/2022
Omak Police Department Yes 11/04/2022
Oroville Police Department Yes 09/29/2022
Orting Police Department Yes 11/16/2022
Othello Police Department Yes 11/18/2022
Pacific County Sheriff's Office No Policy Submitted
Pacific Police Department No 12/01/2022
Palouse Police Department Yes 12/14/2022
Pasco Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Pe Ell Police Department No Policy Submitted
Pend Oreille County Sheriff's Office Yes 11/01/2022
Pierce County Sheriff's Office No 12/01/2022
Pierce Transit Police Department Yes 12/19/2022
Port Angeles Police Department Yes 11/23/2022
Port of Pasco Airport Yes 11/27/2022
Port of Seattle Police Department No 11/23/2022
Port Orchard Police Department Yes 11/28/2022
Port Townsend Police Department No 11/30/2022
Poulsbo Police Department Yes 11/28/2022
Prosser Police Department Yes 11/21/2022
Pullman Police Department Yes 11/30/2022
Puyallup Police Department Yes 11/29/2022
Quincy Police Department Yes 02/08/2022
Rainier Police Department Yes 03/31/2022
Raymond Police Department Yes 11/07/2022
Reardan Police Department Yes 05/06/2022
Redmond Police Department Yes 11/22/2022
Renton Police Department Yes 11/29/2022
Republic Police Department No Policy Submitted
Richland Police Department Yes 11/30/2022
Ridgefield Police Department Yes 11/14/2022
Ritzville Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Rosalia Police Department Yes 11/21/2022
Roy Police Department Yes 10/19/2022
Royal City Police Department Yes 11/09/2022
Ruston Police Department Yes 11/30/2022
Sammamish Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
San Juan County Sheriff's Office Yes 11/30/2022
SeaTac Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Seattle Police Department Yes 11/30/2022
Sedro-Woolley Police Department Yes 11/27/2022
Selah Police Department Yes 11/18/2022
Sequim Police Department Yes 11/30/2022
Shelton Police Department Yes 11/04/2022
Shoalwater Bay Tribal Police Yes 11/30/2022
Shoreline Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Skagit County Sheriff's Office Yes 11/30/2022
Skamania County Sheriff's Office Yes 11/30/2022
Skykomish Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Snohomish County Sheriff's Office Yes 03/17/2022
Snoqualmie Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Soap Lake Police Department Yes 12/19/2022
South Bend Police Department Yes 11/15/2022
Spokane Airport Police Department Yes 12/19/2022
Spokane County Sheriff's Office Yes 11/29/2022
Spokane Police Department Yes 11/18/2022
Spokane Valley Police Department Yes 11/29/2022
Springdale Police Department Yes 09/29/2022
Stanwood Police Department Yes 03/17/2022
Steilacoom Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Stevens County Sheriff's Office Yes 09/29/2022
Sultan Police Department Yes 03/17/2022
Sumas Police Department Yes 11/08/2022
Sumner Police Department Yes 11/29/2022
Sunnyside Police Department No Policy Submitted
Suquamish Tribal Police Yes 12/01/2022
Tacoma Police Department Yes 11/22/2022
Tenino Police Department Yes 11/01/2022
Thurston County Sheriff's Office Yes 07/28/2022
Tieton Police Department Yes 05/10/2022
Toledo Police Department No Policy Submitted
Tonasket Police Department Yes 12/15/2022
Toppenish Police Department Yes 10/03/2022
Tukwila Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Tumwater Police Department Yes 11/15/2022
Twisp Police Department Yes 12/13/2022
Union Gap Police Department Yes 11/30/2022
University of Washington Police Department Yes 11/22/2022
University Place Police Department No 12/01/2022
Vader Police Department Yes 11/22/2022
Vancouver Police Department Yes 11/30/2022
Wahkiakum County Sheriff's Office Yes 11/29/2022
Walla Walla County Sheriff's Office No 11/29/2022
Walla Walla Police Department No 12/01/2022
Wapato Police Department Yes 11/15/2022
Warden Police Department Yes 11/07/2022
Washington State Department of Corrections Yes 01/19/2023
Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife Yes 12/01/2022
Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Yes 01/13/2023
Washington State Department of Natural Resources Yes 12/16/2022
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services No 12/09/2022
Washington State Gambling Commission No 12/01/2022
Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board No 10/25/2022
Washington State Lottery Commission Yes 12/01/2022
Washington State Medicaid Fraud Control Division – Office of the Attorney General Yes 12/06/2022
Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner Yes 03/22/2022
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Yes 11/30/2022
Washington State Patrol Yes 12/01/2022
Washington State University Police Department Yes 11/18/2022
Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission No
Washougal Police Department Yes 11/23/2022
Wenatchee Police Department Yes 11/15/2022
West Richland Police Department No 12/01/2022
Western Washington University Police Department Yes 11/26/2022
Westport Police Department No Policy Submitted
Whatcom County Sheriff's Office Yes 02/08/2023
White Salmon Police Department Yes 11/07/2022
Whitman County Sheriff's Office Yes 11/21/2022
Wilbur Police Department Yes 11/07/2022
Winlock Police Department No Policy Submitted
Winthrop Marshal's Office Yes 11/14/2022
Woodinville Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Woodland Police Department Yes 11/30/2022
Woodway Police Department Yes 11/27/2022
Yakima County Sheriff's Office Yes 11/29/2022
Yakima Police Department Yes 12/28/2021
Yarrow Point Police Department Yes 12/01/2022
Yelm Police Department Yes 11/14/2022
Zillah Police Department Yes 11/07/2022
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.

Delayed Submissions

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