Pierce County Sheriff Swank launches podcast, takes aim at law targeting elected sheriffs in debut episode
Aug 24, 2026, 7:58 AM | Updated: 9:26 am
Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank speaking during a press conference. (Photo courtesy of KIRO 7 via Washington House Democrats)
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7 via Washington House Democrats)
Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank has officially launched a new podcast called “Uncuffed.”
Since Swank replaced former Sheriff Ed Troyer in the November 2024 election, defeating Patti Jackson, he has been in the spotlight for comments he’s made publicly and on social media. Now, with the launch of this podcast, he’s giving himself his own platform to speak his mind.
“For too long you’ve been told what you can and can’t say,” Swank wrote on X. “You are now ‘uncuffed’ to speak your mind. This is the debut episode of Sheriff Swank: Uncuffed, my new podcast where I give you straight talk on law enforcement, politics, and what actually happens behind closed doors.”
For too long you’ve been told what you can and can’t say.
You are now “uncuffed” to speak your mind. This is the debut episode of, Sheriff Swank: Uncuffed, my new podcast where I give you straight talk on law enforcement, politics, and what actually happens behind closed doors.…
— Sheriff Keith Swank (@SaveOurSheriff) August 22, 2026
The topics covered in the debut episode of the podcast include the departure of Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes and how he’s under attack from Senate Bill 5974 and Charter Amendment 53, which he claimed is “a deliberate effort to strip the people of their right to elect their sheriff and remove me from office early.”
Swank feels like he’s under attack from SB 5974
Swank has been at war over the passage of Senate Bill 5974, which Governor Bob Ferguson signed in April.
SB 5974 allows the state to decertify sheriffs and police chiefs who fail to meet professional standards.
“The legislation will ensure that law enforcement leaders are highly prepared and are held to the same standards of accountability and conduct that we expect of other law enforcement officers,” prime sponsor Sen. John Lovick, D-Mill Creek, said.
The bill raises the minimum age for sheriff candidates from 18 to 25, requires at least five years of full-time law enforcement experience, and mandates background checks and certification from the Criminal Justice Training Commission. It also allows the commission, an appointed state board, to revoke certification for misconduct, triggering automatic removal from office for elected sheriffs.
“Democrats have a supermajority in the House, the Senate, the governor, and every statewide executive office,” Swank read at a hearing over Senate Bill 5974 earlier this year. “You have it all except the office of sheriff, and once you have control over sheriffs you think you can impose your will on people like me. Some of my colleagues naively believe that they can come here and reason with you. They think you don’t understand what’s at stake here. They don’t understand you like I do. You know what is at stake, and you are acting on it. You are not dumb, you are evil. But I am not surprised.”
Swank’s social media presence
Swank has posted several controversial posts since he was elected sheriff of Pierce County.
In 2025, Swank wrote, “Do you think it’s time to ban trans people from owning guns?” on X, causing a firestorm of controversy over the department’s social media policy. He wrote this post shortly after the shooter of the recent Minneapolis church shooting that killed two children was identified as transgender.
Swank again took to X to clarify the sheriff’s office social media policy after posting the controversial question on his account.
Last night, a reporter from KIRO sent an email to my PIO wanting to know our social media policy. It’s obvious this person wants to silence me. Here’s the policy: I am the Sheriff, and I can say whatever I want.
— Sheriff Keith Swank (@SaveOurSheriff) September 2, 2025
Swank previously stated on X, where he has nearly 36,000 followers, that being transgender is a mental health issue.
“I think they’re trying to say I violated a policy and I should be held accountable, which is really funny because who holds me accountable other than the voters?” Swank asked on “The Jason Rantz Show” on Seattle Red 770 AM last year, defending his social media use. “They can un-elect me if they want to, but the fact of the matter is, the buck stops with me. I’m the one who makes the final decision about it.”
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