RES 22-012RESOLUTION NO. 22-012
A RESOLUTION expressing the City Council's support for a
Criminal Justice Training Commission ("CJTC") regional police
training campus in the southwest Washington region.
WHEREAS, public safety and criminal justice professionals and first responders are
essential to providing public safety; and
WHEREAS, for the past several years, law enforcement agencies across the county
have experienced an increase in law enforcement resignations and retirements and a
decrease in law enforcement professional applications and new hires; and
WHEREAS, many law enforcement agencies in our region, including Camas Police
Department, estimate large percentages of their staff will become eligible for retirement
within the next few years and as a result anticipate an increased rate of retirements to
continue for some time; and
WHEREAS, the need to recruit new law enforcement professionals in Southwest
Washington creates an increased demand for CJTC's Basic Law Enforcement Academy
("BLEA") training; and
WHEREAS, in July 2022, Governor Jay Inslee announced his vision to create
regional police academies in order to attract quality people within a 50-mile radius who
can commute to and from an academy every day and who will then serve their own
communities upon graduation; and
WHEREAS, creating a regional public safety training academy in southwest
Washington strongly enhances the City Camas' ability to equitably recruit and train
future peace officers from Camas and nearby communities; and
WHEREAS, removing the barrier for new applicants of living five months away
from their families in order to attend the BLEA increases opportunities for those who may
be single parents or the sole care provider to vulnerable family members; and
WHEREAS, a local regional public safety academy improves community
engagement and outreach efforts by increasing equitable access to all, and by providing
more opportunities for female and persons from our underrepresented communities of
color to become local peace officers; and
WHEREAS, as southwest Washington communities continue to grow and our
population density increases, a long-term investment from the State of Washington
ensures a strong CJTC relationship; and
WHEREAS, a southwest Washington CJTC footprint also enhances capacity for
local public safety agencies to provide state: mandated training, such as 1-940
requirements, and de-escalation training; and
WHEREAS, a southwest Washington contemporary regional training facility
portrays a strong vision of investment in community safety and careers for those who
choose a life of service to others.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CAMAS AS FOLLOWS:
The City Council hereby expresses its support for a Criminal Justice Training
Commission regional police training campus in the southwest Washington region.
2022.
SIGNED:,
Clerk
APPROVED as to form: