Facing a $13 million budget deficit, Edmonds has considered scrapping its police department and contracting with a sheriff’s office — leading to ire among some residents and officers.
For many smaller cities, contracting out police services is a cheaper alternative that reduces the strain on limited resources. But police union leaders and some residents in Edmonds were outraged by the idea, prompting outcry during public comment at a recent City Council meeting.
“One need only travel a few miles south on any major arterial to see the detrimental affects that removing police presence has on the greater Seattle area,” Edmonds resident Katie Tibbits wrote to the council. “Such a decision would invite this lawlessness into our town.”
The city of more than 42,000 is covered by the Edmonds Police Department’s 66 commissioned officers, led by Chief Michelle Bennett, who is set to retire early next year. News that Edmonds leaders were looking at the possibility of ending the department was first made public by KTTH talk-show host Jason Rantz.
Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen said in a statement the city had “exploratory” meetings with the King County and Snohomish County sheriff’s offices about potentially contracting policing services.
“I have consistently indicated that every possible option and solution would be considered,” Rosen said in a statement. “That doesn’t mean we will do them, but I do believe it is wise for us to identify them. As potential options are identified, the first step is to explore if they are even viable.”
Rosen declined to answer additional questions about the potential for a contract.
Last Friday, when asked about an update regarding the exploratory meetings, city spokesperson Kelsey Foster said “there are no … further actions being taken at this time.” Foster would not answer clarifying questions about whether the city had ceased discussions about disbanding its police force.
Will Morris, president of the Edmonds Police Officers Association, the department’s union, told The Daily Herald in Everett that members would be willing to take increased cuts if it meant they could keep their department. Morris did not respond to requests for comment.
“There are deep community ties,” Myrle Carner, a former detective and the founder of Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound, told the City Council. “Edmonds police officers are far more likely to have personal relationships with both Edmonds residents, businesses and community leaders.”
The King County Sheriff’s Office has an expansive contracting model with over a dozen cities receiving policing services through interlocal agreements. Cheol Kang, the office’s chief of the community programs and services division, said there are alluring cost-cutting measures for smaller cities. Rather than pouring resources and staff time into training, recruitment and discipline, cities can pay for, essentially, the “service delivery of a fully commissioned … deputy to serve in their community.” Those deputies work in the community day-to-day, too, he said.
The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office has contracts with Stanwood, Granite Falls, Gold Bar, Darrington, Snohomish and Sultan.
Kang added that branding, like for vehicles and uniforms, remains reflective of the community rather than King County. The city also gets to determine what level of police services they want, but also built into service costs is the support of major services such as the office’s major crimes investigations team, motor vehicle accident reconstruction unit and fire investigations.
“As civil servants, we have the duty and obligation to ensure we’re efficiently using taxpayer’s money,” Kang said. “If there’s a more efficient way and just as effective way to deliver services to our community, we need to be taking that into account.”
Contracting out policing services has not been without snags. In Burien, for instance, the city and Sheriff’s Office have gotten into dramatic legal and political battle over the Sheriff’s Office’s refusal to enforce a camping ban.
Edmonds leaders acknowledged the “huge PR nightmare,” as Council President Vivian Olson phrased it, but did not make clarifying comments publicly about how seriously the city was considering tossing out its police force.
Last week, council members passed the 2025-2026 biennial budget, which included cost-cutting measures including slashing staff positions.
Approved cuts to the police budget for next year include funding only one assistant police chief and removing the police crime analyst.
“While I think we’re all glad that we’re putting closure to this and voted approval tonight, I wouldn’t quite say we’re all backslapping up here,” Councilwoman Chris Eck said Tuesday night when the budget was adopted.
In addition to exploring nixing its independent police department, the City Council approved punting regional fire authority annexation to voters next year, another measure that could alleviate budget woes.
Correction: Because of an editing error, an earlier version of this story misidentified the gender of Councilwoman Chris Eck.