DORI MONSON

Dunn: Cuts to King County sheriff will make rural, urban areas unsafe

Nov 13, 2020, 6:16 PM | Updated: Nov 14, 2020, 9:03 am

police oversight, king county sheriff, hate crime unit...

(Photo courtesy of the King County Sheriff's Office)

(Photo courtesy of the King County Sheriff's Office)

As a result of the election, King County will be the only county in Washington that will have an appointed sheriff. Voters in the other 38 counties elect the sheriff. One of the people sounding the alarm on this change is King County councilmember Reagan Dunn.

Dunn joined the Dori Monson Show on KIRO Radio to discuss a statement he issued saying that “draconian cuts” are coming to the King County Sheriff’s Office, and that it will put suburban and rural people in King County at much greater risk.

“Well, King County just decided here today to follow suit with what has happened in downtown Seattle, where 118 officers have been pushed out, fired, terminated, whatever — left the force. And what we’re seeing, of course, down there is literally near record homicides, dramatic increase in shootings. You all saw CHOP where the police chief actually had to resign because she couldn’t capitulate to what the downtown Seattle politicians were doing,” Dunn said.

Newly opened Ballard barbershop ransacked by burglars

“Seattle’s going in the very same direction, and there’s just been huge cuts to the sheriff’s budget that will pull another 40 law enforcement officers off the streets this year alone in King County,” he added.

Dunn says the cuts are being hidden, in a sense, but that they will continue, and will leave a police force unable to handle crime.

“The devil’s in the details when you look at the budget. So they’re doing an immediate number of cuts, and then what they’ll do is they hide cuts by putting them into the contract cities and adding sheriff deputies to the contract cities because they’re being paid for by the contract cities, but those people aren’t policing the rest of King County, and then they don’t allow vacancies to be filled,” he said.

Yakima Fruit Market defeats Sound Transit thanks to community support

“And so our turnover is around 40 to 60 officers per year. So year one, we’re going to lose 40. We’ll lose even more in year two. Add that to the near 120 — I think, 118 officers — in Seattle and you’re starting to get a police force all throughout King County that is just not prepared for the type of crime we’re going to continue seeing.”

Listen to the Dori Monson Show weekday afternoons from noon – 3 p.m. on KIRO Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

Dori Monson Show

Dori Monson

Dori Monson stage show...

MyNorthwest Staff

Watch: Dori Monson’s ‘What are the Odds?’ stage show

In 2019, Dori Monson hosted a stage show - 'What are the Odds?' - which introduced you to the people who helped shape his improbable career.

1 year ago

Dori Monson welcomes the Moose back to KIRO. Follow @http://twitter.com/Mynorthwest...

MyNorthwest Staff

A collection of the all-time best Dori Monson stories

With the passing of Dori Monson, a collection of some of his top stories to remember all the hard work Dori brought to Seattle.

1 year ago

Alaska, fishing...

KIRO Newsradio staff

Listen: Friends, colleagues offer tribute to KIRO Newsradio’s Dori Monson

All day Monday, KIRO Newsradio's John Curley talked to friends, news makers, and more in tribute to Dori Monson.

1 year ago

Dori Monson Shorecrest...

Dori Monson Show

How to support charities reflecting Dori Monson’s values, passions

In tribute to Dori Monson, learn more about how you can support these three charities which best reflect his values, passions, and advocacy.

1 year ago

From left, Producer Nicole Thompson and KIRO host Dori Monson. (Courtesy of the Monson family)...

MyNorthwest Staff

Broadcasters, politicians, coworkers and friends remember Dori Monson

Dori Monson, a longtime KIRO Newsradio host, passed away Saturday. He is remembered by public figures, broadcasters, coworkers, and listeners.

1 year ago

Dori Monson...

MyNorthwest Staff

Longtime KIRO Newsradio host Dori Monson dies at age 61

We are deeply saddened to announce Dori Monson's sudden passing on Saturday, December 31, 2022, at a Seattle hospital.

1 year ago

Dunn: Cuts to King County sheriff will make rural, urban areas unsafe