Representative Schrier, Executive Constantine, and King County Sheriff Cole-Tindall Celebrate Federal Funding for Sheriff’s Office

SEATAC, WA. –  Representative Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) visited King County Sheriff's Advanced Training Office with King County Executive Dow Constantine and King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall to celebrate the deployment of body cameras in her district and additional federal funding she was able to secure for King County Sheriff’s Office. Congresswoman Schrier’s visit showcased the use of body cameras and announced that Sammamish officers will be fully outfitted with body cameras by the end of this month.

*Click here for body camera footage cleared for use by media*

Through FY 23 Community Project Funding (CPF) requests in Congress, Representative Schrier secured $2 million for the King County Sheriff’s Office, including $1 million for body worn cameras.

This month, Representative Schrier, through FY 24 CPF requests, secured approximately $1.75 million for the Sheriff’s Office. This includes:

• $811,000 for a rapid DNA system which will allow better access to process DNA for agencies in our region as opposed to using the crime lab, which has a lengthy backlog for most cases and, at times, will not accept a property crime case for processing.
• $963,000 will go towards supporting a co-response team (CRT) to East King County communities including Maple Valley, Covington, and Sammamish. This includes the cost for a dedicated mental health professional, a dedicated law enforcement officer, vehicle expenses, as well as ancillary expenses.

“I have met with police chiefs, police officers, retailers, and constituents across the 8th District who are concerned about increasingly brazen crime in every corner of the district. In these meetings and ride-alongs with law enforcement, I’ve learned about what they need to keep themselves and their communities safe, and the resounding answer was body cameras,” said Representative Schrier. “I’m proud of my work in Congress to bring federal dollars back home to the Eighth District in order to support local law enforcement and improve public safety. These projects, totaling nearly $4 million, will provide the King County Sheriff’s Office with the resources they need to respond to the needs and concerns of our community.”

 “Deploying body-worn cameras to our patrol deputies is critical to ensuring transparency and accountability in how we deliver public safety,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “Through these investments, thanks in part to Representative Schrier, the King County Sheriff’s Office has additional training, equipment, and protocols that will help bring genuine — and just — safety for all people in our community.”

"I see body-worn cameras as a tool for transparency, accountability, and trust-building between law enforcement and the communities we serve,” said King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall. “They capture crucial moments, providing an unbiased account of interactions, which can help enhance public safety and uphold the integrity of law enforcement.”