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Washington has ranked at the bottom in officers per person for more than a decade. The national average is a little over two officers per thousand residents. Washington sits at around one and a third. That means families here start with fewer patrol units on the road, fewer detectives working cases, and fewer deputies available when multiple emergencies happen at once. Pierce County operates inside this statewide shortage, and the impact reaches every neighborhood. 

In a state that already ranks last in the country, Pierce County ranks among the lowest staffed sheriff offices in Washington. The Sheriff’s Office is responsible for a very large area, including unincorporated communities, rural regions, and several contract cities. With the population growing every year and calls for service increasing, the number of deputies has not kept pace. Residents who call for help often hear that no units are available. This is not a matter of opinion. It is a matter of math. 

Pierce County hires and trains new deputies, but many leave for nearby cities that offer higher salaries and large hiring bonuses. Agencies in our region now offer incentives as high as fifty thousand dollars for experienced officers. Some departments offer extra vacation, specialty pay, and faster advancement. Pierce County’s own incentives are smaller and cannot compete with larger offers. The result is a cycle where Pierce County pays to train new deputies, and other agencies hire them away. 

Hiring and preparing a new deputy requires a significant investment. The cost of academy training, field training, equipment, supervision, and early career development can reach one hundred thousand dollars or more before a new deputy is fully ready to work alone. When that deputy leaves after a short time, Pierce County loses that investment and must start over. High turnover creates constant staffing gaps, increased overtime costs, and slower progress toward stable staffing. 

Understaffing affects real people in real ways. Response times grow longer. Property crimes receive slower follow up. Fewer patrol units are available to deter crime or check on suspicious activity. When multiple emergencies occur at once, the remaining deputies must prioritize the most serious calls, leaving other residents waiting. Many families have experienced delayed responses during frightening moments. This is not because deputies are unwilling. It is because there are not enough of them. 

A patchwork of small bonuses and short term incentives will not solve this problem. Pierce County needs a clear commitment to competitive pay, sustainable staffing, and a plan that prevents the loss of trained deputies to neighboring agencies. Residents deserve a sheriff’s office that is fully staffed, supported, and able to respond when help is needed. This movement exists to raise awareness, share facts, and encourage practical solutions that protect every family in Pierce County.