Take a moment today to thank first responders in your community

As you may have heard, today is “Thank First Responders Day” across Washington state. This observance began following the tragic loss of four police officers in Lakewood in 2009, and was officially established by a proclamation signed by Governor Gregoire on June 18, 2010.

According to the Thank First Responder website, “Unfortunately it seems that the community only recognizes the brave and generous acts of our first responders when tragedy occurs. We shouldn’t need something terrible to happen for us to realize how fortunate we are to have such well-trained men and women there for us every single moment of life”.

Here at the HDC, we couldn’t agree more. We’ll be taking time out from special session activity to thank our very own Reps. Kevin Van De Wege and Christopher Hurst, who also serve the people of Washington state as first responders.

Please join us in thanking police officers and fire fighters in your community for the sacrifices they make to keep us safe not only today, but throughout the year.

To read this blog post in Spanish, click here.

‘Peace of mind’ for health and safety workers

The HIV virus dies within minutes outside the human body.

The Hepatitis C virus, on the other hand, can survive for hours, even days, in dried blood at room temperature.

So which virus would you be more likely to contract through an accidental poke by a used needle?

Until now, state law has been stuck in the 1980's, when AIDS came into the public awareness and an accidental needle poke meant possible HIV exposure. Certain classes of workers, like health and public safety personnel, could order an HIV test on a person whose blood they had been exposed to. But the person wouldn't be tested for other bloodborne pathogens, even though in the meantime, Hepatitis C became a rising public health problem.

Today, Governor Gregoire signed House Bill 1454, sponsored by Rep. Kevin Van De Wege (who is also a fire fighter and first responder). The bill brings the law into the 21^st Century, allowing for testing of all bloodborne pathogens rather than simply HIV. Early testing means earlier access to treatment.

"Every day, law enforcement officers, first responders, and health care workers put themselves at risk on the job," Van De Wege said. "One needle poke brings fear of the unknown. This bill brings peace of mind."

To read this blog post in Spanish, go here.

Officer's widow testifies in favor of "Brian Walsh Act"

Today's Labor and Workforce Development committee meeting included moving testimony from the widow of a Federal Way police officer who died last year of a heart attack while securing a crime scene.

Vanessa Walsh spoke in favor of House Bill 1445, also known as the "Brian Walsh Act," in honor of her husband.

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, who sees it as a way to help the Walsh family and protect other families from going through what Vanessa Walsh has experienced in the aftermath of her husband's death.

Although the federal government found that Officer Walsh - who was a 34-year-old, healthy non-smoker - died a duty-related death, the state of Washington didn't see it that way. As a result, his family (which includes three children) was not eligible for survivor benefits normally available to the families of officers and firefighters who die in the line of duty.

"Duty-related heart attacks and strokes need to be covered," Van De Wege said. "This bill establishes a clear nexus between the onset of the stroke or heart attack, and the duty that a firefighter or officer was performing for his or her job."

New law increases duty-related death benefits for public safety employees

Four months following the brutal slayings of four Lakewood law enforcement officers, Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law a bill that extends duty-related death benefits for children and spouses of fallen and severely injured officers, firefighters and state troopers.

In an effort to look after the families of the brave individuals who put their lives at risk every day, Rep. Tami Green introduced House Bill 2519, which Gregoire signed yesterday at the Lakewood Police Department.

“It’s time to stand up for the brave men and woman who put their trust in us when they put their lives on the line,” Green said. “The most important thing we can do is make sure the surviving spouses and the children of these folks are taken care of.”

Green’s bill closes current loopholes including the removal of a 10-year service requirement for survivors of duty-related death benefits to qualify for a survivor annuity. This helps ensure the family of a fallen rookie officer would receive livable benefits, regardless of how long the officer had served.

“The life of a rookie officer is just as valuable as a 10-year veteran,” Green said. “Each life is irreplaceable.”

Among the many other components of Green’s HB 2519, the new law will help ensure death benefits rise as inflation continues. It will also make it mandatory for state institutions of higher education to waive tuition and fees for children and spouses of fallen and severely disabled law enforcement officers, firefighters and state troopers.

“Let’s get to work for our fallen officers, their families and our entire law enforcement community,” said Gregoire in this year’s State of the State address. “…and for their children, it is our duty to make available a college education.”

Green said sending a child to school with two incomes is difficult enough and she hopes the new law will help alleviate at least some of the pain endured by the families.

The new law goes into effect this June.

#hdcblueride: Lawmakers to join Law Enforcement on the front lines this weekend

It was an emotional week in the Legislature as we honored the law enforcement officers lost in the line of duty this past year. As the families and colleagues of the slain officers bore witness, lawmakers passed new measures in order to protect them and their families, as well as increase public safety.

In order to show their gratitude another way, several House Democrats will participate in ride-alongs with their local law enforcement and State Patrol this weekend.

Ride-alongs are one of the best ways to fully grasp what those on the frontline of our security deal with day in and day out. Those participating will see the best - and sometimes the worst - of humanity on display. They’ll see and confront firsthand for a few hours what the people behind the badge see and confront 24-7.

Those joining their local law enforcement are:

• Rep. Jim Moeller: Vancouver PD – Saturday, 9am to Noon
• Rep. Marko Liias: WA State Patrol – Saturday, 6pm-10pm
• Rep. John McCoy: Snohomish Co.Sheriff Dept.– Friday, 6pm-8pm (Legislative action permitting)
• Rep. Jeff Morris: Skagit Co. Sheriff Dept. – Saturday, 9am to Noon
  

Here’s Jim Moeller on the impetus behind the idea:

“We talk very often in the Legislature about the importance of public safety. I want to acquire a concrete feeling for what life is like for the people who are willing to put their lives on the line for me every day. Some of us were talking the other morning about the specific, real-world ways that the budget crisis is manifesting itself in the lives of every single citizen. Public safety came up as a very good, and certainly a very concrete example of the money we invest in public programs and services."

Moeller and the other legislators will post regular updates from their ride-alongs. Follow along as the legislators provide updates from their beats via Twitter with the hashtags: #hdcblueride and #waleg

House takes action in wake of police shootings

With family members and police officers looking on, the House of Representatives today passed the first five bills in a package crafted in response to the tragic law enforcement officer killings late last year.

More bills will follow in the coming days. For information about the legislation passed today, please go to House passes law enforcement bills.

House votes Wednesday on law enforcement officer bills

Family members will be present in the House Chamber for a resolution honoring six law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty within two months of one another late last year.
Following the resolution, the House of Representatives will take action on a package of bills designed to protect first responders and their families.

WHAT: Votes on a package of law enforcement officer bills
• HB 2519 Death benefits for the families of fallen police officers and firefighters
• HB 1679 Catastrophic benefits
• HB 2625 Ending the practice of booking bail
• HB 1203 Toughening penalties for the crime of rendering criminal assistance
• HB 2422 Giving victims notice when criminally insane escape from a state institution

WHEN: 11 a.m. Wednesday, February 3

WHERE: Floor of the House of Representatives

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
November 29, 2010 -- Four Lakewood police officers were executed in a coffee shop by Maurice Clemmons, pardoned from a life sentence by ex-Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas. Never in our state's history have so many police officers fallen on the same day, or at the hands of the same attacker.

October 31, 2010 -- Seattle police officer Timothy Brenton was shot and killed as he sat in his patrol car with a trainee he was instructing.

December 21, 2010 -- Pierce County sheriff Sgt. Nick Hausner and Deputy Kent Mundell are shot responding to a domestic violence call. Hausner survived his wounds; Mundell did not.

September 17, 2010 – Criminally-insane killer Paul Phillip escapes from custody during a field trip to the Spokane County Fair. He was later caught with a weapon in his backpack in Goldendale by sheriff’s deputies – one of whom Phillip had seriously injured during a previous arrest years earlier.

For the families of Mark, Tina, Ronald, and Gregory

They need our support through this difficult time. Let us honor their memory by supporting the families left behind, and stand with the fellow officers of the Lakewood Police Department who continue to serve and protect despite their deep personal pain.

Donations can be mailed to:
Lakewood Police Independent Guild
PO Box 99579
Lakewood, WA 98499

Donations can also be made on their Web site, http://www.lpig.us