A. The position of warrant officer is hereby established in the Bellingham police department as authorized by Washington Laws of 2015, Chapter 288, Section 1. The warrant officers shall have special limited authority as provided for in this section.

B. The Bellingham police department is authorized to employ up to two warrant officers.

C. Minimum qualifications for the position of warrant officer include: be at least 21 years of age; type 30 words per minute; satisfactorily complete a Bellingham police department background investigation, including a polygraph examination, a criminal convictions records check, and a psychological exam; possess a valid Washington State driver’s license; submit a satisfactory three-year driving abstract; and satisfy any established training requirements by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission.

D. Warrant officers shall have the special limited authority to: make arrests authorized by warrant or other court orders; serve civil and criminal court orders, including protection orders, no contact orders, restraining orders, and anti-harassment orders; serve subpoenas; transport to and book arrested persons into jail; extradite and transport prisoners; provide security for the Bellingham municipal court; and all duties ancillary to the aforementioned authority. The warrant officers shall also have the authority to perform other duties for the Bellingham police department that do not require the authority of a fully commissioned police officer.

E. Training requirements for warrant officers shall be established by the chief of police and approved by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission.

F. Warrant officers shall not be entitled to death, disability, or retirement benefits pursuant to Chapter 41.26 RCW on the basis of service as a warrant officer as described in this section. [Ord. 2015-07-028 § 1].