KING COUNTY, Wash. — Due to growing budget pressures, the King County Sheriff’s Office has scaled back staffing at two of its precincts, affecting police coverage in certain unincorporated areas.
As of Monday, staffing has been reduced to minimum levels at the department’s north and southeast precincts. The changes primarily impact communities such as Redmond Ridge, Fairwood, and Fall City.
Despite the cuts, no deputies are being laid off. Instead, the sheriff’s office is reallocating personnel to prioritize emergency response and officer safety. Officials clarified that police services in contract cities—including Burien, Sammamish, Covington, Woodinville, SeaTac, Maple Valley, and Kenmore—will not be affected by this shift.
“This is a necessary step to make sure our deputies are positioned to respond to life-threatening emergencies,” the department said in a statement.
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The move comes in response to anticipated reductions in the upcoming county budget. The Sheriff’s Office is facing a potential $30.2 million cut to its general fund allocation—the largest of any King County department.
In recent testimony before the King County Council, Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall warned that the department may need to reassign nearly half of its unincorporated patrol deputies to fill positions tied to revenue-generating contracts, including with Sound Transit and King County Metro.
While these changes could help maintain service levels in partner jurisdictions, unincorporated areas could see longer response times or even no response at all for low-priority calls.
The county is currently bracing for a $150 million budget shortfall in its 2026–2027 general fund cycle, prompting departments across King County to prepare for reductions in staff and services .
