Washington Police Lag on Mandated Deescalation, Mental Health Training

State audit finds just 16% of veteran officers and 14% of new officers have completed the required 40-hour program.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 5:38am

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A cinematic painting depicting a lone police officer standing on a dimly lit urban street, the officer's figure bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of isolation and the challenges facing law enforcement in building trust with the community.The mandated deescalation and mental health training aims to improve interactions between police and the diverse communities they serve, but low compliance rates raise concerns about achieving that goal.Olympia Today

A new state audit has found that Washington law enforcement officers are far behind in completing the deescalation and mental health training required under the state's police accountability law. The audit revealed that only 16% of veteran officers and 14% of new officers have finished the 40-hour training program, which aims to reduce use-of-force incidents and improve trust in law enforcement. Roadblocks include a 'train-the-trainer' approach that makes it difficult for departments to get officers the instruction, as well as resistance to the cultural awareness portion of the curriculum.

Why it matters

The mandated training is a key part of the state's police reform efforts, which were approved by voters in 2018 through Initiative 940. The goal is to make interactions between police and community members safer and more constructive. However, the low compliance rates raise concerns about whether the training requirements will be met by the 2028 deadline.

The details

The audit found that just 42% of veteran officers were at least halfway done with the 40-hour training program, which includes 16 hours of online community and cultural awareness courses, and 24 hours of in-person patrol tactics training every three years. The training covers topics like managing distance between officers and civilians, communication strategies for engaging with those with mental health issues, and alternatives to physical force. Departments have a new incentive to complete the training, as they must reach 50% compliance to access a $100 million state grant program aimed at boosting police hiring.

  • The state's police accountability law, which mandates the deescalation and mental health training, was passed in 2019.
  • Officers have until 2028 to complete the full 40-hour training program.

The players

Pat McCarthy

The Washington State Auditor, who released the report on the low training compliance rates.

Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs (WACOPS)

A leading law enforcement group that blames the low training completion on 'chronic underinvestment' from the state, noting that Washington ranks last in the nation in police staffing per capita.

Washington Criminal Justice Training Commission

The state agency that developed the deescalation and mental health training curriculum, using a 'train-the-trainer' approach that has presented multiple obstacles for departments.

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What they’re saying

“The goal of this law is to improve interactions between police officers and community members. By addressing the issues raised by our findings, Washington can continue to build better relationships between law enforcement agencies and the diverse communities they serve.”

— Pat McCarthy, Washington State Auditor

“The training completion figures in the State Auditor's report are a direct reflection of our profession being trapped in a system that lacks the basic resources to satisfy these requirements while maintaining public safety.”

— Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs

What’s next

The state auditor's office has recommended that a legislative workgroup be formed to look at how state law can be revised to ensure all officers receive the required deescalation and mental health training, including potentially providing financial support for departments to send officers to become instructors.

The takeaway

This report highlights the challenges Washington is facing in implementing its landmark police reform law, which aimed to improve trust and safety through mandatory training. The low compliance rates so far suggest the state may need to take additional steps, such as providing more resources to departments, to ensure the training requirements are met and the intended goals of the law are achieved.