John Urquhart announced his “semi-retirement” from KCSO late in 2011 after many years as the department spokesman. On April 24, he announced plans to run for King County Sheriff in the upcoming November election on a platform of public accountability and internal investigation reform.

Sheriff Sue Rahr left her post at the beginning of April to become director of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center located in Burien. Deputy Steve Strachan took over as interim sheriff at that time and will hold the post at least until the election (Strachan has said he will run as well).

In a press release, Urquhart wrote “the King County Sheriff's Office is at a crossroads. We could go down a road that will ultimately cost us the respect and support of the very communities we are charged with protecting. We will find ourselves where our deputies will be feared, rather than welcomed.

“Under my leadership we will take the other road, where the Sheriff’s Office is one of the most highly respected police agencies in the region. Where our deputies are the best trained, the most responsive, and where the values of the community are reflected in our actions every day. Where use of force by a deputy is the last resort, not the first …

“It’s time to take the King County Sheriff’s Office into 21st Century policing. I intend to do that.”

Urquhart detailed four changes he would institute as sheriff, as follows:

The immediate bolstering of the Internal Investigations Unit that investigates complaints against KCSO employees.

Putting citizen complaints under the investigative eye of detectives rather than patrol sergeants who “have neither the time nor experience to conduct these often demanding and complex investigations.”

Ensure administrative reviews of officer-involved shootings “are done on a timely basis,” Urquhart wrote, “… there were four officer-involved shootings in 2011 – two fatal – where no Shooting Review Board has taken place until – coincidentally perhaps – yesterday, despite the policy requirement. This lapse will not occur when I am sheriff.”

Formation of a Use of Force Review Board to examine use-of-force incidents resulting in either citizen or deputy injuries. “The goal will be to examine the incident to see if the injuries were avoidable, either through a change in tactics (including de-escalation), whether additional training for the deputy is needed, or perhaps a change at the Criminal Justice Training Center.”

Urquhart said he will release additional plans in the coming months on issues of domestic violence, gang crime and burglary investigations, in addition to “sensible reform for our drug laws, specifically the use and possession of marijuana.”

Addressing King County’s deputies directly, Urquhart said, “Make no mistake … Fighting crime and good police work go hand in hand with accountability. They are not mutually exclusive. When you work hard, make good arrests, and are responsive to the needs of the community, you will always have my full support.”

Sgt. Cindi West took over Urquhart’s job as the KCSO public information officer when he retired from the position in early 2012.