It's not about a job, it's about your rights

I was asked the other day if I was concerned about the recent bill in Olympia giving a citizen committee the right to remove an elected sheriff from office. This bill (Senate Bill 5974) was passed by both the House and Senate and recently signed into law by the governor.

Am I concerned? Yes.

I've been concerned about this bill for several years since it was first introduced, but not for the reasons some may think. My concerns are not about the job I currently hold, but rather about the voice of the people being removed.

A sheriff's job is more complex than the typical grade-school students answer of "catching bad guys." While it's true that a sheriff does enforce the law and keep the peace, there is also a roll of standing up and protecting the rights of the people.

If a state such as ours passes a law that conflicts with your constitutional rights, it is the job of the sheriff to ensure your rights are protected. It is exactly this role in my opinion which has led to this looming change in the law.

You may recall during the dark days of COVID, there were sheriffs refusing to enforce mask mandates and social distance rules (ironically, the Legislature just passed a bill banning law enforcement from wearing face coverings).

There were sheriffs who proudly stood up for your second amendment rights by telling the state they would not enforce unconstitutional laws aimed at your right to bear arms, and most recently sheriffs who told the state they would not comply with their law prohibiting us from working with federal immigration enforcement.

This bill was publicly framed as a way to "modernize laws and hold our law enforcement leaders accountable," but the truth in my opinion is this bill is all about control.

Currently, if an elected sheriff tells the state they are not going to comply with illegal laws, the only recourse is placing the jurisdiction of those laws under another agency such as the Attorney General's Office, or through filing a civil lawsuit.

This bill changes that and allows a small committee of people living on the west side of the state to remove a sheriff from office should it see fit. Theoretically, the Legislature can now pass any law and demand a sheriff enforce it under the threat of being removed from office.

Several years ago, the state criminal justice training commission put great efforts to publicly change their mantra for training new law enforcement officers to become "Guardians of Democracy." This was something state lawmakers agreed with as it was their view of the primary role of law enforcement.

I'm not sure about you, but I just don't understand how you can have a democracy without the voice of the people and that is the concern we should all have with this law.

The constitutionality of this law is currently being challenged through the courts on behalf of the 39 county sheriffs. It will be some time before we get a final ruling.

Until then and for as long as "you the people" allow me to hold this office, I will continue to stand up for your rights and against unconstitutional state laws regardless of any threat to remove me from office.

The constitutional office of sheriff is an important position, not the person in it, and it should continue to serve as a hard line in defending the rights of the people.

Until I am removed from office, truly yours,

- Gabe Gants is the Lincoln County Sheriff. Email him at ggants@co.lincoln.wa.us.