July gives us a natural moment to reflect on service, responsibility and the work we do every day to support public safety across Washington.
Last week, communities across our state and nation marked the Fourth of July. For many, it was a time with family, parades, fireworks and community events. For public safety professionals, it was also another busy holiday spent helping keep people safe. I want to thank the law enforcement officers, corrections staff, dispatchers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel and first responders who worked through the holiday weekend. Your service matters, especially on the days when others are able to gather because you are on duty.
June also brought an important moment for WSCJTC. Members of our team traveled to Fort Worth, Texas, to be recognized by the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training for earning national certification of our Basic Law Enforcement Academy curriculum. This recognition belongs to the people across our agency who write curriculum, instruct classes, support recruits, lead programs and help maintain strong training standards.
Our academy is accredited by IADLEST, and our BLEA curriculum is now certified through IADLEST’s National Certification Program. Those are two different achievements, and both matter. Accreditation looks at the academy as an organization. Curriculum certification looks at the training content recruits receive. Together, they show that Washington’s law enforcement training is being reviewed against national standards while remaining focused on the needs of our state, our agencies and our communities.
We are also continuing our work to support local jurisdictions through ESHB 2015. Round 2 grant applications reopened July 1, giving eligible agencies another opportunity to apply for funding to help recruit and retain law enforcement officers. This program is one way WSCJTC is helping address staffing needs across Washington while supporting public safety in communities of different sizes and regions. I appreciate the work of our ESHB 2015 team as they assist applicants, review materials and help agencies understand the process.
Our First Responder Wellness Program is also moving forward. First responders are repeatedly exposed to difficult calls, trauma and long-term stress. That impact can affect individuals, families, agencies and communities. Through statewide peer support training, executive training and agency support, this program is helping public safety leaders build healthier systems before people reach a crisis point.
This work is not separate from training. It is part of preparing public safety professionals for the realities of the job. Skills, judgment, ethics, wellness and accountability all matter when we talk about public trust and service.
As we move through July, I am grateful for the staff, instructors, commissioners, agency partners and public safety professionals who continue to move this work forward. Thank you for what you do for WSCJTC and for the people of Washington.
-Jerrell Wills
Interim Executive Director
Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission
