Legislation honoring the fifteen members of the King County Sheriff’s Office that have been killed in the line of duty has unanimously passed the King County Council’s Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee.

Currently, there is no memorial within the County honoring all the men who died protecting their fellow citizens. On March 6, King County councilman Reagan Dunn proposed this legislation to recognize these individuals through the creation of a memorial for fallen deputies at the King County Courthouse.

“Remembering, honoring and memorializing the Deputies in the King County Sheriff’s Office that have given the ultimate sacrifice is a fitting tribute,” said Dunn. “This memorial is the right thing to do and I look forward to working with Sheriff Urquhart and the King County Police Officers Guild to help create an appropriate memorial worthy of these 15 heroes.”

The first sheriff deputy killed in the line of duty was in 1853 and the most recent was in 2006. All fifteen deputies are recognized both in Washington, D.C. as part of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, and in Olympia, where they are listed on the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial. Dunn’s proposed ordinance calls on the Executive and the King County Sheriff to submit a proposal to the County Council by June 1. The proposal should include where the memorial will be located, a method to solicit designs for the display, and the proposed schedule, budget and potential funding sources for its construction.