Mitzi Johanknecht
Prior offices
King County Sheriff
Contact
Mitzi Johanknecht was the King County Sheriff in Washington. Johanknecht assumed office in 2018. Johanknecht left office in 2021.
Johanknecht ran for re-election for King County Sheriff in Washington. Johanknecht won in the general election on November 7, 2017.
Elections
2017
- See also: Municipal elections in King County, Washington (2017)
Mitzi Johanknecht defeated incumbent John Urquhart in the general election for sheriff of King County.[1]
2017
Johanknecht's campaign website included the following themes for 2017:
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Focus on public safety
- Address current and emerging crime trends
- Cybercrimes like fraud, identity theft and harassment are on the rise. Many other crimes also have a computer-related component and KCSO is wholly underequipped to address these crimes. I will create a cybercrimes unit to focus on cyber and financial crimes. This unit will also serve as a resource for other investigative units who need forensic computer support.
- Collaborate with other law enforcement agencies – the Sheriff alone has the legal authority to assemble county-wide task forces to address community crime trends. These collaborations should include other law enforcement and governmental agencies, as well as private sector and non-profit entities who can to make a positive impact on crime and quality of life across the county without questioning a person’s citizenship or immigration status.
- Expand the less-lethal options available to our deputies and provide robust, scenario-based training in de-escalation tactics.
- Engage the community to develop strategic and business plans to ensure we are doing the work that matters to you in a financially responsible way.
Building Community
- I will create a new Outreach Section in the Sheriff’s Office. Currently KCSO has no coordinated public outreach programs. You need us to listen and partner with you to address public safety concerns in your communities and neighborhoods and these dedicated staff members will do just that. This group will partner with the local deputies to formulate action plans in your area.
- Recruit and hire quality people who reflect the communities we serve.
- Provide ongoing, meaningful training to our deputies so they can work with you to address the crime and quality of life issues impacting your neighborhoods.
- Not only do we need to look like the communities we serve, but the King County Sheriff’s Office should lead the way in reflecting the highest law enforcement ethics and values. This begins at the top.
Forward thinking law enforcement leadership
- Lead by example – My opponent subscribes to the idea of “do as I say, not as I do,” and has often been heard telling people, “It’s great to be king.” I work for you and I will lead with dignity and humility, setting the example of behavior and conduct I expect from our deputies.
- KCSO must leverage technology effectively to improve service. My opponent has squandered over $6 million in taxpayer dollars on a failed records management system. This failed records-keeping system also resulted in substantial delays in criminal investigations when initial reports were “lost” or misidentified. Knowing from the outset it was likely to fail, he pushed forward anyway, creating further waste. We must have the courage to try new things and the integrity to make sound fiscal choices.
- Adopt and implement the King County Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan within the Sheriff’s Office. The plan has a number of deliverables and benchmarks for the entire county that my opponent has ignored and the Sheriff’s Office has thus far failed to meet.
- In my 32 years of law enforcement experience, 19 have been spent in positions of leadership and command. Even with far more management experience than my opponent, I consider myself a student, constantly seeking to learn and grow to be the best possible leader of people and of this organization[2][3]
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| —Mitzi Johanknecht (2017)
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Endorsements
2017
Johanknecht's campaign website included the following endorsements for 2017:[4]
- The Seattle Times
- U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D)
- The Victory Fund
- Equal Rights Washington
- Former King County Executive Ron Sims
See also
External links
- ↑ King County, Washington, "Who has filed: 2017 candidate filing," accessed May 19, 2017
- ↑ Mitzi Johanknecht 2017 campaign website, "On the Issues," accessed October 10, 2017
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Mitzi Johanknecht 2017 campaign website, "Endorsements," accessed October 10, 2017
Mitzi Johanknecht 
