Dahlquist Recognized as ‘Legislator of the Year’ by Law Enforcement Group

Editor's Note: The following is a news release issued by the office of Washington State Rep. Cathy Dahlquist (R-Enumclaw).

Jack Simington and Carl Burke representing the Fraternal Order of Police traveled to Olympia on March 7 to recognize Rep. Cathy Dahlquist as the group’s “Legislator of the Year.” She was given the award for her sponsorship of House Bill 1206, which was signed into law in 2011.

House Bill 1206 added criminal justice workers, including police officers, prosecutors and other correctional staff, to the list of those workers protected from harassment while performing their jobs. Judges and juries already have this protection. It ensures they do not come under undue pressure that may stop them from upholding the law in a fair and impartial way.

“First and foremost, this is a great honor. I am humbled to have been given the group’s highest award for simply doing the right thing by our law enforcement community,” said Dahlquist, R-Enumclaw. “Brave men and women put their lives on the line every day to protect us and the least we can do is add in some safeguards that give them peace of mind. I also have to thank my seatmate, Representative Christopher Hurst, for helping guide me through my first legislative session and assist me with getting this important public safety measure passed.”

During public hearings on the bill, Kennewick Detective Mary Buchan shared her story of being threatened with bodily harm on the job and the lack of recourse law enforcement has to address real and credible threats.

“Detective Buchan’s situation made it clear that when there is a credible threat to our corrections workers while doing their jobs, there has to be some type of penalty to the perpetrator. Those threatening law enforcement in the course of work-related duties need to know we take their words seriously,” Dahlquist said. “It took a lot of courage to tell her story in front of the public safety committee, but it was all I needed to hear to know my legislation needed to move forward.”

House Bill 1206 took effect July 22, 2011.