The City of Sammamish, which incorporated in August 1999 and is the newest incorporated city in King County, has a population of over 40,000. Since incorporation, Sammamish has contracted for law enforcement services from the King County Sheriff’s Office. Present on-site staffing includes one police chief (a sheriff’s captain), an administrative sergeant, two operations sergeants, three master police officers, 9 patrol officers, one motorcycle officer, one patrol/DUI officer, two school resource officers, and two burglary/larceny detectives. The city also contracts for most of the investigative and response services of the Sheriff’s Office, such as Major Crimes, Marine Patrol, SWAT, and Canine.

Mission

The mission of the Sammamish Police Department is to provide quality, professional law enforcement services to improve public safety within our city. We proactively address public concerns to reduce crime and the fear of crime by providing responsive, cost-effective services to our citizens. The City of Sammamish has been dubbed “The Jewel of the Eastside.” By accomplishing our mission, the Police Department does its part to make that honor a reality.

Police Chief

Chief Brad Thompson (pictured, on right) is the second appointed Chief of Police for the City of Sammamish since its incorporation in 1999. He is a 29-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office who has served as a captain for the past eight years. His prior captain-level assignments with the Sheriff’s Office have been with the Kenmore and Burien precincts and as the commander of the Sheriff’s Office Emergency 911 Dispatch Center. Chief Thompson is a graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy, the Northwest Law Enforcement Command College and has his Undergraduate Degree from Central Washington University. He is retired from the Army Reserves as a chief warrant officer assigned to the U.S. Army’s Criminal Investigation Command with service in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Chief Thompson brings to the city an extensive experience level and is committed to providing professional law enforcement services to the citizens of Sammamish.

Community Policing

Sammamish has the largest youth population, per capita, of any incorporated city in the state of Washington. In recognition of this, the police department has initiated several youth-related programs, including:

• School Resource Officers for both high schools and all junior highs/middle schools;
• The Police Partner Program in all of the elementary schools;
•  An “Adopt-a-School” Program covering all elementary schools;
• Junior Police Officer stick-on badges for the little kids;
• Expansion of the Student Court Program to cover both high schools in the city.