Public Safety Advisory Committee completes report

On September 30, 2021 the Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) shared its recommendations and priorities for improving public safety in King County, sending its full report to King County Executive Dow Constantine and the King County Council. Thanking the PSAC members and all those that supported their efforts, the Executive and Councilmembers will now review the recommendations and continue to engage the public. The King County Council will hold a set of briefings on the report, after which the Executive will begin recruitment for the next Sheriff.

Background

In November 2020, the voters of King County approved Charter Amendment No.5, returning the King County sheriff to an appointed position with a requirement for consideration of community stakeholder input during the selection, appointment and confirmation process. Additionally, the voters of King County approved Charter Amendment No.6, allowing the duties of the chief officer of the department of public safety (also known as the King County Sheriff, who may also be referred to as the county sheriff, and the duties and structure of the department of public safety to be established by county ordinance.

King County Charter Amendment No. 5: Making the King County Sheriff an Appointed Position

King County Charter Amendment No. 6: Structure and Duties of the Department of Public Safety

Public Safety Advisory Committee

On March 9, 2021 the King County Council and King County Executive adopted King County Executive Ordinance 19249, establishing the Public Safety Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee conducted community stakeholder engagement and produced a report to inform the selection process of an appointed sheriff. Additionally, the committee has been gathered stakeholder input and provided guidance on values that stakeholder communities hold on how law enforcement services should be provided and ways the county could improve the delivery of law enforcement services to preserve and enhance public safety.

• Read the full report: Recommendations on Hiring a New Sheriff & Improving Public Safety (PDF).
• News release: Public Safety Advisory Committee identifies priorities for improving public safety in King County and hiring a new Sheriff

The King County Sheriff's Office

The King County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) is also referred to as the Department of Public Safety. The department provides and participates in regional services and activities including bomb disposal, search and rescue, homicide investigations, civil and criminal warrants, sex offender registration, dignitary protection, the automated fingerprint identification system, intelligence services and the joint terrorism task force. KCSO is the police department for unincorporated King County, which includes nearly 250,000 residents over a wide-ranging geographic area that encompasses dense urban areas, such as Skyway and White Center, and sparsely populated rural areas, such as Vashon Island and rural east King County.

The county also contracts and partners with twelve cities and the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe to provide law enforcement services to their approximately three hundred thousand residents through the King County Sheriff's Office. KCSO also provides public safety services for transportation agencies, including the King County International Airport, the Metro transit department and Sound Transit.

More information about the King County Sheriff's Office.

Members of the Public Safety Advisory Committee

Per the adopted ordinance, the committee includes thirteen members of the public and critical stakeholders, who represent the geographic, ethnic, and economic diversity of the department of public safety's service area.

Public Comment on the Public Safety Advisory Committee Report

The Law and Justice Committee of the King County Council is welcoming public comment on the Public Safety Advisory Report at their upcoming meeting. For more details and instructions on how to provide public comment, please refer to this link: Law and Justice Committee - King County.

Contact us

If you have questions about this process, please send an email to PSAC@kingcounty.gov