Public Safety Advisory Committee

When King County voters elected to return the sheriff to an appointed position, the County Executive and Council established a Public Safety Advisory Committee to provide guidance on the qualities the county should seek in candidates for the new sheriff and for ways the county should improve law enforcement services to preserve and enhance public safety. 

BDS Planning facilitated this committee and supported its efforts to engage communities. This was a highly diverse group of community stakeholders and public officials with dramatically different viewpoints on the challenges of law enforcement reform. 

The committee was working on a very short timeline with the Executive and Council, waiting for the group’s recommendations before launching a national search for a new sheriff. BDS Planning facilitated 21 meetings of the group, including 18 Zoom video conferences and three in-person work sessions, building trust through our techniques of clear communication, substantive facilitation, individual engagement, and working consensus. The project included testimony from community experts, focus groups, and extensive vetting of ideas and recommendations with communities. BDS Planning facilitated unanimous agreement on a comprehensive set of recommendations.