King County Sheriff's Office Trauma Informed Notification: Policy Review and Recommendations

In the aftermath of critical incidents that result in death or serious injury, the individual involved, their families and loved ones, and the larger community are left vulnerable and traumatized. Providing clear and sensitive information can have the power to help their ability to heal. OLEO recommends that the Sheriff's Office create a policy for trauma-informed notification following critical incidents. This report provides comprehensive guidance on engaging with next of kin and the public. 

OLEO previously issued recommendations to the Sheriff's Office aimed at improving communication with families and loved ones, following an evaluation of two fatal shootings. OLEO has continued having conversations with impacted next of kin who emphasize the need for the Sheriff's Office to adopt a formal notification system following a critical incident. 

OLEO examined the Sheriff's Office current policy, national research, and best practices in order to issue recommendations to help the Sheriff's Office create a robust and trauma-informed policy around notifications. To improve transparency and trust, OLEO recommends the Sheriff's Office create policies for providing information to the public via the media, video footage, and a data portal. 

Report Highlights

Recommendations

1. Create a policy and include language in Memorandums of Understanding for trauma-informed notification and engagement after each type of critical incident.
• Create a multidisciplinary family engagement team that is responsible for next of kin communication in the aftermath of a critical incident. This engagement team should:
• Require personnel who engage with next of kin to be accompanied by non-law enforcement representatives.
• Require in-person engagement with next of kin whenever possible.
• Require personnel who engage with next of kin to be in plain clothes.
• Provide written materials or pamphlets to leave with next of kin.
• Provide trauma-informed communication training for personnel to utilize in emergency circumstances.
2. Partner with organizations that offer victim support services within King County to provide trauma-informed responses and equitable, culturally competent community organization referrals.
3. Clarify confidentiality, or lack thereof, of interactions between next of kin and independent investigator family liaisons.
4. Publish Independent Investigation Team protocols on the Sheriff's Office website.
5. Create a policy for media release after a critical incident to include:
• Timing of release.
• Contents of initial press release.
• Broadening the prohibition on release of criminal history.
• General guidance on public communication.
6. Create a video release policy that includes release of critical incident footage within 72 hours and requires transparency in decision-making.
7. Create a data portal with easily accessible data of all critical incidents.

Recommendation Status  

Last updated November 20,2025

Currently, of the seven recommendations: 

ADOPTED: 0 

Recommendations have been fully implemented. OLEO will no longer monitor. 

PARTIALLY ADOPTED: 0 

Recommendations are in progress or partially implemented. OLEO will continue to monitor. 

NOT ADOPTED: 7 

All seven recommendations remain unresolved. OLEO will continue to monitor. 

CLOSED: 0