Legislative Mandate
Leading the Way
In June 2020, then-Attorney General Bob Ferguson released a report recommending the state create a centralized, publicly accessible website with standardized information about police use-of-force incidents.
Senate Bill 5259, sponsored by Senator T’wina Nobles (28th District), is the primary legislative authority governing the collection and public disclosure of use-of-force data from law enforcement agencies in the state of Washington. The bill received overwhelming bipartisan support in both the Senate and House and was signed into law in April 2021 as Chapter 10.118 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW).
Senate Bill 5259, sponsored by Senator T’wina Nobles (28th District), is the primary legislative authority governing the collection and public disclosure of use-of-force data from law enforcement agencies in the state of Washington. The bill received overwhelming bipartisan support in both the Senate and House and was signed into law in April 2021 as Chapter 10.118 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW).
SB 5259 Key Provisions
- Data Collection: Agencies are required to collect and report use-of-force data, including the location of incidents where an officer used force.
- Agency Reporting: Agencies must report use-of-force data to the AGO-approved data management platform monthly.
- Data Validation: The approved data management platform operator must provide data validation to ensure accuracy and completeness.
- Public Disclosure: The approved data management operator must make collected data publicly available in a user-friendly online format to enable citizens to access and analyze the information.
SB 5259 Findings
“The legislature finds that law enforcement transparency and accountability are vital in maintaining public trust. Data collection is one essential tool to allow the public, law enforcement, and policymakers to analyze the effectiveness of existing police practices, determine which policies and training work and do not work, and avoid unintended consequences by supporting policy decisions with clear and relevant data.
The legislature finds that creating a statewide data collection program that creates a publicly accessible database to track metrics will help to promote openness, transparency, and accountability, build stronger police-community relations, improve trust and confidence in policing services, evaluate specific areas of concern such as biased policing and excessive force, and ultimately improve the quality of policing services.”
The legislature finds that creating a statewide data collection program that creates a publicly accessible database to track metrics will help to promote openness, transparency, and accountability, build stronger police-community relations, improve trust and confidence in policing services, evaluate specific areas of concern such as biased policing and excessive force, and ultimately improve the quality of policing services.”
WADEPS Timeline Highlights
June 2020 ~ Report from AG Bob Ferguson published.
April 2021 ~ SB5259 is passed and signed into law by Governor Inslee as Chapter 10.118 RCW .
October 2021–March 2022 ~ Law Enforcement Data Collection Advisory Group meets 10 times and generates the recommended use-of-force data elements.
October 2022 ~ Office of the Attorney General (AGO) publishes a request for proposal (known as an RFP) to create Washington’s first centralized use-of-force data dashboard.
January 2023 ~ The proposal led by Washington State University (WSU) is accepted.
August 2023 ~ Final contract between WSU and the AGO is signed with a five-year, $13.8M budget.
October 2023 ~ WSU selects “Washington State Data Exchange for Public Safety” (WADEPS) as the formal name of the project.
October 2023 ~ WADEPS initiates an agency technology survey to assess current data collection systems and processes and an agency visibility surveys to assess the public availability of information such as use-of-force policies, annual reports, administrative contact information, etc.
November 2023 ~ WADEPS hold the first of many focus groups with law enforcement agencies and community members. Meetings and presentations continue quarterly.
January–May 2024 ~ WADEPS identifies contextual public safety data sources and begins mapping data elements.
April 2024 ~ The WADEPS data governance committee reviews the WADEPS use-of-force data dictionary.
June 2024 ~ First semi-annual report provided to the AGO.
July 2024 ~ Infrastructure development begins.
August–September 2024 ~ Open comment period for the general data use agreement.
September 2024 ~ WADEPS training course approved for officer in-service credit by Washington Criminal Justice Training Commission.
September 2024 ~ Beta test group begins monthly meetings.
January 2025 ~ Second semi-annual report provided to AGO.
February 2025 ~ AGO begins reviewing the WADEPS data collection and dashboard.
March-May 2025 ~ WADEPS completes internal and external security audits.
June 2, 2025 (Expected) ~ AGO to notify law enforcement agencies the data collection platform is approved. Agencies will have 90 days to complete onboarding and begin sharing data with WADEPS in compliance with the law.
September 2, 2025 (Expected) ~ The WADEPS data dashboard will be available to the public.
April 2021 ~ SB5259 is passed and signed into law by Governor Inslee as Chapter 10.118 RCW .
October 2021–March 2022 ~ Law Enforcement Data Collection Advisory Group meets 10 times and generates the recommended use-of-force data elements.
October 2022 ~ Office of the Attorney General (AGO) publishes a request for proposal (known as an RFP) to create Washington’s first centralized use-of-force data dashboard.
January 2023 ~ The proposal led by Washington State University (WSU) is accepted.
August 2023 ~ Final contract between WSU and the AGO is signed with a five-year, $13.8M budget.
October 2023 ~ WSU selects “Washington State Data Exchange for Public Safety” (WADEPS) as the formal name of the project.
October 2023 ~ WADEPS initiates an agency technology survey to assess current data collection systems and processes and an agency visibility surveys to assess the public availability of information such as use-of-force policies, annual reports, administrative contact information, etc.
November 2023 ~ WADEPS hold the first of many focus groups with law enforcement agencies and community members. Meetings and presentations continue quarterly.
January–May 2024 ~ WADEPS identifies contextual public safety data sources and begins mapping data elements.
April 2024 ~ The WADEPS data governance committee reviews the WADEPS use-of-force data dictionary.
June 2024 ~ First semi-annual report provided to the AGO.
July 2024 ~ Infrastructure development begins.
August–September 2024 ~ Open comment period for the general data use agreement.
September 2024 ~ WADEPS training course approved for officer in-service credit by Washington Criminal Justice Training Commission.
September 2024 ~ Beta test group begins monthly meetings.
January 2025 ~ Second semi-annual report provided to AGO.
February 2025 ~ AGO begins reviewing the WADEPS data collection and dashboard.
March-May 2025 ~ WADEPS completes internal and external security audits.
June 2, 2025 (Expected) ~ AGO to notify law enforcement agencies the data collection platform is approved. Agencies will have 90 days to complete onboarding and begin sharing data with WADEPS in compliance with the law.
September 2, 2025 (Expected) ~ The WADEPS data dashboard will be available to the public.