SEATTLE — Mitzi Johanknecht was sworn into office as King County's new sheriff Tuesday after defeating incumbent John Urquhart in the November election.
Johanknecht is the second person in King County history to unseat an incumbent sheriff – going back to 1852. The first was Urquhart beating incumbent Steve Strachan in 2012.
Her election came in a clear but surprise victory. She now promises a new era in the sheriff's office.
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"I also appreciate this opportunity I've been given by the community to serve the community in this role as the leader of the sheriff's office ... to work cooperatively to build partnerships and to build a stronger king county on the whole ... the opportunity to work across agencies with nonprofits and with non-governmental agencies on the horizon to build and re-imagine law enforcement in what the community seeks and needs from the sheriff's office," Johanknecht said at the ceremony.
Johanknecht was the Southwest Precinct Commander, has worked in law enforcement for 32 years and spent nearly 20 years in managerial and command roles within the sheriff’s office.
Throughout her career, she served in various leadership positions in every division throughout the sheriff’s office. Johanknecht rose to the rank of major and was the first woman to command the department’s SWAT Team.
She’s focused her platform on public safety and building community trust.
In her election statement, Johanknecht said “to earn the community’s trust, we must reimagine our role in society.”
"I am running to restore integrity to the Sheriff's Office," she wrote. "We should not be spending our limited County budgets settling sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuits; we should be modeling positive work environments that value all people. I am committed to fairness and equity for our community at all times, not just when the media is watching."
During his re-election campaign, Urquhart responded to a sex assault claim and sued the accuser.
On Dec. 1, the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney announced Urquhart would not be charged with a crime based on the claim against him.
Urquhart had also been accused of rape by a woman who filed for a protection order against him.
The rape claim stems from 2002 and Urquhart has denied ever having sexual contact with her. Seattle police investigated and prosecutors did not file charges.
Cox Media Group
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