On March 31, Sue Rahr will be stepping down from her position as King County sheriff to assume her new duties as director of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) on April 1.

Rahr has spent her 32-year career in law enforcement with the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) and became the first female sheriff in the county when she was elected in 2005 with a 77 percent majority. She was reelected in 2009 after running unopposed.

Chief Deputy Steve Strachan will serve as interim sheriff after Rahr leaves the KCSO.

In a written statement, Rahr said she decided to leave the sheriff’s office before the end of her term for a number of reasons.

“First, and foremost, I have complete confidence in Chief Deputy Steve Strachan and the rest of the command staff to effectively lead the Sheriff’s Office and continue to protect and serve the citizens of King County,” she said. “I would not and could not leave this post without that confidence. I believe this transition can be smooth with no impact on our service and no disruption of our workforce.”

She also said in the statement that the chance to lead the WSCJTC was a “rare and unexpected opportunity.”

WSCJTC trains all law enforcement officers in the state of Washington, except the State Patrol. In additional to training new law enforcement officers, WSCJTC trains local corrections officers, 9-1-1 operators and provides a wide variety of in-service classes for law enforcement veterans, supervisors, managers and other criminal justice professionals.

Rahr successfully cultivated a $400,000 Department of Justice COPS Office grant for the KCSO, Seattle Police Department and WSCJTC to develop a new training strategy and national model under the title “Justice Based Policing.”

Rahr said she has gained valuable knowledge and experience in her years in law enforcement, having participated in national forums and workgroups related to police training and accountability throughout her career. She said these opportunities have provided her with a solid foundation to help direct the state’s efforts to improve the skills, effectiveness and safety of police officers and improve public trust. As sheriff, she learned about the heart and spirit of service, compassion, fairness and leadership.

“These years of experience have prepared me to continue to serve both the citizens of Washington State and my brothers and sisters in law enforcement,” Rahr said. “…I am very excited for the opportunity to contribute what I can to 21st century policing.”

Rahr added that Strachan will interim sheriff until the County Council meets and takes action to either confirm him as in this position or name someone else. She has met with each Council member, expressing her support for Strachan, who Rahr said has been chief deputy since January 2011 and is well versed in the operation and current issues facing the KCSO.

In her seven years as sheriff, Rahr said she has had her share of challenges as well as personal rewards and accomplishments including the most extensive budget cuts in the history of the sheriff’s office while attaining National Accreditation. In addition, KCSO has refined and improved its contract policing program under Rahr’s leadership and is now considered one of the most progressive in the nation.

Most importantly, she said, KCSO has effectively served and protected the citizens of King County, adding that she is very proud of the men and women she has served with and will forever be in their debt.

“It is not an easy decision to step away from the uniform, badge and people who have been such an important part of my life for the past 32 years,” Rahr said. “It has been my honor to serve the citizens of King County as sheriff and to work with the extraordinarily talented and dedicated law enforcement professionals in the sheriff’s office and throughout King County and Washington State.”