‘Nothing short of incredible’: King County Sheriff’s Office reports 22% drop in overall crime
Mar 11, 2026, 5:00 AM | Updated: 3:03 pm
A King County Sheriff Office's uniform. (Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
King County is a much safer place to live, work, and play than it was this time last year, according to new statistics released by the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO).
The new numbers show a 22% overall drop in crime from 2024 to 2025. Homicides led the way, down 19%, aggravated assaults were down 22%, robberies down nearly 40%, and property crimes, including auto theft, down nearly 19%.
“This is nothing short of the incredible work done by both our commissioned and professional staff, spanning across the unincorporated areas and contracts we serve,” KCSO Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall said. “Results like these are what happen when everyone in the agency comes together with the same priority and goal: reducing crime and the fear of crime. We are thoughtful and strategic as to where we assign our deputies, with the belief that a highly visible police presence will continue to deter criminal behavior. These numbers show that what we’re doing is working.”
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KCSO sheriff credits deputies on the street for making biggest difference
Deputies also report taking 2,800 guns off the street. Sheriff Cole-Tindall said fewer guns on the street means fewer gun-related crimes and deaths.
“There are still a large number of firearms. It’s not that difficult to get a firearm, even with all the laws in place, people can get them or steal them, and that’s why it’s so important that we ask people in the community to keep their firearms locked up. Keep them safe,” Sheriff Cole-Tindall said.
With auto theft down, Sheriff Cole-Tindall noted fewer crimes are being committed with stolen vehicles.
KCSO has a focused Gun Violence Reduction Unit, but the Sheriff said it is the deputies on the street making the biggest difference. They see crime, at times, before the 911 call comes in, and the deputies act on it.
“We will be focused on keeping our community safe, reducing crime, and the fear of crime,” Sheriff Cole-Tindall said. “A lot of that is by our presence, by being out in the community and by holding people accountable.”
KCSO is currently down approximately 100 deputies. As more are hired, Cole-Tindall hopes the downward trend will continue, and people will feel safer.
“As we hire more people, we will have more folks out there, but it’s the same emphasis on work that we will be doing. We will be focused on keeping our community safe,” Cole-Tindall said.
Adding to this downward trend is the continued “Operation Safe Transit” initiative, launched in May 2024. This program focused on making transit safer on buses, trains, bus stops, and train platforms.
In less than two years, deputies have made 280 arrests across the key transit corridor in downtown Seattle. Metro Transit and Sound Transit both contract with KCSO for police services.
“Though this data is encouraging and trending in the right direction, it in no way means we are taking our foot off the gas,” Sheriff Cole-Tindall added. “In 2026, we are focused on decreasing these numbers even more, and we will do that with visible public safety efforts that strengthen community trust and confidence.”
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