2020 Charter Amendments & Implication for Current Policy

Summary

In Nov 2020, King County voters passed 4 amendments to the County Charter which removed legislative barriers that had been preventing elected officials from enacting meaningful changes to policing in King County. Moving forward, those who are elected this cycle will be key in determining what changes to pursue and how they are implemented.

Importance

The public now has more power to advocate for the types of reform they want, since elected officials can put policy and structures into place to enact those changes and hold officers accountable for public harm. Charter Amendments 1, 4, 5 and 6 opened up the door for changes to the King County Sheriff’s Office leadership, duties, structures and oversight. The County Executive and County Councilmembers who are elected will have the power to determine who the next sheriff is, what changes are proposed and passed, how they are implemented, and to negotiate collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) that allow for change. The Executive and Councilmembers for County Council Districts 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 are all on the ballot in November, so this election will determine who is at the table, and what they feel their voters are demanding of them.

More Details

Each Charter Amendment (CA) impacted a different area of policing in King County, and has different implications moving forward. CA’s 1 and 4 detailed specific changes that will need to be bargained into the next contract with the King County Police Officers Guild (KCPOG). 

  • Charter Amendment #1 impacts the Inquest process. It clarifies that an inquest is required when an “action, decision or possible failure to offer appropriate care by a member of a law enforcement agency might have contributed to a person’s death.” It specifies that agencies include local or state agencies, including jails or corrections. It also provides the option of a public defender for the family of the person who has died. 

  • Charter Amendment #4 increases the oversight potential of the Office of Law Enforcement Oversight (OLEO). It gives them the authority to legally require (subpoena) the Sheriff’s Office to share documents, witnesses and other evidence when investigating police conduct. Although the amendment passed with 80% of the vote it will need to be negotiated with the King County Police Officers Guild.

CA’s 5 and 6 relate to the King County Sheriff position and the structure and duties of the King County Sheriff’s Office. The implementation and impact of these is ongoing, and those who are elected this election cycle will play a major role in shaping how they evolve. 

  • Charter Amendment #5 made the King County Sheriff an appointed position instead of an elected one. The current elected Sheriff Mitzi Johanknecht will serve through the end of her term (Dec 2021). The next Sheriff will be appointed by the Executive, with a recommendation from the Council. The county has already begun gathering community input regarding what values community members want in the new sheriff, and have formed a Public Safety Advisory Committee that will also make a recommendation to the Executive and gather community input.

  • Charter Amendment #6 gave the King County Council the ability to modify the duties of the King County Sheriff’s Office, or to merge it with another county department, if appropriate. It also made negotiations for the police contract between the Officer’s Guild and the Executive (rather than the sheriff). No specific changes have been put forward yet, but are expected to evolve once the new sheriff has been selected and appointed

 

Acronyms

CA - Charter Amendment

KCPOG - King County Police Officers Guild

KCSO - King County Sheriff’s Office

OLEO - Office of Law Enforcement Oversight