Summary

A new command center for the King County Sheriff would be created inside vacant space in Sammamish City Hall, and a new model for service delivery would increase patrol time on the streets, under a proposal sent to the Metropolitan King County Council by King County Executive Dow Constantine.

Story

A new command center for the King County Sheriff would be created inside vacant space in Sammamish City Hall, and a new model for service delivery would increase patrol time on the streets, under a proposal sent to the Metropolitan King County Council by King County Executive Dow Constantine.

"Creation of this new facility will support the emerging practice of 'hot desking,' so that deputies can spend more time on patrol on the streets of East King County," said Executive Constantine. "By consolidating two police precincts into one command center, we can also realize savings through reduced overhead and administration."

"We're putting our deputies right where they need to be," said Sheriff Sue Rahr. "As the population of King County has grown, our service area has changed. The new center allows us to move officers closer to the areas they patrol, making them more visible and accessible to county residents."

If approved by the County Council, the agreement to create the East Precinct Command Center (EPCC) is expected to save King County $8.6 million over twenty years through the consolidation of police precincts in Kenmore and Maple Valley into currently-vacant space on the second floor of Sammamish City Hall. Sheriff's deputies would share such facilities as holding cells and booking areas with the Sammamish Police Department.

"This continues and expands our excellent relationship with the Sheriff's Office," said Sammamish City Manager Ben Yazici. "It reduces County costs, provides lease revenue to the city, and shows once again the value of collaboration."

Under the trend in law enforcement known as "hot desking," Sheriff's deputies would start the day in the field in their assigned patrol areas, rather than reporting to precinct offices to start their shift. Officers would do most of their work in the field via laptop, and stop in to file reports at shared "hot desks" in the police departments of contract cities and at the new EPCC only when necessary.

"Taxpayers want us to work together, and find ways to do the job better and less expensively," said King County Chief Deputy Steve Strachan. "That's what this is all about."

The proposal is the result of a collaborative and creative partnership between the County Executive, the County Sheriff, the City of Sammamish, and other city contract partners and the Muckleshoot Tribe, with the goal of providing continued public safety services to the people of King County within existing public funds.

About two dozen Sheriff's Office employees will be based at the new facility, which is expected to open by the end of the year.