King County, Washington Sheriff's Office
Encyclopedia
The King County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) is a local police agency in King County
, Washington. It is the primary law enforcement agency
for all unincorporated area
s of King County, as well as 12 cities, and 2 transit agencies, which contract their police services to the KCSO. KCSO also provided Police and Fire ARFF Services to the King County International Airport (Boeing Field. KCSO also provides regional-level support services to other local law enforcement agencies such as air support and search and rescue. The department has over 1,000 employees and serves over 1.6 million citizens, over 500,000 of whom live in either unincorporated areas or the 12 contract cities.
The current sheriff of King County is Sue Rahr
, preceded by Dave Reichert
(now U.S. Representative for Washington's 8th congressional district
)
Gary Ridgway
was eventually convicted of the crimes. Ridgway is considered one of the most prolific serial killer
s in American history.
This division manages the core functions of patrol, precinct-based detectives, crime prevention, storefronts, and reserve deputies. The subdivision into four precincts allows for better community-based responses because the precinct commanders can use local data to direct law enforcement services. Day-to-day management of contract city police and school resource officers, are the responsibility of this division.
The Special Operations Division provides support services to other divisions, regional services to local agencies, and contract police service to the King County Metro Transit Division (including Sound Transit Police), King County Department of Transportation (Motor Unit), and the King County International Airport ARFF Police.
Services provided by this division include: a K-9 unit with search and drug detection capabilities; Air Support (Guardian One); Marine Unit; Bomb Squad; tactical training in firearms, less-lethal weapons, and defensive tactics; motorcycle traffic enforcement; Tac-30 (SWAT); hostage negotiations; dignitary protection; tow coordination and appeal hearings; Search & Rescue; D.M.T. (Demonstration Management Team); instruction in and equipment for Haz-Mat; and special event planning and coordination. The division has also taken the lead in planning for homeland security concerns.
This division includes the Major Crimes Section, the Special Investigations Section, and the King County Regional Criminal Intelligence Group. The division serves citizens with follow-up investigative, warrant, and intelligence-gathering services. Specifically, it investigates crimes including homicide, domestic violence, computer fraud, forgery, sexual assault, and more. CID also addresses child support enforcement issues and manages court security (Court Marshals).
Technical Services provides the bulk of support services that are vital to efficient operations. Often, the employees in this division provide direct services to citizens as well as support services to the other divisions.
The services provided by the division personnel include emergency 9-1-1 call receiving and dispatching, technology development, records, contracting, civil process, personnel/hiring, payroll, purchasing, training, photography, application and administration of grants, planning, and all aspects of fingerprint identification.
Most of the contracts within the Sheriff's Office have their own patch and patrol car design and wear a King County Sheriff badge, while other contracts have no identity other than the King County Sheriff uniform, patch and patrol car. Those contracts that don't have their own identity are, North Bend Police, Beaux Arts Village, Skykomish, Snoqualmie Tribe, Muckleshoot Tribe (although they used to wear a tribal patch) and King County Metro Transit. However, King County Metro Transit Police does have their own style of patrol car specific to Metro Police, and their own uniform, they currently wear the standard King County Sheriff patch. The longest standing contract belongs to the City of North Bend, which began in 1973.
The KCSO Motor Unit exists under contract with the King County Department of Transportation: Roads Division, which in turn provides funding for S.T.E.P (the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program) which targets select arterials within unincorporated King County based on a history of accidents, chronic traffic problems, and high citizen complaints. The KCSO Motors Unit currently wears the standard KCSO patch and wears and Class A uniform and ride Honda KCSO marked motorcycles. The Motor Unit participates in, Traffic enforcement, Instructor certifications, Dignitary protection and escort, parades and special events, educational and school activities as well as extensive Motorcycle training.
King County, Washington
King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States....
, Washington. It is the primary law enforcement agency
Law enforcement agency
In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
for all unincorporated area
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
s of King County, as well as 12 cities, and 2 transit agencies, which contract their police services to the KCSO. KCSO also provided Police and Fire ARFF Services to the King County International Airport (Boeing Field. KCSO also provides regional-level support services to other local law enforcement agencies such as air support and search and rescue. The department has over 1,000 employees and serves over 1.6 million citizens, over 500,000 of whom live in either unincorporated areas or the 12 contract cities.
The current sheriff of King County is Sue Rahr
Sue Rahr
Susan L. Rahr is the current sheriff of King County, Washington.Rahr is the first female King County Sheriff.-Personal life:Sue Rahr was born in Wyoming, but moved to Bellevue, Washington, USA when she was five. She has six brothers. She has two sons, William "Billy" Rahr and Peter Rahr and is...
, preceded by Dave Reichert
Dave Reichert
David George Reichert is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party. He previously served as Sheriff of King County, Washington.-Early life, education and career:...
(now U.S. Representative for Washington's 8th congressional district
Washington's 8th congressional district
Washington's 8th congressional district includes most of the region known as the Eastside and the mostly rural eastern parts of King and Pierce counties. It is currently represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by Republican Dave Reichert....
)
The Green River Killer
On July 15, 1982, the body of Wendy Lee Coffield was found in the Green River. Within a month, four other bodies were found on the riverbank: Debra Lynn Bonner, Marcia Faye Chapman, Opal Charmaine Mills and Cynthia Jean Hinds. Thus began one of the longest and largest serial murder investigations in United States history. Eventually, the deaths of at least 48 women would be linked to the Green River killer.Gary Ridgway
Gary Ridgway
Gary Leon Ridgway is an American serial killer known as the Green River Killer. He murdered numerous women in Washington during the 1980s and 1990s, earning his nickname when the first five victims were found in the Green River. He strangled them, usually with his arm but sometimes using ligatures...
was eventually convicted of the crimes. Ridgway is considered one of the most prolific serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
s in American history.
Fallen Officers
Since the establishment of the King County Sheriff's Office, 15 officers have died in the line of duty.| Officer | Date of Death | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Deputy Sheriff Wesley F. Cherry | |
Gunfire |
| Sheriff Louis V. Wyckoff | |
Heart attack |
| Officer George W. Poor | |
Gunfire (Accidental) |
| Posseman Cornelius Rowley | |
Gunfire |
| Deputy Sheriff Robert Carl Scott | |
Gunfire |
| Deputy Sheriff Steven S. Watson | |
Gunfire |
| Deputy Sheriff Thomas Meehan | |
Gunfire |
| Deputy Sheriff Norman F. Silkworth | |
Gunfire |
| Deputy Sheriff Donald A. Armeni | |
Gunfire |
| Detective Sergeant Samuel A. Hicks | |
Gunfire |
| Detective Michael L. Raburn | |
Stabbed |
| Deputy Sheriff Richard S. Cochran II | |
Motorcycle accident |
| Deputy Sheriff Mark William Brown | |
Motorcycle accident |
| Deputy Sheriff Richard Anthony Herzog | |
Gunfire |
| Deputy Sheriff Steve E. Cox | |
Gunfire |
Divisions
- Field Operations Division
This division manages the core functions of patrol, precinct-based detectives, crime prevention, storefronts, and reserve deputies. The subdivision into four precincts allows for better community-based responses because the precinct commanders can use local data to direct law enforcement services. Day-to-day management of contract city police and school resource officers, are the responsibility of this division.
- Special Operations Division
The Special Operations Division provides support services to other divisions, regional services to local agencies, and contract police service to the King County Metro Transit Division (including Sound Transit Police), King County Department of Transportation (Motor Unit), and the King County International Airport ARFF Police.
Services provided by this division include: a K-9 unit with search and drug detection capabilities; Air Support (Guardian One); Marine Unit; Bomb Squad; tactical training in firearms, less-lethal weapons, and defensive tactics; motorcycle traffic enforcement; Tac-30 (SWAT); hostage negotiations; dignitary protection; tow coordination and appeal hearings; Search & Rescue; D.M.T. (Demonstration Management Team); instruction in and equipment for Haz-Mat; and special event planning and coordination. The division has also taken the lead in planning for homeland security concerns.
- Criminal Investigations Division (CID)
This division includes the Major Crimes Section, the Special Investigations Section, and the King County Regional Criminal Intelligence Group. The division serves citizens with follow-up investigative, warrant, and intelligence-gathering services. Specifically, it investigates crimes including homicide, domestic violence, computer fraud, forgery, sexual assault, and more. CID also addresses child support enforcement issues and manages court security (Court Marshals).
- Technical Services Division
Technical Services provides the bulk of support services that are vital to efficient operations. Often, the employees in this division provide direct services to citizens as well as support services to the other divisions.
The services provided by the division personnel include emergency 9-1-1 call receiving and dispatching, technology development, records, contracting, civil process, personnel/hiring, payroll, purchasing, training, photography, application and administration of grants, planning, and all aspects of fingerprint identification.
Contract cities
The following cities contract their police departments to KCSO:- Beaux Arts VillageBeaux Arts Village, WashingtonBeaux Arts Village is a town located in the Eastside, an affluent region of King County, Washington, United States in the Seattle metropolitan area. It is the smallest municipal jurisdiction in the county, with a population of 299 as of the 2010 census and a land area of 0.1 sq mi...
- BurienBurien, WashingtonBurien is a city in King County, Washington, United States, located south of Seattle. As of the 2010 Census, Burien's population is 33,313, which is a 2.9% increase since incorporation. Annexation in 2011 has increased the cities population to about 45,000....
- CovingtonCovington, WashingtonCovington is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 17,575 at the time of the 2010 census. Prior to the 2010 census, Covington was counted as part of Covington-Sawyer-Wilderness CDP.-History:...
- KenmoreKenmore, WashingtonKenmore is a city in King County, Washington, United States, along the northernmost shores of Lake Washington...
- Maple ValleyMaple Valley, WashingtonMaple Valley is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 22,684 at the 2010 census.-History:The area was first settled in 1879 by three men who were improving a trail and brought their families in. When a name for a future community was proposed, the names Vine Maple...
- NewcastleNewcastle, WashingtonNewcastle is an Eastside city in King County, Washington, United States. Its population was 10,380 at the 2010 census.Although Newcastle was not incorporated until 1994, it has been an important settlement and town since the late 19th century and played a major role in the development of Seattle...
- North BendNorth Bend, WashingtonNorth Bend is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The town was made famous by David Lynch's television series Twin Peaks Since the Weyerhaeuser sawmill closed, North Bend has become an upscale bedroom community for the Eastside of Seattle, Washington, with property values more than...
- SammamishSammamish, Washington-Surrounding cities and communities:-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 34,104 people, 11,131 households, and 9,650 families residing in the city. In 2007, the population is expected to pass 40,000....
- SeaTacSeaTac, WashingtonSeaTac is an American city in southern King County, Washington, and an outlying suburb of Seattle, Washington. Incorporated in February 1990, the City of SeaTac is ten square miles in area and has a population of 26,909 according to the 2010 census...
- ShorelineShoreline, WashingtonShoreline is a city in King County, Washington, United States, north of Downtown Seattle bordering the northern Seattle city limits. As of the 2010 census, the population was 53,007, making it the 19th largest city in the state of Washington....
- SkykomishSkykomish, WashingtonAs of the census of 2000, there were 214 people, 104 households, and 58 families residing in the town. The population density was 623.2 people per square mile . There were 162 housing units at an average density of 471.8 per square mile...
- WoodinvilleWoodinville, WashingtonWoodinville is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 10,938 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Seattle metropolitan area. There is also a much larger population with Woodinville mailing addresses in adjacent unincorporated areas of King and Snohomish counties...
Other contracts
- King County International Airport Police/Fire ARFF (Boeing Field)Boeing FieldBoeing Field, officially King County International Airport , is a two-runway airport owned and run by King County, Washington, USA. In promotional literature, the airport is frequently referred to as KCIA, but this is not the airport identifier. The airport has some passenger service, but is mostly...
- King County Metro Transit Police
- King County Dept. of Transportation: Roads Division (Motor Unit)
- MuckleshootMuckleshootThe Muckleshoot are a Lushootseed Native American tribe, part of the Coast Salish peoples of the Pacific Northwest whose traditional territory and reservations is located in the area of Auburn, Washington, between Seattle and Tacoma...
Indian Tribe - Sound Transit PoliceSound TransitSound Transit has been the popular name of Washington state's Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority since September 19, 1999. It was formed in 1996 by the Snohomish, King, and Pierce County Councils...
- Snoqualmie Tribe Police (Calls for service based only)
- King County Court Marshals
- King County Fire/Arson Investigators
- 15 (est) additional contract services from school districts to security
Most of the contracts within the Sheriff's Office have their own patch and patrol car design and wear a King County Sheriff badge, while other contracts have no identity other than the King County Sheriff uniform, patch and patrol car. Those contracts that don't have their own identity are, North Bend Police, Beaux Arts Village, Skykomish, Snoqualmie Tribe, Muckleshoot Tribe (although they used to wear a tribal patch) and King County Metro Transit. However, King County Metro Transit Police does have their own style of patrol car specific to Metro Police, and their own uniform, they currently wear the standard King County Sheriff patch. The longest standing contract belongs to the City of North Bend, which began in 1973.
The KCSO Motor Unit exists under contract with the King County Department of Transportation: Roads Division, which in turn provides funding for S.T.E.P (the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program) which targets select arterials within unincorporated King County based on a history of accidents, chronic traffic problems, and high citizen complaints. The KCSO Motors Unit currently wears the standard KCSO patch and wears and Class A uniform and ride Honda KCSO marked motorcycles. The Motor Unit participates in, Traffic enforcement, Instructor certifications, Dignitary protection and escort, parades and special events, educational and school activities as well as extensive Motorcycle training.
Rank Structure
| Title | Insignia |
|---|---|
| Sheriff Sheriff A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country.... |
 |
| Chief Deputy |  |
| Division Chief |  |
| Contract City Chief |  |
| Major |  |
| Captain | |
| Sergeant |  |
| Deputy (Master Police Officer) |
 |
| Deputy | |
Law Enforcement Exploring Program
The King County Sheriff's Office has a volunteer program for individuals between the ages of fourteen and twenty-one who are interested in investigating a career in the field of law enforcement. The program is called the King County Sheriff Explorers and is a local post of the Learning for Life Exploring program. The explorer post has a rank structure similar to the Sheriff's Office. The explorers attend academies and competitions, ride-along with deputies on patrol, and receive training on a variety of law enforcement topics.See also
- List of law enforcement agencies in Washington
- Dave ReichertDave ReichertDavid George Reichert is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party. He previously served as Sheriff of King County, Washington.-Early life, education and career:...
- Sue RahrSue RahrSusan L. Rahr is the current sheriff of King County, Washington.Rahr is the first female King County Sheriff.-Personal life:Sue Rahr was born in Wyoming, but moved to Bellevue, Washington, USA when she was five. She has six brothers. She has two sons, William "Billy" Rahr and Peter Rahr and is...