Westside sheriff candidate taps Kirkpatrick as chief deputy

A candidate for King County Sheriff says if he wins in November, he’ll appoint former Spokane police chief Anne Kirkpatrick as his chief deputy. Candidate John Urquhart, 64, announced the decision earlier this month saying in a news release the agency has come under scrutiny after audits criticized leadership, response to citizens and their use of force. He met Kirkpatrick for the first time earlier this year after she was a semifinalist for Seattle’s chief of police position that closed in 2011. Urquhart said he picked Kirkpatrick for his team because she has the resume and reform skills he’s looking for. “…and she’s a woman and I want more variety in our command staff. I thought it would be a very good fit,” Urquhart said today. Urquhart is the former public information officer for the sheriff’s office after spending 24 years with the agency in administrative roles, and as a patrol deputy, training officer and detective. Urquhart’s opponent is King County Sheriff Steve Strachan who was appointed by King County Council in April.