OLYMPIA, Wash. – Would you pay an additional tax to add more police officers to your local force?

A Washington state Senate committee is considering a bill that would allow cities and counties to add a sales and use tax to goods and services that would help pay for more officers.

Port Angeles Police Chief Brian Smith spoke in favor of the bill at a hearing on Monday, January 23rd.

“What you have before is very important. It might be the most important public safety initiative of this entire session,” said Smith. “Staffing is their number one issue and our gap is simply being large enough to address all the needs of our community.”

Leslie Cushman with the Washington Coalition for Police Accountability spoke against the bill.

“I don’t want the public to think that simply hiring more officers will reduce crime,” said Cushman.

Under the bill, all tax money collected would have to be used solely to hire more police officers.

It would also relieve cities and counties of the 25% contribution they currently have to pay to train new officers at the state police academy.