A Clear Plan to Keep Thurston County Safe

1. Safe Communities Through Smart Policing

Use practical, data-informed strategies to reduce crime and respond effectively to community concerns—focusing resources where they make the biggest difference in your life.

2. Recruit, Retain, and Support Deputies

Continue to bolster staffing levels by supporting competitive pay, providing exemplary training, and maintaining a work environment that challenges employees to improve and advance through rewarding career paths.

3. Professionalism and Accountability

Maintain high standards through ongoing training, enhanced supervision, and established procedures—such as mandatory supervisor review of body-worn camera footage following use-of-force incidents—to promote accountability and public confidence.

4. Strong Partnerships, Better Outcomes

Continue working closely with local governments, labor partners, and community organizations to solve problems collaboratively while strengthening public safety countywide.

5. Responsible Leadership and Planning

Plan for the future of the Sheriff’s Office by investing in employees, facilities, equipment, and long-term infrastructure—while being a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars.

6. Trust Built Through Service

To effectively police your community, you must first know your community. Sheriff Sanders has spent hundreds of hours engaging with residents and supporting local organizations across Thurston County—building trust, understanding local needs, and strengthening public safety through presence and partnership.

Learn more about Sheriff Sanders’ community involvement here.

7. Better Deputies, Better Training, Better Equipment, Better Outcomes

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office has built a nationwide reputation for exemplary police work, grounded in advanced training, stringent hiring standards, cutting-edge technology, and a culture where deputies tactically leverage time, distance, and cover to save lives.