Family gives thanks for Douglas M. Ostling Act | LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Published 12:09 pm Monday, May 11, 2015

To the editor:

We would like to thank Senator Christine Rolfes for sponsoring Senate Bill 5311, which passed this legislative session and was signed by Governor Inslee on April 24. We would also like to thank Representative Sherry Appleton for sponsoring the companion House Bill 1348. Many other Senators and Representatives have helped in getting the bill “Requiring Crisis Intervention Team Training For All Peace Officers” passed. NAMI, WASPC, the ACLU, police officers from Bainbridge Island and Bremerton, Sheriff Gary Simpson, and other private citizens testified at the hearings in support of this bill.

The Douglas M. Ostling Act directs the Criminal Justice Training Center to provide training in the following areas:

• Requires new full-time law enforcement officers to receive eight hours of CIT training as part of the Basic Law Enforcement Academy.

• Requires certified veteran officers to receive eight hours of CIT training.

• Requires all officers to receive two hours of annual CIT training refresher each year.

• Goal is for 25 percent of officers on patrol duties to receive 40 hours of intensive CIT training.

The Ostling family continues to miss Doug. It is now 4-plus years since he died from gunshot wounds. We feel that these new requirements for peace officers will help those that are at risk and fragile in our communities.

BILL AND JOYCE OSTLING AND FAMILY

Bainbridge Island