New Funding Opportunities for Pursuit Technology in Washington Law Enforcement: Balancing Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform

The state of Washington is offering police agencies a funding opportunity to purchase equipment capable of pursuing suspects without the use of firearms. This funding comes as restrictions on law enforcement pursuing criminals are set to take effect on June 6 after passing in the Legislature. The Washington State Department of Commerce, Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention/Community Safety Unit has put out a request for proposal for a law enforcement agency to purchase specific vehicle pursuit technology. This includes equipment such as global positioning system tracking equipment, automated license plate reading technology, aircraft, and drones. The total amount of funding available is $1.4 million, with the dollar amount awarded dependent on the number of officers in the department.

The grant funding for this equipment was included in the Legislature’s 2023 operating budget, which also allocated $1.5 million for the first round of grants last year. The Spokane Sheriff’s Office received the most funding in the first round, using $204,600 to purchase a thermal imaging camera for the Spokane Regional Air Support Unit. This unit owns and operates four helicopters used in vehicle pursuits.

The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs Executive Director Steve Strachan stated that while funding for pursuit technology is appreciated, there is still more work to be done. He mentioned that the legislature did not pass bipartisan supported legislation (SB 6200) to address fleeing suspects through other measures like tougher penalties, impounding vehicles, and increased use of technology. Law enforcement will continue to advocate for more tools to address these issues.

The Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention/Community Safety Unit was created in 2020 with the goal of better understanding and reducing firearm violence in communities across Washington. The Q&A period for the request for proposals lasts from April 16 to May 8, with a pre-proposal conference scheduled for May 1 at 10:30 a.m. Proposals are due on May 28, and the first round of funding is set to occur between July 1, 2024, and June 30