King County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) has decided not to enforce the public camping ordinance in Burien, raising eyebrows over the breach of an interlocal agreement. The contentious decision marks a departure from their contractual obligations, as the KCSO is contracted to provide law enforcement services for Burien. The Sheriff's move openly defies the terms that, in the face of disagreement, call for negotiation rather than unilateral determinations by the county or its law enforcement personnel.
This snafu comes after Burien amended its public camping ordinance on March 4, geared toward managing the presence of homeless encampments in public spaces. According to official statements from the city, efforts were meant to balance enforcement with outreach. The ordinance aimed to ensure individuals are firstly offered services and shelter but those refusing and not vacating public property could find themselves faced with misdemeanor charges. The Sheriff's refusal to toe the line now has Burien up in arms, considering they had previously deemed the ordinance consistent with the law back in November 2023.
Under the agreement, Burien's City Manager is charged with the "general duty and responsibility of providing the assigned police chief with general direction relative to the furnishing of law enforcement services to" the city. However, KCSO's recent unilateral action is now perceived as King County seizing the power to declare the constitutionality of laws and potentially injecting politics into a critical public safety conversation.
The current stand-off stems from a newly created map included in the amended ordinance, which restricts where the homeless may rest, especially if no shelters or treatment facilities have beds available. Despite this, Burien asserts that the enforcement of this ordinance carries "no greater exposure" than previous versions. The city is prepared to engage the Oversight Committee to pursue remedies under the existing contract, signaling a desire to quickly resolve the ongoing enforcement dispute.
