Proposed Legislation: Increase Authority of DNR Law Enforcement

[iusmc2002]

Sure is. They can call the Sheriff. The kids will scatter anyway when they see his vehicle, problem solved.

If the Sheriff's Association has already expressed disdain for having them be part of WSP, which would give them carte blanche to enforce all laws in a sheriff's jurisdiction, why are they introducing legislation that amounts to the same thing? 

Before you go saying why the Sheriff's association is against a WDFW/DNR - WSP merger you may want to look into the facts.

They are not against it because it would give DNR more authority. They are against it because they don't want the WA St Patrol to be the WA St Police. By moving DNR/WDFW to WSP, WSP would now be the lead for traffic, fish/wildlife, forests, fire marshal, and crime lab. Look at Oregon for example, they have a Oregon State Police, why? Because they do traffic, fish/wildlife, and gambling.

But wait, if I'm reading this right, if the DNR was part of WSP, wouldn't they have more authority?  Does the WSP have the authority to write tickets and do investigations anywhere in the state?  Or does the local LEO have to ask them for help?

[NoBark]

This is getting funny.

Two thoughts:

If you are afraid of the 'Police',  I gotta ask why?     Yea, I know, power doesn't look pretty on some people, but if that's the case, stop bitchin' about bad people.
Unless you wanna do the job?


While I really don't see much advantage to this except for the odd chance a tweaker stole something from my rig while hunting and a DNR guy caught him  because he could.   

This does not put MORE enforcement in the woods for wildlife offences. It simply shifts paycheck signers.  I want fewer Bio's and office clerks in Olympia and more Gammies in the woods!! 
This is moreof a shell game than anything else.  It isn't solving much.

[bigtex]

Sure is. They can call the Sheriff. The kids will scatter anyway when they see his vehicle, problem solved.

If the Sheriff's Association has already expressed disdain for having them be part of WSP, which would give them carte blanche to enforce all laws in a sheriff's jurisdiction, why are they introducing legislation that amounts to the same thing? 

Before you go saying why the Sheriff's association is against a WDFW/DNR - WSP merger you may want to look into the facts.

They are not against it because it would give DNR more authority. They are against it because they don't want the WA St Patrol to be the WA St Police. By moving DNR/WDFW to WSP, WSP would now be the lead for traffic, fish/wildlife, forests, fire marshal, and crime lab. Look at Oregon for example, they have a Oregon State Police, why? Because they do traffic, fish/wildlife, and gambling.

But wait, if I'm reading this right, if the DNR was part of WSP, wouldn't they have more authority?  Does the WSP have the authority to write tickets and do investigations anywhere in the state?  Or does the local LEO have to ask them for help?

DNR wouldn't be apart of WSP. Basically WSP would create a bureau/division of troopers who patrolled state forests. There would still be a DNR.

Just like how Oregon State Police has a division that does fish and wildlife enforcement. But there is also a Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife, they just don't have a law enforcement program.

[bigtex]

It simply shifts paycheck signers..

No it doesn't. DNR Officers would still be paid by DNR. This is an authority issue, not a agency merger/transition.

[NoBark]

Thanks for the clarification

But my point still stands.  It doesn't increase wildlife enforcement.

[bigtex]

Thanks for the clarification

But my point still stands.  It doesn't increase wildlife enforcement.

Nobody said that it did.....

[Elkaholic daWg]

 From a relative who has Studied this stuff much more than I have
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First the
sheriff is a constitutiional common law office and jurisdiction remains
from the original english office. I will give you a quick url to look at.

http://www.hcky.org/hcso/History/origin_of_sheriff.htm


The second and more important issue is the state constitution allows only
for the office of sheriff,
 DNR,WDFW and other agencies are not
constitutional offices but are basically under the executive branch which
has no constitutional LE authority, not that the government considers
itself restricted by the const.


 
 
SECTION 1 POLITICAL POWER. All political power is inherent in the people,
and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed,
and are established to protect and maintain individual rights.
 
SECTION 2 SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND. The Constitution of the United States
is the supreme law of the land.
 
SECTION 24 RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS. The right of the individual citizen to bear
arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but
nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or
corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men.
 
SECTION 32 FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES. A frequent recurrence to fundamental
principles is essential to the security of individual right and the
perpetuity of free government
 
 
SECTION 5 COUNTY GOVERNMENT. The legislature, by general and uniform laws,
shall provide for the election in the several counties of boards of county
commissioners, sheriffs, county clerks, treasurers, prosecuting attorneys
and other county, township or precinct and district officers, as public
convenience may require, and shall prescribe their duties, and fix their
terms of office: Provided, That the legislature may, by general laws,
classify the counties by population and provide for the election in
certain classes of counties certain officers who shall exercise the powers
and perform the duties of two or more officers. It shall regulate the
compensation of all such officers, in proportion to their duties, and for
that purpose may classify the counties by population: Provided, That it
may delegate to the legislative authority of the counties the right to
prescribe the salaries of its own members and the salaries of other county
officers. And it shall provide for the strict accountability of such
officers for all fees which may be collected by them and for all public
moneys which may be paid to them, or officially come into their
possession. [AMENDMENT 57, part, 1971 Senate Joint Resolution No. 38,
part, p 1829. Approved November, 1972.]
 
Amendment 12 (1924) -- Art. 11 Section 5 COUNTY GOVERNMENT -- The
legislature, by general and uniform laws, shall provide for the election
in the several counties of boards of county commissioners, sheriffs,
county clerks, treasurers, prosecuting attorneys and other county,
township or precinct and district officers, as public convenience may
require, and shall prescribe their duties, and fix their terms of
 
You will notice the office of sheriff is a elective office.  You will also
note that sec 24 definatively states that no corporation may maintain or
employ an armed body of men, gee all cities and the state are actually
corporations. Nevertheless you will not see any LE authority listed in
the duties of the executive branch. There was am reason at common law the
office of sheriff was a distinct office with it's own authority.