Councilmember Dunn proposes creation of King County Sheriff Deputy’s memorial

March 6, 2013

Summary

Recognition for those who have died in the line of duty

Story

Fifteen members of the King County Sheriff’s Office have been killed in the line of duty since the department was established with the creation of the County in 1852. There is no memorial within the County honoring those men who died protecting their fellow citizens. Metropolitan King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn today proposed legislation to recognize these individuals through the creation of a memorial for fallen deputies within the King County Courthouse.

“Honoring the memories of the King County Sheriff’s Department who have lost their lives protecting the public is the right thing to do. We must never forget the ultimate sacrifice they made on our behalf,” said Dunn. “I look forward to working with Sheriff Urquhart and the King County Police Officers Guild to make this memorial a reality.”

“The deputies in the King County Sheriff’s Office are some of the finest men and women I have ever known,” said King County Sheriff John Urquhart. “The memorial proposed by Councilmember Dunn is a fitting tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.”

The sheriff's office is King County’s first and longest serving law enforcement agency. The first sheriff deputy killed in the line of duty was in 1853, the most recent was in 2006. All fifteen deputies are recognized both in Washington, D.C. as part of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and in Olympia, where they are listed on the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial. But there is no memorial in the county where the deputies lost their lives.

“The city of Newcastle will never forget the sacrifice of Deputy Richard Herzog who lost his life while protecting the public in 2002,” said Newcastle Mayor Rich Crispo. “This proposed memorial is another example of our shared conviction that Deputy Herzog and his fellow 14 members of the King County’s Sheriff’s Office killed in the line of duty will never be forgotten.”

“The King County Police Officers’ Guild appreciates Councilmember Dunn’s leadership in establishing this fallen officer memorial,” said King County Police Officers Guild President Steve Eggert. “A public memorial not only honors those deputies who made the ultimate sacrifice but serves as reminder to all who view it of the risks the men and woman of the Sheriff’s Office face each day while serving the citizens of King County.”

Dunn’s proposed ordinance calls on the Executive and the King County Sheriff to develop a proposal for the creation of a memorial recognizing fallen King County Sheriff deputies within the Courthouse. The proposal should include where the memorial will be located, a method to solicit designs for the display, and the proposed schedule, budget and potential funding sources for its construction.

The proposed ordinance calls for the Executive and Sheriff to submit their proposal to the County Council by June 1.


In Remembrance