With our new presidential administration focusing on service to our country, this is a great time for all of us to ask ourselves what it means be an active citizen. Many of our community leaders are citizens who are simply dedicated to supporting a cause. They are passionate about helping others, and want nothing more than to improve the well-being of those living and working in King County .

As your elected Sheriff, I have had the pleasure of working closely with people from non-profit organizations such as, AmeriCorps, City Year, United Way of King County, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Committee to End Homelessness, and several domestic violence advocacy groups, just to name a few. Here at the Sheriff's Office, we are always working to bridge the gap between non-profit organizations and the public sector. We share the same goals. Strong partnerships bring us closer to solutions.

This month, I want to extend a thank you to all of those people who volunteer their time. I am honored to stand alongside you as we work together to protect public safety in King County .

In this edition:

Countywide Community Forums
Learn how you can become more involved in the discussion surrounding public safety

The King County Sheriff's Office Gang Unit
Find out how our Gang Unit is making an impact in the community

Meet the Sound Transit Police Chief
Introducing Ron Griffin

Keeping Your Kids
Safe When They are
Home Alone
Tips for children who stay home alone

Tip of the Hat
Our monthly 'tip of the hat' goes to a deputy who sacrificed his own well-being to rescue a victim

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to Focus on Public Safety Issues

How do you feel about safety in your own neighborhood? Should we invest more in prevention, treatment, police patrols or jail space? What is "smarter justice"? These questions and many more important public safety topics will be the prime focus of Round 4 of Countywide Community Forums (CCF). The forums will run in late September and through October 2009.

Countywide Community Forums is a King County civic engagement program overseen by the King County Auditor. The program is independently funded, run by volunteers, and is designed to bring the public forum right to your kitchen table, neighborhood, or workplace. Since 2007, over 1700 people have signed up to be Citizen Councilors.

Here's how it works:

• Register online at CommunityForums.org or call toll free (800) 369-2584
• Select or host a forum at a date, time, and place convenient to you

¬…         At the forum, you will watch a short video on the featured topic, then:

• Participate with 4-12 people in an open discussion
• Complete the confidential "Opinionnaire" survey

Forums occur three to four times a year.

If you live or work in King County , I encourage you to participate in the studio audience at KCTS Channel 9, Thursday, August 27 from 2:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., for the taping of the Public Safety: Law and Justice panel discussion. The panel will feature King County Prosecutor Daniel Satterberg, King County Councilmembers Kathy Lambert and Bob Ferguson, Presiding Superior Court Judge Bruce Hilyer, Presiding District Court Judge Barbara Linde and me. To attend the KCTS studio audience, you must be a registered Citizen Councilor through the Countywide Community Forums program. Seating is limited and there is no cost to participate.

Visit CommunityForums.org or call toll free
(800) 369-2584

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King County Sheriff's Office Gang Unit

The King County Sheriff's Office Gang Unit was formed on June 1, 2008, thanks to funding that resulted from a vigorous community initiative spearheaded by Joanne Cox, mother of slain King County Deputy Steve Cox. The Gang Unit is part of a larger Anti-Crime Team situated in the southwest precinct, closely serving White Center , Burien, and SeaTac. The Anti-Crime team consists of the Gang Unit (1 supervisor and 5 detectives), an "NCI" team (1 Sheriff's Detective and 1 Washington State Community Corrections Officer), and the Precinct's Storefront Deputies.

NCI stands for "Neighborhood Corrections Initiative." This is a program where Washington State Community Corrections Officers team up with local law enforcement officers to monitor offenders released from prison back into the community. This partnership has been a huge success resulting in numerous dangerous felons being sent back to prison for serious violations of release conditions. We are very grateful to Governor Gregoire for recognizing the need to more vigorously monitor dangerous offenders who are returned to our communities.

In its short existence, the Gang Unit has already taken significant strides towards combating gangs. These measures include:

• Identification of problem gangs and gang membership in the areas we serve
• Coordination with other agencies and sharing information related to gangs
• Internal education of deputies within the Sheriff's Office in the recognition and identification of gangs, membership, behavior and characteristics

Our most recent prevention and education efforts include implementation of the G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training) program in area schools.

o   This fall we will begin a mentorship program utilizing a gang liaison providing coordination between gang detectives, school resource officers, and community members who commit to taking on individual teens for long-term, intensive coaching and mentoring.

In the next issue, we'll talk about all of the work being done to help prevent kids in our community from being recruited into gangs.

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Welcoming Sound Transit
Chief Ron Griffin

With Sound Transit's new light rail service up and running, I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce you to our Sound Transit Police Chief Ron Griffin. Ron is a 29 year veteran of the King County Sheriff's Office. During this time he has served in a variety of positions throughout the department.

Most notably he has served as both the Administrative and Patrol Operations Commander of a large precinct area overseeing 120 patrol personnel. He has several years experience as the Tactical Commander of the Sheriff's Office SWAT Team, Bomb Unit and Demonstration Management Team.

He served for 5 years as the contract Police Chief of the King County International Airport (Boeing Field) police and fire units and was in this position when the events of September 11, 2001 occurred, creating immediate challenges surrounding security of the aviation industry.

A 2003 graduate of the FBI National Academy , Ron has also served as Commander of the Washington State Basic Law Enforcement Academy where he oversaw a 10 million dollar budget, as well as Academy training for all new officers hired within Washington from January 2006-January 2008.

Chosen as Sound Transit's first Police Chief in August 2008 the department is now fully operational with 28 commissioned personnel and a crime analyst. Playing a critical role in the successful launch of the new 14 mile Link Light Rail System, Sound Transit is very pleased to have their police department focusing on quality of life issues and providing enhanced police services for the safety of their customers.

For safety tips on using Sound Transit's new light rail service, visit their website at

http://soundtransit.org/Projects-and-Plans/Light-Rail-Safety.xml

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Keeping Your Kids Safe When They are Home Alone

Your child comes home from school at 3:00, but you don't get home from work until 5:00. He's at home alone for those two hours every weekday. What does he do until you arrive? Most likely, he gets a snack or gets on the Internet. Maybe he watches TV. But since you're not there, you worry. Just like the majority of American parents who work and have to leave their children on their own after school every day, you are anxious about your child's safety.

But by following the safeguards listed below, you can help ease some of this worry and take measures that will protect your kids even when you're not around.

What You Can Do

• Make sure your children are old enough and mature enough to care for themselves. Children typically reach this maturity level between 12 and 14 years old.
  
  Can your children:
•  
• Be trusted to go straight home after school?
• Easily use the telephone, locks, and kitchen appliances?
• Follow rules and instructions well?
• Stay alone without being afraid?

Teach them the basic safety rules and know the three "W's": Where your kids are, What they're doing, and Who they're with.

A Word About Curiosity

Are there things you don't want your children to get into? Take the time to talk to them about the deadly consequences of guns, medicines, power tools, drugs, alcohol, cleaning products, and inhalants. Make sure you keep these items in a secure place out of sight and locked up, if possible.

Teach Your Children:

• How to call 9-1-1
• How to give directions to your home, in case of emergency.
• How to use the door and window locks, and the alarm system if you have one.
• To never let anyone into your home without asking your permission.
• To never let a caller at the door or on the phone know that they're alone. Teach them to say "Mom/Dad can't come to the phone (or door) right now."
• Do NOT ignore the caller and pretend that no one is home.
• If the caller persists, instruct your child to call 911.
• To carry a house key with them in a safe place (inside a shirt pocket or sock). Don't leave it under the mat or on a ledge outside the house.
• How to escape in case of fire.
•  
• Tell your children NOT go into an empty house or apartment if things don't look right - a broken window, ripped screen, or opened door. If they encounter one of these circumstances, instruct them to call 911. 
•  
• Your children should always let you know about anything that frightens them or makes them feel uncomfortable.

You will notice a common repeated message here. When in doubt about their safety, you and your children should call 911. Our job is to keep you and your family safe!

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A Tip of the Hat

On July 15, 2009, Guardian One was called to rescue two hikers stranded on the north side of Mt. Si in a very precarious and life-threatening position. Deputy Jon Youngblood was lowered via the hoist and secured the first person in the harness. As the lift started, Deputy Youngblood's hand became entangled in the hoist cable, and he was pulled about 20 feet with the full weight tensioning the cable around his wrist. Deputy Youngblood remained composed and signaled to be lowered back to the cliff, while keeping the patient calm.

The man was re-hoisted, but Jon's hand was broken in two places. The second victim still faced the possibility of falling several hundred feet, and needed to be rescued. Deputy Youngblood asked to be lowered back down to pick up the second man, despite the severe pain in his hand. He was lowered, secured the man, and both were hoisted back into Guardian One.

I commend Deputy Youngblood for this brave rescue, which demonstrated that despite being seriously injured, his courage persevered.

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