Gov. Bob Ferguson is going after fake cops.
On Thursday, Ferguson said civilians should be barred from wearing items that could make them look like law enforcement officers, and he publicly celebrated what he described as House passage of a bill designed to do just that. He said he is "looking forward to signing the bill" after the chamber cleared the measure. Lawmakers backing the proposal say it is aimed at curbing a wave of impersonation incidents that have stoked fear and enabled scams against immigrant and other vulnerable communities.
Ferguson laid out his case on his official Facebook page on Thursday, writing, "If you're not a law enforcement officer, you shouldn't be able to wear something that gives the impression you are," and repeating that he was "looking forward to signing the bill" after the chamber cleared it, according to Facebook. The post also warned of a "dangerous increase" in incidents of people impersonating Immigration and Customs Enforcement, often abbreviated as ICE.
What's in the bill
House Bill 2165 would add a new section to chapter 9A.60 of the Revised Code of Washington and make it a gross misdemeanor to make, provide, or possess a card, badge, insignia, shoulder emblem, vehicle, or other item bearing a law enforcement agency insignia when the person knows the identified person is not commissioned. The measure also criminalizes intentionally misrepresenting an object as property of a law enforcement agency. Those definitions explicitly include federal titles such as "ICE," according to the Washington Legislature.
Exceptions and the governor's pitch
The proposal includes exemptions for portrayals that are cultural, historical, political, religious, educational, or newsworthy. That list covers works of art, commentary, satire, and parody, and the bill offers defenses for honorary or reserve commissions. Supporters say that language is meant to preserve legitimate theatrical and journalistic uses while still targeting intentional impersonation.
The bill is one of six governor-requested measures released as part of a public safety package by the Office of the Governor.
Why supporters say it is needed
Backers point to a national uptick in impostors posing as federal immigration officers and other law enforcement officers, which law enforcement and civil rights groups say has enabled fraud, sexual assault, and extortion in several states. Federal authorities have warned of that trend, and media outlets have documented multiple arrests for impersonating ICE or other law enforcement last year, according to reporting by WIRED and other outlets.
Where the measure stands in Olympia
The proposal was introduced as House Bill 2165 and has a Senate companion, SB 5876. It was filed at the governor's request and advanced out of the Community Safety Committee. Official legislative records show HB 2165 was placed on second reading earlier this month, even as the governor says the chamber ultimately approved the bill. The bill history is available in the Legislature's summary for Washington Legislature records.
Debate and concerns
Supporters argue the law will protect vulnerable communities and restore clarity about who is an officer. Critics caution the state should balance transparency with operational needs and avoid blunt measures that could unintentionally hamper public safety.
Similar reforms, including proposals to require officers to be visibly identifiable and to limit mask use by officers, have prompted debate in the Legislature, the Spokesman-Review reports.
Legal implications
The bill classifies false identification as a peace officer as a gross misdemeanor. Under Washington law, that level of offense can carry up to 364 days in jail and fines up to $5,000. The bill's carveouts for artistic and honorary uses are written directly into the text, and advocates say the new offense would sit alongside existing criminal impersonation statutes. The details are laid out in the Washington Legislature materials and in state sentencing law at Washington statutes.
If the Senate approves the measure, it would then go to Ferguson for his signature. The governor has said he intends to sign it into law.
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