‘Not a lot of really small police departments left’: Thurston County sheriff warns of budget squeeze on local policing

As the Washington State Office of Financial Management warned agency directors of “significant budget shortfalls” via a memo Friday, Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders said when it comes to policing, small police departments will be hit the hardest.

Sanders told “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio that while the conversations in Thurston County have been manageable, other local jurisdictions are starting to feel the squeeze.

“Inflation and all these other costs are really catching up with local governments,” he said. “And when you start talking about policing services and how expensive it is to run a police department, that scale of economy hits small departments extra hard.”

Sanders said that last year, the budget cuts felt like they came out of nowhere. The county initially asked departments to model a 25% reduction, though his office ultimately took a $2.5 million cut, less than 5% of its budget. That’s why this year, the county has started engaging in budget conversations with elected officials much earlier.

The City of Tenino recently dissolved its police department and approved a temporary six-month contract with the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office for policing services, The Chronicle reported.

Small police departments bear the brunt of budget shortfall

Sanders said the move is not super common, but that “there’s not a lot of really small police departments left.”

He said the Cosmopolis Police Department was another that couldn’t stay above the fray.

“Everyone is feeling the squeeze, and everyone is trying to figure out the most efficient way to deliver critical public service,” Sanders said.

On a positive note, Sanders said the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office has moved into its first headquarters in more than two decades.

“We have been strewn across the county in dilapidated facilities for decades. Really excited, towards the end of July, we’re going to have a ribbon-cutting ceremony,” he said.

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.