‘I’m Prepared, Are You Ready for What Comes Next?’ [WATCH]

A public hearing in Washington state turned confrontational after Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank sharply criticized a proposed law enforcement qualification bill, warning lawmakers that the measure would allow an unelected body to strip elected officials of authority based on speech, while exempting legislators themselves from similar scrutiny.

Swank delivered his remarks during an exchange with Washington State Senator Manka Dhingra, who was presiding over the hearing.

The proposed bill would expand the power of a certification board overseeing law enforcement officers, a move Swank argued creates accountability for police while shielding elected officials from equivalent standards.

“You’re going to pass this qualification bill for law enforcement, but you won’t hold yourselves accountable,” Swank said.

“Therefore, I propose everyone who runs for an elected office go through a background check, a social media review, a polygraph, a psychological test.”

Swank said lawmakers would not accept that proposal, claiming partisan double standards.

“But Democrats, you won’t agree to that because you have convicted felons who are elected officials here,” he said.

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Swank emphasized the scope of his office and the electorate he represents, drawing a contrast between his role and that of appointed officials or boards.

“I represent almost a million people, more than all of you combined. Here many more people. I wasn’t elected Chief of Police. Being sheriff of Pierce County is much more than police work,” Swank said.

He told lawmakers that residents regularly contact him over concerns about government overreach and said the bill threatens to silence elected officials based on speech disagreements.

“Citizens reach out to me all the time regarding overreach of the government by you, some say they finally have a voice because of me, and you want to silence it because I said transgender women are men. I said the truth,” Swank said.

Swank argued the legislation would empower what he described as unelected bureaucracy to remove him from office.

“You want to give unelected bureaucracy the ability to decertify me and remove me from office because you don’t agree with my speech,” he said.

The sheriff also warned of how he would respond if the bill passes, referencing mask policies for deputies.

“Just for the record, my deputies don’t wear masks, but once you pass this law that they can’t, I will not only allow them, but I will encourage them to do so, just to see what you do,” Swank said.

Swank said he does not recognize the legislature’s authority to impose such controls on his office and issued a warning about public reaction if lawmakers attempt to remove him.

“I don’t recognize your authority to impose these controls over me, and when you try to remove me from office, 1000s of Pierce County residents will surround the county city building and downtown Tacoma and will not allow that to happen,” Swank said.

“I hope it doesn’t come to that, but I and they are prepared. Are you prepared?”

He concluded his remarks with a direct statement aimed at lawmakers supporting the bill.

“Finally, anyone who votes for this will never have an audience with this sheriff,” Swank said.

Senator Dhingra responded by attempting to restore order to the hearing and reminding Swank of procedural rules.

“Thank you. Could I have you identify yourself for the record?” Dhingra said.

“I’m sorry that is not what we do at public hearings, and you will be asked to be removed if that continues.”

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