Former King County Sheriff concerned by Pierce County Sheriff’s DUI test remark
Jul 18, 2025, 5:02 AM
Former King County Sheriff John Urquhart (R) called out Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank's (L) comment on sobriety tests. (Photos courtesy of Pierce County TV and Drew Angerer, Getty Images)
(Photos courtesy of Pierce County TV and Drew Angerer, Getty Images)
Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank called in to “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio Thursday morning to talk about the arrest of his lead detective, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office Major Chad Dickerson.
During the conversation, KIRO host Ursula Reutin, who does not drink, told the story of her being pulled over and doing a field sobriety test. Swank responded by saying she shouldn’t have taken the test.
“I can tell you this, if WSP made a traffic stop, first off, you should never do a field sobriety test,” Swank said. “I don’t know why you did that, even if you drink or not, but that’s for another discussion. Some other time, and I’m giving that free legal advice to everybody out there.”
Swank later added, “If you’re smart, you don’t give us more evidence.”
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Former King County Sheriff responds to Pierce County sheriff’s comment
Retired King County Sheriff John Urquhart, a 43-year law enforcement veteran — with five of those years as a sheriff — is a regular listener of “Gee and Ursula” and heard Swank’s interview.
“I’m concerned that another police officer would undermine police investigations and what we do, how we hold people accountable, how we are able to charge them with a crime when appropriate,” Urquhart said. “I have to think, what next? Advice to always wear gloves to a burglary. Never take your cell phone to a homicide. What’s next.”
Swank, himself, was arrested for DUI in Pacific County in 2007. He admits to drinking too much, but he wasn’t driving. He said he believes the case was mishandled, but took a plea deal to a lesser charge because he didn’t want to embarrass the department and wanted to do what he thought was best for his family.
Dickerson was arrested on July 12, just south of Graham. Investigators said he failed to yield the right-of-way at an intersection and collided with an SUV carrying six people. Three adults and three children were sent to the hospital. So far, no charges have been filed against Dickerson, as prosecutors wait for the return of DUI testing results from the Washington State Patrol (WSP) Crime Lab.
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