Chelan County Sheriff joins colleagues in reaffirming the right to peaceful protest and public safety

The Washington State Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) has issued a statement regarding upholding an individuals' right to protest and the parallel rule of law maintaining public safety.

In an email to citizens, Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison wrote that protecting the constitutional rights of all individuals, especially the right to peacefully assemble and express one’s views, is a core responsibility of law enforcement. At the same time, Sheriff's deputies have an equally important duty to ensure the safety of our communities.

"We still have an obligation to protect the infrastructure of our communities; businesses, citizens, and make sure their lives aren't disrupted," Sheriff Morrison said. "It's not everyone's stance to be as vocal as some are."

"Our community should know where the Sheriff's Office stands when it comes to certain points, especially when you see these issues propping up across the nation," Morrison added.

"Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of democracy, and we are committed to safeguarding that right while also acting decisively to prevent violence, protect lives, and preserve public order," said the Sheriff.

The full text of Sheriff Morrison's letter:

Citizens of Chelan County,

As the elected Sheriff of our county and a member of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) Administrative Board, I fully support WASPC’s statement on upholding the right to protest and the rule of law.

Protecting the constitutional rights of all individuals, especially the right to peacefully assemble and express one’s views, is a core responsibility of law enforcement. At the same time, we have an equally important duty to ensure the safety and well-being of our communities. Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of democracy, and we are committed to safeguarding that right while also acting decisively to prevent violence, protect lives, and preserve public order.

We stand united in our dedication to fairness, professionalism, and accountability, and we call on our communities to work with us in distinguishing between lawful protest and unlawful acts that threaten public trust and safety.

Respectfully,

Sheriff Morrison

View WAPSC Statement on Upholding the Right to Protest and the Rule of Law here.

In WASPC's 20224-2025 Strategic Intentions Report:

"WASPC advocates for policies and systems to promote trustworthy, credible, well-resourced systems to uphold the rule of law.. Communities and businesses cannot thrive without public safety and the knowledge that criminals will be held accountable, by professionals doing the job the right way.

"We take concerns about police interactions with the community seriously and continuously work to improve our policies, training, culture and transparency. We ask individuals to take responsibility for their own actions, for policy makers and elected officials to bring our communities together and for all of us to work together for common solutions."