OLYMPIA, Wash. – Governor Jay Inslee has signed a bill rolling back part of the state’s police reform legislation from last year.
The measure, House Bill 2037, makes it clear that police can use force to stop people from fleeing temporary investigative detentions, known as Terry stops.
Changes to the legislation moved forward after law enforcement and key Democratic lawmakers agreed the original bill went too far.
Officers said restrictions passed by lawmakers in 2021 had left them unable to use Terry Stops, meaning potential suspects could simply leave.
Under the bill, police still must use reasonable care, including appropriate de-escalation techniques, and they may not use force during Terry stops when the people being detained are compliant.