Everett police officers survey a crime scene in Everett, Washington on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Everett police officers survey a crime scene in Everett, Washington on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Washington’s 5th police academy could be in Snohomish County

A new academy in Northwest Washington would help clear a lengthy wait list for new police hires to get training.

OLYMPIA — Snohomish County could be home to the newest regional training academy for police by the end of the year.

It would be the fifth academy in the state. Adding an extra location will help clear a backlog of new officers waiting to receive training, said Monica Alexander, the executive director of the state’s Criminal Justice Training Commission.

In the state Senate’s proposed supplemental budget, legislators allocated more than $1.5 million to help the commission expand its basic law enforcement academy program to Snohomish County.

The Senate has until March 7 to reconcile its budget with the House’s proposed budget and pass it.

The state Department of Enterprise Services is leading the search for a location in Snohomish County on behalf of the training commission. The exact site is yet to be determined, a department spokesperson said.

Early in the search, the department considered locations in Skagit County, Alexander said. Now the search has narrowed to a location in Arlington, she said. Alexander was unable to provide any further details on the exact site.

Washington’s rate of police officers per capita is far lower than the national average. For every 100,000 residents, Washington has 121 police officers, compared to the national average of 240.

Entry-level police officers must go through the 720-hour academy program after getting hired by a law enforcement agency. Each class has capacity for 36 students.

The goal, Alexander said, is for new hires to enter training within 30 to 45 days of being hired.

For the Marysville Police Department, the wait is about six months, Chief Erik Scairpon said.

“I think that’s unreasonable, and this is part of the solution for that,” Alexander said.

Scairpon believes an academy in Northwest Washington is the “last piece of the basic law enforcement training puzzle.”

Despite an exact location not confirmed, Alexander is confident the Snohomish County academy could hold a class by the end of the year.

The other academies are in Burien, Pasco, Spokane and Vancouver, which held its first class in February.

Alexander said the goal is to put academies where people could go home in the evening after training.

“Meet them where they are, instead of insisting that everybody comes to us,” she said.

With more locations, the academies are able to serve more people conveniently, including candidates that wouldn’t normally be attracted to police work, Alexander said.

“The quicker we can get our new officers trained,” Scairpon wrote in an email, “the better staffing will be in Marysville and across the state.”

Jenelle Baumbach: 360-352-8623; jenelle.baumbach@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @jenelleclar.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

Aaron Kennedy / The Herald
The Joann Fabric and Crafts store at 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett, is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide.
Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.