As I cross the halfway point of my first term as your Sheriff, I am proud of our accomplishments and the strong partnerships we have built across Snohomish County. Collaborations with neighborhood groups, schools, nonprofits and community stakeholders have been essential to keeping our communities safe and strengthening trust between law enforcement and the people we serve.

From the beginning of my term, my priorities have been focused on enhancing transparency, building public trust, and serving every member of our community with compassion and professionalism. As your Sheriff’s Office, we are dedicated to advocating for victims of crime and holding offenders accountable to ensure Snohomish County remains a safe place for everyone. I am encouraged by the meaningful progress we have made together and look forward to building on these successes in the years ahead. 

Crime Trends

We have seen promising improvements across several crime categories in our region:

• Auto thefts decreased by more than 50%, from 864 cases in 2024 to 426 in 2025
• Burglaries declined from 777 in 2024 to 615 in 2025
• Domestic violence cases decreased from 1,480 in 2024 to 1,302 in 2025
• Homicides reached a recent low in 2025, with three investigations compared to 12 in 2024
• The Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force has had several successful large investigations, to include a year-long focused effort to reduce guns in our community. 

Substance Use and Behavioral Health Support

At the Snohomish County Jail, we continue to see positive trends related to substance use:

• At its peak, 38% of inmates booked into the jail tested positive for fentanyl
• Today, that number has declined to approximately 26%

Last year, Snohomish County Human Services began a new program that provides deputies in the field direct access to on-call Designated Crisis Responders, for immediate assistance on crisis calls as well as follow-up for long term solutions.  This is in addition to our ongoing partnership with them and their SCOUT team, who work with our Office of Neighborhoods (OON) to ensure our most vulnerable populations have access to treatment, behavioral health services, and transportation to care.

Accountability, Transparency, and Accreditation

One of the most significant accomplishments we celebrated was earning law enforcement accreditation from the Washington State Sheriffs and Police Chiefs Association (WASPC) in 2024. This was a direct result of exceptional work that was already underway by our staff. With our jail already accredited, these achievements reflect our commitment to the highest standards of service, accountability, and excellence.

We also launched:

• A public-facing Office of Professional Accountability dashboard
• An expanded Snohomish County Jail data dashboard

These tools give our community greater insight into our operations and reinforce our commitment to transparency.

Bureau Highlights

Operations Bureau

• Our staff have been recognized regionally for exceptional performance on criminal investigations, high quality work on daily cases, as well as heroic individual efforts
• We opened our new South Precinct, near Paine Field Airport, providing a modern facility that meets our growing needs, on the west side of I-5, closer to our population needs
• Resumed facilitating our Community Academies, which are structured programs with weekly training intended to invite community members to learn more about law enforcement and meeting staff (Sheriff’s Office and our Stanwood Contract City)
  • We are currently accepting applications for our 2026 Community Academy 
• Implemented Power Ready, a cloud-based system to streamline Field Training Officer operations and improve training communication and compliance
• Expanded Peer Support staffing and resources for all staff (app and EMDR access)
• Invested in pursuit mitigation tools, including a Grappler Police Bumper System and DOT 1 Tire Deflators
• Upgraded workout facilities at the North and South Precincts to support employee wellness

Special Operations Bureau

• As part of an agency reorganization, we have created a dedicated Training Division, with focus on deliberate development of existing staff, mentoring new employees for better retention and basic skills comprehension, and prioritizing our limited resources for enhancement of professional skills
• To expand partnerships, we worked with other area agencies to add more participating agencies to our “Region 1 SWAT”
• Joined ALERT (Allied Law Enforcement Response Team)
• Upgraded electronics and motors for Marine Unit vessels (Marine 33 and Marine 28) to strengthen dive and marine capabilities
• Advanced legislative efforts to establish state funding for life-saving Search and Rescue helicopter missions
• Added a second detective to the Major Crimes Cold Case Unit
• Collaborated with regional partners on FIFA event planning for 2026

Administrative Services Bureau

• Updated hiring processes, added a full-time communications specialist to assist with recruiting, and launched a new recruiting website: https://www.scsojobs.com/, designed to be modern and mobile-friendly
• Expanded social media engagement, including sharing body-worn camera videos and launching TikTok for recruiting outreach
• Hired 158 employees during 2024 and 2025 to fill vacant positions (not including internal promotions)
• Added a Finance Supervisor position at the jail to oversee inmate accounts, bail processing, and commissary funds
• Added a Technical Services Supervisor dedicated to supervising the Civil Unit, which handles important court actions such as writs and orders

Corrections Bureau (Snohomish County Jail)

• Modified medical unit’s scheduling to align with industry standards by transitioning RN staff to 12.5-hour shifts, resulting in:
• Improved staffing ratios (from 1:30 to 1:15 nurse-to-patient)
• Better continuity of care
• Improved work-life balance
• Stronger RN recruitment and retention
• Implemented a K9 program in 2024 to combat illicit drugs and contraband from entering the facility
• Had 12 inmates in 2024 and 59 inmates in 2025 go through the jail’s In2Work retraining program prior to release, providing certification for job opportunities
• Installed updated metal detectors in the jail’s booking area to enhance facility safety
• Secured a multi-year funding project to replace a failing security camera system
• Acquired a 20-passenger transportation vehicle equipped with advanced safety features to better serve inmate transport and keep staff safe
• Resumed important in-custody programs, including:
• In-Jail Treatment (IJT)
• Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
• Cocaine Anonymous (CA)
• Bible Study
• Adult Basic Education (ABE)
• Introduced a Peer Navigator, in partnership with Ideal Options, to connect inmates with resources and bring valuable lived experience and positive impact to the inmate population

In closing, I am extremely proud of our staff at the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office.  Despite continued challenges with staffing in our industry, and years of a structural imbalance with our budget that impacts resources and pay, our people show up every day and work hard because they care about our community.  I want to thank each of you for taking the time to reflect on the past two years together. It has been an honor to serve as your sheriff, and I look forward to the years ahead.

Sincerely,

Sheriff Susanna Johnson

On January 14, 1861, with the formation of Snohomish County, the Sheriff’s Office was established, marking the beginning of a proud legacy that now spans 165 years of service. Today, we honor the dedicated men and women, past and present, who have answered the call to protect and serve our community.

Guided by our motto, Honor in Service, we remain steadfast in our mission to serve and safeguard all communities across Snohomish County. Our vision continues to move us forward: delivering exceptional public safety through innovative and proactive services that strengthen prosperity, wellness, and security for all.

For more than a century and a half, our values have been the foundation of our work. We extend our sincere gratitude to our deputies, professional staff, volunteers, and community partners for their commitment and for being an essential part of the Sheriff's Office legacy.

In January, many state legislators joined our Sheriff's Office command staff and Helicopter Rescue Team at Taylor's Landing to learn about the importance of these life-saving rescue teams, many of which are staffed by expert mountaineer volunteers. Presenters from King County, Chelan County and Spokane County discussed the work these teams do in our region and across the state. From back country missions, to vulnerable missing people, criminal investigations and more, these teams are an essential resource for public safety in our state!

The Snohomish County Council unanimously passed Resolution No. 26-001 recognizing January 9, 2026, as National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day in Snohomish County. 

During the December flooding, our community came together in an extraordinary way to help one another. The Sheriff’s Office helicopter, Snohawk10, responded to Sultan to assist in rescuing multiple residents who were trapped in their homes due to flooding near Mann Road. We extend our sincere thanks to our Search and Rescue team and Snohomish County Volunteer Search & Rescue for their quick response, seamless teamwork, and dedication to public safety. We are equally grateful to the broader community, local business owners and all first responders who supported one another during this challenging time. The care and compassion shown by our community members truly made a difference.

In December, we had the privilege of participating in several Shop with a Cop events, including those hosted by the Snohomish Police Department and the Sultan Police Department. These events brought together many truly deserving children from across our community. Each child was given the opportunity to shop for holiday gifts for themselves and their family members, creating moments of joy, confidence, and connection that were felt by everyone involved. Shop with a Cop is one of our favorite traditions to support each year, and it is always inspiring to see the positive impact it has on families. Our deputies genuinely love attending these events and being paired with such amazing kids. We are grateful to be part of a tradition that strengthens our community and brings warmth and hope.