One week until Election Day and Pierce County voters are considering several amendments, including two that would dramatically change the office of the sheriff.
Amendment 53 asks Pierce County voters if they want to switch to an appointed sheriff and remove Sheriff Keith Swank from office.
The amendment calls for the county executive to select a chief law enforcement officer, with approval from the county council.
Amendment 54 would create a Public Safety Ombuds, a new executive department with the power to subpoena information and witnesses to investigate or respond to complaints against the Sheriff’s Office.
There are five other amendments voters are considering making to the Pierce County Charter, a document that acts as the county government’s constitution, but none have garnered the attention the two sheriff amendments have.
Currently King County is the only county in Washington with an appointed sheriff.
The Pierce County charter calls for voters to elect a board every 10 years. Members then review the document, and send any proposed amendments to voters, who have final say on whether they are approved or rejected.
Pierce County voters approved the first charter in 1980 after an organized-crime scandal involving former Sheriff George Janovich. At that time they made the sheriff an appointed position. In 2006, the Charter Review Commission proposed, and voters approved, returning to have sheriff be an elected position.
If Amendment 53 passes, Swank removed
“I don't know if it'll win or not, but I'm not scared about it because I'm a winner either way,” said Swank in an Oct. 23 interview with The Center Square.
“If they remove me from office, I'll go back to doing real estate that I love, and I'll have a fun time doing that. If they don't, then I'll continue being the sheriff, so I'm not worried about it.”
As reported by The Center Square, the original charter amendment did not include a provision to remove Swank from office Jan 1, 2027, if approved, but was added before the Charter Commission approved amendments to the ballot.
Commissioner Justin Leighton, who serves District 7, which includes Gig Harbor, Key Peninsula, and parts of North Tacoma, added last minute language to terminate Swank’s four-year term early, on Jan. 1, 2027, in mid-June, just two weeks before final approval of amendments to be sent to the ballot.
“The voters I believe need a clean up or down decision," Leighton said in August. "In my mind this is a clean up or down vote on the idea of appointed sheriff or an elected sheriff.”
“This is the moment where we change our county's constitution, so to speak," Leighton told The Center Square at the time. "At the end of the day, we the charter are not deciding anything. We are deciding what is put forward for consideration by the voters and they will decide.”
Three Pierce County voters asked a judge to bar the county from putting Amendment 53 on the November ballot, arguing Pierce County has no authority to abolish the elected office of sheriff or to end the term voters handed Keith Swank in 2024.
A Thurston County Superior Court judge denied the challenge.
Those who support Amendment 53 say it would increase accountability. The county executive and council could remove a sheriff immediately, without waiting for the next election.
Voters guide statement in support of the measure
“The Pierce County Sheriff is entrusted with significant power. Hiring a sheriff through a transparent appointment process ensures that this power is used justly, legally, and fairly. Sheriffs must be held to high standards to serve all residents of Pierce County well.”
Those opposing it say voters should have the final say in their sheriff
Voters guide statement in opposition to the measure
“Like every other elected county official, an elected Sheriff answers directly to the people. An appointed Sheriff answers first to the elected official who appoints them. The Sheriff should remain independent so law enforcement decisions are based on the law, public safety, and the needs of our community—not political pressure or changing priorities within county government.”
Swank told The Center Square he thinks voter turnout in more rural districts of the county will be the deciding factor as to whether or not the amendment is approved.
The Pierce County Sheriff's office does not police Tacoma, the largest city in the county, but voters in the city still have a say on the amendments.
“Even people who don't like me, say they want to have the ability to vote against me. I want them to have the right to vote against me if I run again or whoever runs. I want them to have the right to vote for the sheriff.”
As of Monday, Oct 26, 17% of Pierce County voters had returned their ballots, according to the Secretary of State.
