After years of delays, contract disputes, and multiple ethics complaints, the Washington State Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has officially launched the Washington State Data Exchange for Public Safety (WADEPS). The database, mandated by 2021’s Senate Bill 5259, aims to provide public access to police use of force incident data—but its rollout has been anything but smooth.
The bill originally tasked the AGO with selecting a university to develop the data platform through a competitive request for proposal (RFP). Washington State University (WSU) was ultimately awarded the contract as the only bidder, raising concerns after multiple allegations surfaced regarding improper communication between AGO officials and WSU during the selection process.
The project’s scheduled launch in April 2023 was pushed back due to IBM’s withdrawal over intellectual property terms. WSU later partnered with Carahsoft—then under federal investigation—and Amazon Web Services (AWS), which later also exited the project amid internal miscommunications.
WADEPS struggled to secure data-sharing agreements with key partners, including 9-1-1 call centers, citing fears of violating federal law. Local officials, including the Lake Stevens City Attorney, questioned why municipalities should bear liability for data created and managed by the state and WSU.
Ethics complaints soon followed. Bob Scales, a former prosecutor and president of Police Strategies, accused the AGO of giving WSU an unfair advantage in the RFP process. Scales withdrew his own bid and filed formal ethics charges against both AGO and WSU personnel, alleging improper conduct and undue influence.
The State Ethics Board—staffed by AGO employees—dismissed the complaints. Still, WSU President Eric Schulz’s attempt to block an internal investigation, contrary to university policy, raised further concerns. No formal findings were ever released.
In response, Scales filed a $42 million tort claim against WSU and the AGO. The AGO, anticipating legal action, awarded a $250,000 defense contract to Pacifica Law Group, whose leadership includes former AGO employees, including incoming State Attorney General Nick Brown.
Despite the controversies, WADEPS is now operational. Agencies are required to begin monthly data reporting by September 2, 2025. As of launch, the Fife Police Department has signed a data use agreement with the platform.
