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Complaints

Complaints

The Sheriff’s Office investigates all allegations of employee misconduct and alleged violations of policy, procedure, or law.

Complaints about the validity of a traffic citation or criminal arrest should be heard by the courts.

How Do I File a Complaint?

You may file a complaint in person, by phone, online, or by mail. A form is available at each King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) location and on our web site. If you live in one of our contract cities, you may also submit your complaint to the city police chief, a supervisor, or a city official.

Emailed complaints should be sent to our Internal Investigations Unit at iiu.sheriff@kingcounty.gov. or by phone at (206) 263-2525.

This e-mail address is for filing of complaints regarding allegations of misconduct by Sheriff’s Office employees only. Complaints not related to the conduct of Sheriff’s Office employees must be filed with the communications center at (206) 296-3311.

ALTERNATE FORMATS, INCLUDING BRAILLE AND LARGE PRINT, AVAILABLE ON REQUEST. 

You have the right to get language assistance at no cost.  If you are having trouble submitting a request, please call us for help and ask for an interpreter.  If needed, we can have someone contact you with an interpreter to help you submit the request. 

Complaint Form:


If you choose to complete this document electronically, please be sure to save a copy of the pdf to your computer before and after filling in the form fields.

Who Will Investigate My Complaint?

A supervisor or an investigator assigned by the Internal Investigations Unit will investigate your complaint. You will be given the supervisor’s or investigator’s name and phone number. You can call this person if you have questions or concerns.

What Happens After I File a Complaint?

The person investigating your complaint may ask you to give a written statement in person or by telephone. With your permission, the statement may be recorded. You may be asked if you know the name of the employee(s) involved. You may also be asked:

  • To describe what happened; 
  • To provide the names of potential witnesses; 
  • To allow us to photograph any injuries or property damage; and 
  • To consent to the release of medical records that are associated with your complaint.

How Long Will the Investigation Take?

It is our goal to have every investigation completed within 180 days.

How Will I Learn the Results?

When the investigation is complete, we will send a letter to you that explains the results. We also notify the accused employee of the outcome.

If your complaint is sustained by factual evidence, the Sheriff’s Office may discipline the employee or employees. The Office of Law Enforcement Oversight (OLEO) reviews all internal investigations and certifies the results based in a finding that the investigation was thorough and complete. You may contact OLEO directly at 206-263-8870 or via email at oleo@kingcounty.gov .

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