When County Executive Dow Constantine proposed his 2014 Executive Budget Sept. 23, we were pleased to see funding was included to re-open the Hicks – Raburn Maple Valley Sheriff’s Office Precinct on Highway 169. Since evaluating the decision to shutter the precinct, it has been our top public safety to reopen this vital resource for the Sheriff’s Office and the residents of southeast King County.

In the wake of the recession, King County made the decision to consolidate the Kenmore — over 30 years old — and Maple Valley — more than 25 years old — precincts into one police station located at Sammamish City Hall. In northeast King County, the results have been positive — deputies were brought closer to the unincorporated residents that they serve and the county looks to make a profit on the old building. The results for the communities of southeast King County were much different.

Deputies were farther away from unincorporated King County and they had no place to interview a suspect, hold a meaningful roll call, or have adequate room to conduct a breathalyzer test on a DUI suspect. The experiment was worth trying in a difficult economic climate, but it’s time to bring a police station back to our communities.

For all kinds of reasons, people need a local police station. Maybe a victim of domestic violence would like to speak to a deputy without a police car parked in front of his or her home. Or just go into a police station and ask a cop a question.

Most important of all, the re-opening of the Hicks-Raburn Precinct will allow our deputies to wrap up their investigations faster and get back on the street to protect the public.

The Hicks-Raburn Precinct was built as a police station, and it’s ready to use.

There are holding cells for suspects and interview rooms for witnesses. There is a large conference room for outside community events.

Additionally, a leaner and meaner operation will be run at the location —  deputies working ancillary duties and their specialized equipment will be based at the precinct, saving the county over $120,000 annually in rent at facilities where they would otherwise be located. This includes the Sheriff’s SWAT Team, Bomb Squad, Search and Rescue, and the Marine Unit.

If the King County Council approves reopening the Hicks-Raburn Precinct, it will be a huge win for the residents of southeast King County. They will see an increased police presence in their community, and be able to avail themselves to the numerous services that a police station provides.

We applaud the Executive for his proposal to reopen this precinct, and urge full support from the King County Council for this vital resource.

Reagan Dunn, County Councilman

John Urquhart, King County Sheriff