April 2025 Edition
By Monica Alexander, Executive Director, WSCJTC
Watch the video here.
April is a month that brings reflection—and this year, it brings pride, responsibility, and a deep sense of purpose for all of us at WSCJTC.
Honoring Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Sexual Assault Awareness Month reminds me, painfully, that there are still too many women who don’t feel safe. And that deeply unsettles me. The truth is, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t been affected by sexual assault—whether directly or through someone they care about. That shouldn't be the reality, and it’s on all of us to change that.
Here in Washington, we’ve made real progress. Thanks to the relentless efforts of Senator Tina Orwall and Representative Gina Mosbrucker, our state has cleared 10,000 backlogged sexual assault kits. Some of these kits had been sitting untested since 1982. Their advocacy led to the funding of a high-throughput lab that enables the processing of multiple kits simultaneously. That’s powerful. That’s justice catching up.
I’m also proud of the trauma-informed, victim-centered training we offer at WSCJTC—led by Andrea Piper-Wetland. Detectives, investigators, and sergeants are trained right here. I hear nothing but praise for the training's meaningful and transformative impact. We are helping law enforcement show up better for survivors, and that’s something we can all be proud of.
Making the Hard Call: Removing the P320
We’ve also had to make a tough decision—removing the Sig Sauer P320 from our academies. I know some folks feel unheard, but I want to be clear: I was listening. I listened to the instructor who was there when the firearm discharged. I listened to the recruits who witnessed it. And I asked myself one question—if I know something could be dangerous, and I choose not to act, how can I explain that if the worst happens?
This isn’t about the brand. It’s about the fact that this model has known issues, and I can’t ignore that. Our training environments are close contact. Our instructors—active and former law enforcement officers—deserve to be safe. Our recruits deserve to be safe. And at our graduations, children, senior citizens, other family members, and friends are hugging their loved ones and celebrating the accomplishments of those who have just become peace officers. Safety must always come first.
I know this decision won’t please everyone, but leadership isn’t about pleasing everyone—it’s about doing what’s right. And I believe this was the right call.
A New Chapter in Arlington
And finally, I want to share something that fills me with joy—the opening of our Northwest Regional Campus in Arlington. I was there on day one, and the energy from the new class was incredible. This location is a big step forward for us and for the communities we serve.
The goal has always been to keep recruits close to home—so they can go home at night, live everyday lives, and treat this work like a sustainable career from the start. With the Arlington campus joining Spokane, Pasco, Vancouver, and our Burien headquarters, we now truly serve all corners of Washington.
This took a lot of work by many dedicated people, some of whom were away from their families to make it happen. Our staff ensures that the curriculum is consistent across all campuses, so the quality is the same, regardless of where you train. That is no small feat.
We opened the first regional academy in May 2023, and here we are, not even two years later. I couldn’t be more grateful—or more excited—for what’s ahead.
A lot is happening at CJTC. It’s a good place to be.