Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank Warns Voters Could Lose Right to Elect Sheriff

Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank is speaking out against replacing the county's elected sheriff with an appointed position, arguing that voters should retain the power to choose their law enforcement leadership. Swank says the issue is bigger than his own political future and insists residents should have the right to vote for sheriff regardless of whether they support him. “Whether you like me or not, you should keep your right to vote for the elected sheriff,” Swank said. The sheriff warns that changing how his office is selected could establish a precedent for other elected county positions, including auditor, assessor-treasurer and county council. Swank also argues that an appointed sheriff would be more accountable to the county executive than to voters. He criticizes the executive's approach to political representation and says his responsibility is to defend the rights of all residents, including those who disagree with him. His comments highlight the debate over elected versus appointed sheriffs, voter representation, law enforcement accountability and the balance of power in Pierce County government. Subscribe to The Center Square for more Washington political news, Pierce County coverage, law enforcement policy and government accountability reporting.