Thurston County is nearing completion of a key acquisition of the building located at 1111 Israel Road SW in Tumwater, which will serve as the new home for the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, the county announced Friday, Jan. 31.
This facility will allow the county’s policing services to consolidate operations, currently spread across multiple locations, into a single centralized headquarters.
In September of 2023, the county began looking for a suitable location for the sheriff’s office that would consolidate about 130 members of staff currently working in multiple leased locations into a single office while providing expansion options into the future.
After an extensive review of multiple properties, the county located the Tumwater property, a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified building constructed in 2008 occupied by two state agencies. In September 2024, the Board of County Commissioners approved the $14.25 million building purchase contingent upon completion of successful inspection.
Earlier this month, Assistant County Manager Joshua Cummings advised the board that the inspection phase was successfully completed.
“Thank you to the citizens of Thurston County for supporting the Public Safety Sales Tax. No office benefits from your investment more than us, and we will continue to improve our services to you,” Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders said in a news release.
“Our detectives, patrol staff, and support staff will be together in one building, enabling improved information sharing and speedier response times. The additional space will also allow us to hire and house new deputies.”
Board Chair Tye Menser and Vice Chair Wayne Fournier said the acquisition demonstrates commitment to support law enforcement and public safety.
“This purchase is a crucial investment in the future of our community and a testament to our shared commitment to public safety,” Menser said in the release.
“Supporting the sheriff’s office with the necessary resources to effectively serve our community and meet the increasing demand for public safety services is a vital responsibility of the board,” Fournier added.
The county will take ownership of the new building later this week, according to the release, followed by a design and space planning phase. The building will also undergo a renovation phase to include preparing it for use specific to community policing and updates to bring the building into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
The county expects the new sheriff’s office headquarters to be ready to move in by the spring of 2026.
