Policies and Accountability

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Shoreline Police Policies

The City of Shoreline contracts with the King County Sheriff's Office for police services. Although officers work for King County, they are assigned to work specifically in Shoreline and focus on building relationships with the Shoreline community. The Police Chief reports to the King County Sheriff and the Shoreline City Manager.

Shoreline Police policies follow those of the larger King County Sheriff's Office. The General Operations Manual is updated regularly by the Sheriff’s Office. If you have questions or comments regarding the General Operations Manual, please contact the Sheriff’s Office at sheriff@kingcounty.gov or 206-296-4155.

Training

The Shoreline Police Department receives, at a minimum, 24 hours of In-Service training annually. This includes an initial 40-hour Crisis Intervention Training with an annual 2-hour mandatory refresher which prepares them to assist people in crisis for emotional, developmental, or behavioral health reasons. Additional de-escalation training teaches our officers techniques to calm tense encounters to reduce the potential for use of force.

Shoreline officers are additionally required to go through 40 hours additional training that include Patrol Tactics, the historical intersection of Race and Policing, alternatives to booking, implicit and explicit bias, and understanding local cultures. This training is on a 3-year continuous rotation.

The Shoreline Police command staff will continue to ensure Shoreline officers are trained in crisis intervention, de-escalation techniques, and implicit bias. The Shoreline City Council has supported these efforts through additional training funds.

Body Cameras

Shoreline Police Officers all wear Axon body-worn cameras.

Campaign Zero’s “8 Can’t Wait”

Residents have asked what Shoreline Police policies are related to Campaign Zero’s “8 Can’t Wait” initiative. The Sheriff’s General Operation’s Manual outlines its use of force policies, which are addressed in Chapter 6. The King County Sheriff's Office asked Campaign Zero to conduct an audit of its policies and provide feedback in relation to the eight policies. On June 11, 2020, Campaign Zero determined that six of the policies were being met and that two needed clarification (Duty to Intervene and Verbal Warning Before Shooting). The King County Sheriff and leaders of the King County Police Officer's Guild quickly agreed to make the needed changes to clarify the policies. They are working on making those clarifications as quickly as possible.

Current use of force policies related to 8 Can’t Wait:

Chokeholds & strangleholds

Officers shall not make any physical application or maneuver to the neck region that restricts blood or air flow (i.e., choke holds, sleeper holds, carotid submission holds, lateral vascular neck restraint, etc.), except as a last resort to protect officers or others from an immediate threat of death or serious bodily injury. Any and all variations of these maneuvers may be considered deadly force when applied to the neck region. (Chapter 6.00.050)

De-escalation

When safe and feasible, Officers shall use de-escalation tactics to reduce the need for force. De-escalation is a deliberate attempt to minimize or avoid the use of force to resolve a law enforcement incident using communication, tactics, and actions. Examples of de-escalation include calming agitated subjects, providing additional time for responses, and positioning to reduce risk. (Chapter 6.00.025)

Warning before shooting

Exhaust all alternatives before shooting

Duty to intervene

Shooting at moving vehicles

Officers shall not shoot at a moving vehicle, unless: a) deadly physical force is being used against the officer or another person by means other than a moving vehicle; or b) the moving vehicle poses an imminent and identifiable threat of serious physical harm to the officer or others from which there is no reasonable means of escape. For the purposes of this section, officers shall attempt to move out of the path of an oncoming vehicle, if possible, rather than discharge their firearm; and shall not intentionally place themselves in the path of an oncoming vehicle and attempt to disable the vehicle by discharging their firearms. Officers shall not discharge their firearms at a fleeing vehicle unless an officer reasonable believes, and can articulate reasons therefore, why the necessity for immediate apprehension outweighs the danger to the public that is created by discharging a firearm. (Chapter 6.00.045)

Use of force continuum

Less lethal weapons are tools designed to assist officers to gain control of a physically resistant, or aggressive or violent subject(s) who poses a threat of physical harm to themselves, to the officer(s) or to other persons or property. Less lethal weapons have been adopted for use by the Sheriff’s Office but are not intended to be a substitute when lethal force is necessary. Sworn personnel shall successfully complete training on less lethal weapons prior to using them. All applications of less lethal weapons shall conform to the principles outlined in the training and certification program, consistent with the RCW definition of necessary force (RCW 9A.16.010) and the Use of Force Policy (GOM 6.00.000). (Chapter 6.03.000)

Comprehensive reporting

It is the policy of the Sheriff’s Office to promptly report and to thoroughly investigate any use of force or critical incident. Whenever an officer uses deadly force, physical force, a Conducted Electrical Weapon (TASER), chemical agent or Pepper Spray, reporting is mandatory by the officer using force and any officer witnessing the use of force. Failure to report the use of force, when required, is a violation of this policy. Supervisory notification and supervisor response to the scene is required for all incidents outlined in this policy unless expressly exempted. (Chapter 6.01)

RCR Program

Regional Crisis Response (RCR, pronounced ‘racer’) Agency is collaborative effort among the north King County cities of Bothell, Kenmore, Kirkland Lake Forest Park, and Shoreline providing consolidated and standardized regional mobile crisis response services for the five-city region.

The regional mobile crisis services provided by RCR begin with a person-centered approach focusing on compassionate and immediate crisis response, de-escalation, resource referral, and follow-up tailored to the specific needs of those experiencing behavioral health challenges.

Accountability and Oversight

King County's Office of Law Enforcement Oversight (OLEO) represents the interests of the public in its efforts to hold the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) accountable for providing fair and just police services. OLEO is not part of the KCSO. It is an independent agency in the legislative branch of King County. Its director is appointed by the King County Council.

Through its independent review, OLEO seeks to instill confidence and public trust in the integrity of Sheriff’s Office operations and in the effectiveness and professionalism of its employees.

OLEO Reports and Recommendations

King County Sheriff's Office Reports

KCSO Annual Report and completed internal investigations reports (look for the link in the green box)
Internal Investigations monthly reports
Interactive Use of Force dashboards