New deputy pursuit policy starts Aug. 1 in King County

New deputy pursuit policy starts Aug. 1 in King County, WA

The King County Sheriff’s Office has updated its vehicle pursuit policy to include new modifications that will take effect starting on Thursday, August 1.

KING COUNTY, Wash. - The King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) has updated its vehicle pursuit policy to include new modifications that will take effect starting on Thursday, August 1.

In June of this year, Washington Initiative 2113 went into effect. This initiative restored the authority to pursue a fleeing suspect when there is reasonable suspicion that the suspect violated the law. However, many of the risk reduction requirements from the previous legislation were retained. The KCSO has modified some of these requirements.

According to the KCSO, the new policy will continue to restrict vehicle pursuits to dangerous felonies and DUI, but the definition of a dangerous felony will now include burglary, effective Aug. 1.

The new policy also allows for pursuits in cases of non-felony crimes under 'extraordinary circumstances' when there is an imminent or ongoing threat to the community.

"I have confidence in the good judgment of our deputies when weighing the dangers of a chase against the potential threat to the people of King County," said Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall. "We have given these adjustments careful consideration. We understand the vital importance of striking a balance between holding people accountable for their actions and the well-being of the community."

The previous, more restrictive police pursuit law that passed in 2021 only allowed officers to pursue a suspect if they were involved in a narrowly defined set of violent crimes. In addition, probable cause had to be established for an officer to chase a suspect.

Before the 2021 legislation passed, only 41 suspects refused to stop for deputies on average every quarter. After that legislation was passed, the number of suspects refusing to stop rose to 138 per quarter.

The updated policy covers all unincorporated areas of King County, as well as the 12 cities that contract with the KCSO.