County Executive to review circumstances of Sunday’s disturbance at King County Jail

From the office of the King County Executive

Department conducting administrative review; Executive thanks Sheriff and Seattle Police for quick response

King County Executive Dow Constantine today said his office will review the findings of an administrative review that is now being conducted by the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention into Sunday’s disturbance at the King County Jail in downtown Seattle.

“Corrections Officers on duty in the jail acted quickly to contain the situation without injury to inmates or themselves, and I appreciate their work,” said Executive Constantine. “I also thank both the King County Sheriff’s Office and Seattle Police for playing an important role in assisting and securing the scene.”

“Our preliminary review indicates the Corrections Officers on duty acted in an appropriate manner in collaboration with the responding police agencies,” said Acting Deputy Director Herb Myers. “Our focus turns now to the standard administrative review that follows a disturbance such as this.”

Myers said inmates are being questioned to determine the circumstances surrounding the disturbance and whether any underlying situations need to be addressed.

Myers said there was no significant threat of escape due to the many layers of security at the facility. He said there is no information to suggest the incident involved any attempt to escape from the secure facility.

The final report from the department will be sent to the County Executive for his review.

“I will be looking closely at how this incident occurred and whether any further internal security measures need to be put in place,” said Executive Constantine.