Executive Dow Constantine unveiled the three finalists for the next King County Sheriff, after narrowing the list down from 12 initial candidates who had applied for the position as part of a nationwide search process.

With position no longer up to voters, King County begins search for new sheriff

The three finalists are: interim King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall; Killeen, Texas Police Chief Charles Kimble; and Atlanta Police Major Reginald Moorman.

Cole-Tindall has been served as interim sheriff since the start of 2022, becoming the first person of color to ever serve in that role. She first joined the department in 2015 as the chief of technical services. She was then appointed to serve as undersheriff in 2020. According to the county, that role had her overseeing “the development and implementation of the KCSO strategic plan and the examination and strengthening of the KCSO complaint and use of force review processes.”

Kimble has been Killeen’s police chief since 2017. Prior to that, he was assistant chief of police for the Fayetteville Police Department for over 19 years, before briefing serving as chief in Spring Lake, North Carolina. More recently, he detailed his hope to “un-strain” the Killeen Police Department’s relationship with the community by increasing outreach efforts, particularly related to mental health crises.

Moorman has served with the Atlanta Police Department for over two decades, first as a beat officer, before being promoted to sergeant in 2007, lieutenant in 2011, captain in 2015, and then finally, major in 2020. As part of that last promotion, he was assigned to lead the department’s Community Oriented Policing Section, tasked with “working with the community to implement positive change.” He also works as an adjunct criminal justice professor at Georgia State University, Atlanta Metropolitan State College, and American Intercontinental University.

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Next, the county will hold a series of community forums where the public can “provide input, ask questions, and get to know the candidates better.” The first forum will take place virtually on April 18 at 6 p.m., followed by another on April 21 at 9 a.m.

Previously, King County’s sheriff was an elected position decided by voters. A trio of charter amendments approved during 2020’s election changed that, giving the county executive the authority to appoint the role. That saw Sheriff Mitzi Johanknecht’s term expire at the end of 2021, with Cole-Tindall tagged to serve in the role in an interim capacity until a full-time appointment is made.

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