And welcome back.
King County is one step closer
to having a new sheriff after a
process that took nearly two years,
County Executive Dale Constantine
announced his nominee yesterday.
Choosing interim sheriff Patti Cole
Tindall over two other finalists.
We need a sheriff who can chart a new course.
Someone who can demonstrate
the ability to work together.
This is the first time a sheriff
has been appointed in King County
rather than elected in 25 years.
Joining
us now live on set is interim sheriff or I
should just say Sheriff Patty Coltonville
this morning we can take the interim.
I think off your game after this yesterday.
This appointment so late.
Nice to have you in this morning's first
you began your law enforcement career with
the state Gambling Associate Commission.
You were the King County under Sheriff.
You've been the interim sheriff for
a year and a half now what's it mean
now to have this position right here?
Ready for you.
Well, obviously this to me is
a very very important step.
It is an important time in our
nation in our state county in
terms of how we are going to work
with community to develop the law
enforcement agency that they desire.
So I really think it's important and
and just I was only the undersheriff.
Yes, I was last November right?
No undersheriff since June of
2020 and then interim sheriff.
I started actually the 1st of this year.
Oh OK. Since you have been interim sheriff,
what are the biggest issues and
challenges that you have been facing
and that you think people who live
in King County would really care
about? Well, obviously the level
of crime we hear everyday.
I mean, in the news reported.
But also, you know what we're experiencing
is a higher level of crime gun violence,
so it's really important that all of us
in law enforcement partner together.
And that's including our local partners,
but also federal,
on how we tackle the crime.
Also, though I think important is to
work with the Community because they're
critical and key to the solutions,
we might be able to develop in
terms of resolving crime. So
what has not been done in the past that
you want to do differently as sheriff
to tackle crime? Well,
I think he is creating Community
Action councils where we can find
out from each individual community
what are some of their specific
issues and what specific solutions
might we be able to bring to them.
That can address the crime, I think.
Also working with social service
agencies because there are already
some of these in place that we
can partner with to also bring
some solutions to the Community.
Morale has been an issue over
the past several years in the
King County Sheriff's Office.
Curious how you might plan
to address that as well.
So we've already started to address
that since the beginning of the year.
I mean, the first thing is we are
communicating frequently and often.
I do a monthly video,
but then also a weekly newsletter.
That lets our folks know what we're doing.
Also, we are getting out when I say we,
me and the leadership team.
We're getting out and about with the troops,
which I think is extremely important,
letting us see what they do
and interacting with them.
I'm not about sitting behind the desk,
so that is having a very,
very positive impact
because people feel heard.
Lastly, we're having listening sessions
where we hear what people have to say.
We hear their concerns, we dispel rumors.
It's just an opportunity for
us to engage on another.
Level with our staff.
So I believe and I'm hearing from
the the folks in the agency that
they feel hopeful that the morale has
improved and we will continue this.
So that is something that will continue
and you spoke to the the vacancies.
We do have a large number of vacancies.
Yeah, what can you do
about about the vacancies?
So key is to keep the good people we
currently have so working to create a
good work environment where people feel
like you know what I want to stay and.
Be part of this going forward,
so stopping the folks leaving
while we are working to staff up.
So like all law enforcement agencies
were struggling to find good
people who want to do this work.
Young people don't seem to want to
come into the profession anymore,
and so working thinking outside the box,
doing things that we haven't done.
Maybe going to some regions where
we haven't considered in terms
of recruiting good people,
we have a great quality of life here
and that's a great selling point.
So doing a number of things and lastly
our best recruiters are our own staff.
So again, going back to the morale and
then improving the work experience,
they are going to be the ones
that will tell people.
Yeah, you want to come work here.
So my vision is in the next few
years we are premier law enforcement
agency and we have people knocking
down the door to come work.
We would be remiss if we did not point
out that this is a historic moment for
King County because not only are you the
first black woman to hold this position,
but the first black woman.
Sheriff in Washington state.
This is big. How does it make you feel?
Well, clearly it's
it's not lost on me that this is
a big moment, but what I would say
is I'm also unique in other ways,
so that's important, absolutely.
But I also feel that it it shows that
somebody like myself shows little
black and brown girls that they can
maybe achieve to be the sheriff or the
number one person in their agency.
But I think more importantly than
that is the fact that I'm an.
A non traditional law enforcement executive.
I did not spend my entire career
in law enforcement,
but it is because of that unique
experience that I think I bring
this unique lens to this role.
So I think coupled with being the first
black well it person of color in this role.
It's also that I am a non
traditional police executive.
It is historic.
No doubt the King County Council
does have the final say on your
official appointment that the hearing.
That for May 18th,
there's no indication anything's
gonna stand in the way chair.
If it's nice to have you this morning.
Thanks for taking the time, we appreciate.
Thank you. I appreciate it.
Thank you, thank you.