All Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office employees are guided in their duties by a system of policies and procedures. These policies and procedures are frequently reviewed and updated to remain compliant with new legislation and court rulings, as well as evolving industry standards and best practices.
In January of 2020, the Sheriff’s Office began transitioning to the Lexipol policy system. Lexipol provides over 160 law enforcement and 180 corrections policies that are researched, written, and updated by a team of subject matter experts and attorneys. Lexipol also offers daily training bulletins to help employees maintain proficiency with evolving policies.
The process for adopting Lexipol policies involves the review and editing of each policy by several workgroups including supervisors, managers, legal advisors, collective bargaining groups, and the Sheriff. Unfortunately, this process encountered some delays during the Covid-19 pandemic and the current staffing challenges at the Sheriff’s Office.
We continue to work through the review process and have prioritized the adoption of the corrections' policies. To view a tracking sheet that shows the status of each corrections policy, click here.
Once all corrections policies have been reviewed and adopted, the Corrections Bureau will transition to Lexipol, and we will begin the review of the law enforcement policies. Until then, the policies listed below remain our current working policies.
Please note that some information has been redacted in accordance with RCW 42.56.
Document Name | Folder | Revision Date | Description | Effective Date |
Access Misuse | Policies | 9/28/2021 | 1/10/2019 | |
Administrative Investigations | Policies | 9/30/2021 | Guidelines for conducting administrative investigations | 11/17/2017 |
Awards and Recognition | Policies | 12/30/2020 | Describes awards and other forms of recognition that may be given to employees, volunteers and citizens. | 12/10/2010 |
Bias-Based Policing | Policies | 8/28/2013 | Prohibits bias-based policing. | 9/16/2011 |
BLEIS Operations Manual | Policies | 6/5/2015 | Procedures manual for law enforcement personnel. Will continue to shrink as new directives supersede its contents until it is ultimately canceled. | 6/5/2015 |
Body-Worn Cameras | Policies | 6/7/2021 | Describes guidelines for use of body-worn cameras and associated data and data storage systems | 3/31/2019 |
BWC Special Order 6.2.21 | Special Orders | 6/7/2021 | This Special Order contains procedural information that supports the deployment of body worn cameras under the Portable Audio-Video Recorders policy. | 6/7/2021 |
Canines | Policies | 3/2/2015 | Establishes guidelines for the use of patrol and controlled substance detection canines. | 4/15/2011 |
Child Protective Custody And Placement | Policies | 7/21/2015 | Provides deputies with guidelines on when to take children into protective custody and where to place them. | 7/19/2011 |
CJIS - Security Incident Reporting | Policies | 3/20/2019 | 3/20/2019 | |
Clearing and Study Codes Special Order | Special Orders | 1/20/2021 | Special Order regarding clearing calls. | 1/21/2021 |
Communication - Deaf or Blind Persons | Policies | 12/1/2020 | This policy contains guidelines for Sheriff's Office personnel about communicating effectively with persons who are deaf or blind. | 8/27/2013 |
Complaints | Policies | 7/5/2018 | Guidelines about the acceptance and handling of complaints about Sheriff's Office practices and services, and member performance and conduct | 9/29/2017 |
Controlled Substance Training Aids | Policies | 3/6/2015 | Authorizes and sets guidelines for the use of controlled substance training aids. | 5/19/2014 |
Corrections Policy and Procedure Manual | Policies | 5/22/2015 | Originally issued July 1, 2002, and updated periodically since. Will continue to shrink as other policies supersede its contents until it is ultimately canceled. | 5/22/2015 |
Cover and Response Codes Policy | Policies | 4/4/2019 | A policy regarding the cover and response tcodes for law enforcement personnel. | 3/5/2018 |
Criminal Fire Investigations | Policies | 3/5/2015 | Establishes the roles of Sheriff's Office personnel and fire marshals in conducting criminal fire investigations. | 2/19/2015 |
Criminal History Use And Dissemination | Policies | 9/28/2021 | 1/10/2019 | |
Criminal Street Gangs | Policies | 12/16/2016 | Defines the criteria for designating criminal street gang members and associates, and sets guidelines for maintenance of street gang files. | 8/22/2011 |
Deadly Force Response Investigations | Policies | 3/29/2017 | Guidelines for criminal, administrative and civil investigations of incidents in which law enforcement personnel respond with deadly force | 12/15/2016 |
Directives System | Policies | 6/17/2013 | Describes the WCSO written directives system and establishes employee responsibilities within that system. | 6/17/2013 |
Disposal Of Media | Policies | 1/10/2019 | 1/10/2019 | |
Domestic Violence | Policies | 3/2/2015 | Sets guidelines for handling domestic violence incidents including assessing ongoing threats to victims and providing them appropriate assistance, preparing documentation and carrying out follow-up actions. | 12/19/2012 |
Dress Code | Policies | 11/22/2017 | Contains guidelines for clothing worn by non-uniformed personnel. | 9/25/2018 |
DUI & Physical Control - Arrests and Bookings | Special Orders | 12/13/2013 | This order requires deputy sheriffs to arrest all persons who have committed crimes involving the use of alcohol or drugs while driving and corrections deputies to hold offenders in jail, in accordance with the contents of the order. | 12/13/2013 |
Employee Discipline | Policies | 9/30/2021 | Describes the types and use of employee disciplinary actions | 11/29/2017 |
Employee Performance Standards | Policies | 1/13/2020 | Policy establishing performance standards for all personnel | 12/16/2015 |
Employee Training Records | Special Orders | 4/22/2016 | Establishes new flow for training record documentation into PowerDMS | 4/22/2016 |
Equipment - Duty Knives | Policies | 10/20/2014 | Guidelines for commissioned personnel who choose to carry knives while on duty. | 11/12/2014 |
Evidence Storage - Vehicle Bays | Special Orders | 4/2/2015 | Describes when deputies may use secure vehicle bays to store other types of evidence. | 4/2/2015 |
Force Option - Explosive Breaching | Policies | 10/31/2014 | Authorizes the use of explosive breaching by trained SRT personnel | 10/31/2014 |
Force Option - Noise-Flash Diversionary Devices | Policies | 7/26/2021 | Authorizes the use of NFDDs by trained SRT personnel | 8/27/2014 |
Full Body Scanner | Special Orders | 4/12/2018 | Defines the implementation and use of the full body scanner for the Corrections Bureau. | 4/12/2018 |
Immigration Violations | Policies | 8/27/2021 | Provides guidance to commissioned personnel with regards to where federal enforcement of immigration law fits in with Sheriff's Office missions. | 6/12/2014 |
Inmate Classes | Policies | 11/6/2018 | 11/6/2018 | |
Inmate Religious Programs | Policies | 11/6/2018 | 11/6/2018 | |
Jail Population Management | Special Orders | 12/14/2016 | Establishes guidelines for managing inmate population in the Whatcom County Jail | 7/12/2016 |
Kinetic Energy Projectiles | Policies | 8/17/2021 | Authorizes the use of kinetic energy projectiles by commissioned personnel | 8/27/2014 |
Leadership Teams | Policies | 10/30/2014 | Establishes and sets guidelines for bureau leadership teams | 10/30/2014 |
Medical Aid and Response | Policies | 10/1/2020 | Policy on providing medical care and transporting sick or injured individuals. | 10/1/2020 |
Missing Persons | Policies | 7/21/2015 | Provides employees with guidelines on handling missing persons cases. | 7/19/2011 |
Naloxone | Policies | 8/25/2017 | Establishes guidelines for acquisition, distribution, replacement, training and administration of naloxone for use to reverse the effects of opioid overdose | 7/6/2017 |
NICS Appeals | Policies | 9/28/2021 | 2/5/2019 | |
Patrol Operations | Policies | 11/14/2019 | General guidelines to facilitate teamwork in patrol operations | 1/23/2013 |
Peer Support Group Counselors | Special Orders | 6/22/2022 | Designates peer support group counselors and facilitates employee access to them | 6/22/2016 |
Personal Appearance | Policies | 10/24/2022 | Describes personal appearance standards for all Sheriff's Office employees, and uniformed and office volunteers | 10/11/2017 |
Physical Protection Of Criminal Justice Information | Policies | 9/28/2021 | 1/10/2019 | |
Point Roberts Resident Deputies | Special Orders | 3/14/2016 | Describes Point Roberts resident deputies' work schedules and availability | 3/14/2016 |
Potential Impeachment Information | Policies | 9/30/2021 | Describes the Sheriff's Office's role in ensuring the Prosecutor's Office fulfills its obligations to disclose exculpatory evidence to defendants. | 7/9/2014 |
Probable Cause Arrests | Policies | 3/17/2016 | Establishes guidelines for probable cause arrests and related processes | 6/8/2015 |
Property Retention And Disposition. | Policies | 9/10/2018 | 9/10/2018 | |
Protected Information | Policies | 10/6/2022 | Policy related to the access, transmission, and release of protected information. | 10/6/2022 |
Re-Background Investigations | Policies | 1/10/2019 | 1/10/2019 Referring | |
Referring Suicidal Person To Mental Health Facility | Policies | 2/1/2018 | This policy details the requirements of WCSO personnel to refer suicidal persons to mental health services. | 2/1/2018 |
Reporting Arrests & Convictions | Special Orders | 7/29/2021 | 7/29/2021 | |
Rules and Regulations Manual | Policies | 10/11/2017 | Rules and Regulations Manual, originally issued January 6, 1999, and updated periodically since. Will continue to shrink as other policies supersede its contents until it is ultimately canceled. | 11/21/2014 |
Search And Seizure - Places | Policies | 9/29/2021 | Provides deputies with guidelines for conducting searches of places and seizing evidence | 8/12/2011 |
Special Assignments (BLEIS) | Policies | 7/1/2010 | Establishes a competitive, impartial and practical process for the application and selection of law enforcement deputy sheriffs to special positions. | 7/1/2010 |
Special Order - Electronic Recording of Interrogations | Special Orders | 1/2/2022 | 1/3/2022 | |
Special Order - Offender Citizenship and Place of Birth | Special Orders | 7/1/2022 | Special Order prohibiting corrections deputies from inquiring about an offender's place of birth or citizenship status during booking, and outlining procedures for Spillman data entry and consular notifications. | 7/1/2022 |
Special Order - Youth Access to Attorney | Special Orders | 12/22/2021 | Requirements and procedures for providing juveniles access to an attorney as required by HB 1140. | 12/22/2021 |
Special Response Unit | Policies | 6/25/2015 | Governing policy for the Special Response Unit | 6/26/2015 |
Uniforms | Policies | 9/29/2021 | Prescribes uniforms and associated standards for unformed personnel | 10/11/2017 |
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) | Policies | 2/12/2018 | 2/12/2018 | |
Use of Force (Custody) | Policies | 7/21/2021 | 7/21/2021 | |
Use of Force (LE) | Policies | 3/10/2022 | Use of Force policy for certified peace officers. | 7/20/2021 |
Validations | Policies | 9/28/2021 | Validating NCIC/WACIC Entries | 2/5/2019 |
Vehicle Pursuits | Policies | 7/19/2021 | WCSO Vehicle Pursuit policy | 5/19/2014 |
WCSO Vision, Mission and Values | Special Orders | 5/29/2014 | From Sheriff Elfo: As part of our recent assessment of the progress we have made towards improving our organization, we identified a need to refine and more clearly articulate specific expectations and standards relating to our mission. I want to thank the members of the organization who provided very valuable feedback that helped form the foundation for the revised mission statement. As we move forward, this revised mission statement and our existing values should guide the actions of all members of the Sheriff’s Office. | 5/29/2014 |