Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 15, 2004
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Amy Blondin, Senate Democratic Caucus, 360-786-7741;

Gov. Gary Locke Signs Bills Strengthening Domestic Violence Policies

OLYMPIA – March 15, 2004 – Flanked by numerous legislators and domestic violence support groups, Gov. Gary Locke today signed several public safety bills into law that will help prevent domestic violence and protect victims when it occurs.

Among the legislation Locke signed was Senate Bill 6161, which requires every police department and sheriff’s department in the state to adopt and enforce policies to deal with domestic violence involving their officers.

The bill charges the Washington State Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs with developing a state model policy by Dec. 1 that addresses staff training, reporting requirements and procedures for investigating officer-involved domestic violence. Every law enforcement agency in the state must adopt its own policy by June 1, 2005.

Tacoma police Chief David Brame’s fatal shooting of his wife and subsequent suicide in April 2003 prompted the legislation.

“We are here to mark an important victory for domestic violence victims of our state,” Locke said. “Let us do all we can to make sure that no member of a law enforcement family will ever again endure what happened to Crystal Brame.”

Sen. Debbie Regala, D-Tacoma, and Rep. Pat Lantz, D-Gig Harbor, were the prime sponsors.

“Law enforcement agencies can no longer turn a blind eye to allegations of domestic violence among their own,” Regala said. “The legislation is about allowing the agencies to adopt the policies that best reflect their unique local situations. Every community is different, and this bill honors that.”

Referring to the work of the Tacoma-based Task Force on Officer-Involved Domestic Violence created in response to the Brame shooting, Lantz added, “On behalf of the many dedicated task force members, this legislation reflects our united determination to assure that such a tragedy never happens again.”

The governor also signed House Bills 2473, 1645 and Senate Bill 6384:

· HB 2473 – Weapons in Courthouse Buildings – Prohibits a law enforcement officer from bringing a weapon into a courthouse if the officer is at the courthouse as a party to a civil or criminal action involving domestic violence or harassment. Rep. Judy Clibborn, D-Mercer Island, was the prime sponsor of this bill.

· HB 1645 – Domestic Violence Victims/Rental of Housing – Allows victims of domestic violence to terminate rental agreements without paying additional rent, and prohibits landlords from evicting or refusing to rent to them. Groups representing landlords as well as victims of domestic violence and sexual assault supported this bill. The prime sponsors are Rep. Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, and Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver.

· SB 6384 – Domestic Violence Offenders – Authorizes courts to impose an additional $100 penalty on those convicted of domestic violence crimes. The money would fund domestic-violence prevention programs and would stay in the county or city where the court imposed the penalty. The prime sponsors of this bill were Sen. Luke Esser, R-Bellevue, and Rep. Dave Upthegrove, D-Des Moines.

Locke said, “Here in Washington, we have some of the strongest laws in America against domestic violence – but we know we must do more. These bills I am signing will further strengthen our laws.”

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