From Burien to Olympia: Why Local Control of the Sheriff Matters

Editorial Board’s Note:
In King County, we gave up control over the selection of the sheriff to the county executive. The outcome for the City of Burien has not been good. Instead of having a sheriff who fulfilled the constitutional obligations sworn to under oath, the sheriff became beholden to the politics of the county executive. This contributed significantly to the outbreak of street drug use during the homeless crisis in Burien. Because Burien contracts with the sheriff’s department for policing, the policies of the county executive—rather than those of our city council—were carried out. Now there is a legislative move (SB 5974) to further distance accountability and alignment with the sheriff’s department from the will of the people and their elected officials.

The following statement by Grant County Sheriff Joe Kriete, an elected Washington State sheriff and Vice President of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, addresses proposed state legislation with implications for cities like Burien.

Jan 12, 2026 Facebook post:

I want to share some important information about SB 5974 (the Senate version of HB 1399) and why it matters to every voter in our community.

At the heart of this bill is a proposal that would allow an unelected state board to remove an elected Sheriff from office. My concern is simple: this takes decision-making power away from you, the citizens of our county.

The Office of Sheriff belongs to the people, not the Legislature and not an appointed board. You already can hold your Sheriff accountable through elections and the recall process. That system works, and we have seen it in action across Washington State. When communities want change, voters make that decision at the ballot box.

Supporters of this bill have suggested it is about “accountability.” But Sheriffs are already directly accountable to the voters we serve, just like other elected officials. If accountability were truly the issue, similar laws would apply to all elected offices. They do not.

These bills also attempt to make broad changes under the guise of minor adjustments, including:

• Imposing new requirements on who can run for Sheriff
• Redefining the authority and duties of Sheriffs
• Shifting power away from local communities

This is not about politics. This is about protecting your right to choose your local leadership.

I stand with my fellow Sheriffs across Washington State on this issue. The Washington State Sheriffs’ Association (WSSA) and the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) both strongly oppose these bills. We believe local communities, not the state, should decide who serves as their Sheriff.

Our state constitution clearly says that all political power comes from the people. Your vote matters. Local elections matter. And, the Sheriff should remain directly accountable to the citizens of the county, and not an unelected board.

If you feel strongly about preserving your voice in choosing your Sheriff, there is an opportunity to share your views with the Legislature. You can sign up to provide testimony on SB 5974 here: https://bit.ly/4ptV59b.

My goal has always been to serve Grant County with integrity, transparency, and respect. I will continue to support your voice in government and protect your right to choose your leadership.

Thank you for allowing me to serve you.

Respectfully,

Sheriff Joe Kriete
Grant County