Washington city considers closing police department over budget gap

Facing a more than $13 million budget deficit, the left-leaning city of Edmonds, Washington is considering shutting down its police department and contracting with one of the local sheriff’s offices. Residents and officers are furious about the possibility and about being kept in the dark.

Cuts to the police budget for next year that are already approved include funding only one assistant police chief and removing the department’s crime analyst. Earlier this year, council members passed the city's 2025-2026 biennial budget, which included cutting staff positions.

In a statement, Mayor Mike Rosen said Edmonds, with a population of more than 42,000, had “exploratory” meetings with the King County and Snohomish County sheriff’s offices about contracting with them for police services. “I have consistently indicated that every possible option and solution would be considered. 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.”

The news prompted outcry from residents and officers at public comment during at a recent City Council meeting. Resident Katie Tibbits wrote to the council, “One need only travel a few miles south on any major arterial to see the detrimental effects that removing police presence has on the greater Seattle area. Such a decision would invite this lawlessness into our town.”

Another resident, Kim Becker, told KIRO News Radio, “I lived in an area where we didn’t have local police. The response time was slower. It’s not personal. You get to know your local police and that’s really a good thing.”

President of the department’s union, the Edmonds Police Officers Association, Will Morris, told The Daily Herald that officers want to keep living and working in Edmonds, and it is currently unclear if that would happen if services were contracted out to a county and how many could lose their jobs. “Then the citizens are losing that connection. You’re not guaranteed to have the same officers year after year serving the community,” he said.

Currently, the city has 66 commissioned officers. The department’s Chief, Michelle Bennett, is scheduled to retire next year. Morris told The Herald, “In the interim, right now, our deepest concern is that our membership doesn’t feel like she’s advocating for what’s best for us as a department or the city.”

Though the King County and Snohomish County Sheriff’s Offices have contracted with other cities, recent challenges have illustrated the problem with the model. Earlier this year, King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall, a political appointee of Democratic King County Executive Dow Constantine, refused to enforce a camping ban, despite a landmark Supreme Court ruling giving the go-ahead to do so.

Other options being pursued to solve the budget crisis include placing a measure on the ballot for a property tax levy lid lift and considering annexing the regional fire authority.