wa-law.org > bill > 2025-26 > HB 2648 > Original Bill
Whenever an on-duty general authority Washington peace officer or on-duty limited authority Washington peace officer encounters an individual the peace officer has reasonable suspicion is a United States immigration and customs enforcement employee conducting immigration enforcement activities, the peace officer shall:
Activate the peace officer's body worn camera if the peace officer is equipped with a body worn camera;
Activate the peace officer's dash camera if the peace officer is in the peace officer's official vehicle and if the vehicle is equipped with a dash camera;
Immediately report the encounter to the peace officer's employing agency so the agency may notify the community in a manner consistent with the agency's policies and procedures; and
After the encounter, document and report the encounter with the peace officer's employing agency.
When documenting and reporting activities under subsection (1) of this section, the peace officer shall attempt to:
Contact the reporting party, if any;
Confirm the identity of the individual the peace officer suspects is conducting immigration enforcement by requesting official identification, if safe and feasible; and
Refrain from taking actions that may escalate the situation.
The office of the attorney general shall represent a peace officer in any civil or criminal proceeding arising from any actions taken by the peace officer in compliance with this section if the action was taken in good faith while the peace officer was acting within the peace officer's scope of employment. The attorney general's representation under this subsection must be provided at no cost to the peace officer.
The state shall indemnify and hold harmless a peace officer in the amount of any judgment or fine levied against the peace officer in any civil or criminal proceeding arising from any actions taken by the peace officer in compliance with this section if the action was taken in good faith while the peace officer was acting within the peace officer's scope of employment.