These tailored contracts offer contract cities many benefits. Each city may choose which police services they want to receive. Specialized police services such as SWAT, Drug Enforcement , Air Support, Bomb Disposal, Canine and Marine Unit services may be selected as base level services, or the city can opt to have these services available on a callout basis. Every city within King County has access to these services on a call-out basis. Cities can have a strong voice and participate in selecting their personnel.
Cities can also set the direction and tone of police priorities for their community.
Additionally, the city determines what their police staffing levels will be. Several cities have elected to provide officers with office space at City Hall to promote a close working relationship with the officers. A Police Oversight Committee, which embodies the partnership between contract cities and King County provides a forum for communications necessary to maintain a mutually beneficial relationship and ensure that services evolve to meet the contract city's ongoing and unique needs. Local Identity - Cities can also choose to have distinctive uniforms and vehicles marked with their city logo, giving them the appearance of having their own department. Select this link to find out about the twelve cities currently contracting with the King County Police for police services.