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Thurston County, Washington

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Thurston County Demonstrates Commitment to Support Law Enforcement with Acquisition of Building for Sheriff’s Office

OLYMPIA –Today Thurston County announced it is nearing completion of a key acquisition of the building located at 1111 Israel Road SW in Tumwater which will serve as the new home for the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. This facility will allow the county’s policing services to consolidate operations, currently spread across multiple locations, into a single centralized headquarters. 

“This purchase is a crucial investment in the future of our community and a testament to our shared commitment to public safety,” said Tye Menser, Chair of the Board of County Commissioners. “It’s a milestone made possible by the community’s support of the Public Safety Sales Tax.”

“Supporting the Sheriff’s Office with the necessary resources to effectively serve our community and meet the increasing demand for public safety services is a vital responsibility of the board,” said Vice-Chair Wayne Fournier. “This acquisition reflects our dedication to providing sustainable, cost-effective, and long-term facilities that not only address the immediate needs but also plan for future growth.”

In September 2023, the county began looking for a suitable location for the Sheriff’s Office that would consolidate about 130 members of staff currently working in multiple leased locations into a single office while providing expansion options into the future. 

After an extensive review of multiple properties, the county located the Tumwater property, a LEED-certified building constructed in 2008 occupied by two state agencies.  In September 2024, the Board of County Commissioners approved the $14.25 million building purchase contingent upon completion of successful inspection. 

Earlier this month, Assistant County Manager Joshua Cummings advised the Board of County Commissioners that the inspection phase was successfully completed, leading to today’s announcement that the county is expected to complete the building purchase by Friday, January 31.

Thurston County Sheriff, Derek Sanders expressed gratitude to the community and to the Board of County Commissioners.

“Thank you to the citizens of Thurston County for supporting the Public Safety Sales Tax. No office benefits from your investment more than us, and we will continue to improve our services to you,” he said. 

“Our detectives, patrol staff, and support staff will be together in one building enabling improved information sharing and speedier response times. The additional space will also allow us to hire and house new deputies,” Sanders said.  

“My thanks also to the Board of County Commissioners for this show of community support,” he said. “Their approval of this building purchase will allow us to improve the experience for people who report crimes and for those who receive our services.”

The county will take ownership of the new building later this week, followed by a design and space planning phase, and a renovation phase to include preparing the building for use specific to community policing, and updates to bring the building into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.

“The purchase of this building for the Sheriff’s office is a clear indication that the Board of County Commissioners supports public safety, and that our team of professionals can acquire infrastructure in a thoughtful and economical manner that achieves the goal while being good stewards of tax-payer dollars.  This is how we continue to build community trust,” said Thurston County Manager, Leonard Hernandez  

The county expects the new Sheriff’s Office headquarters to be ready for move in by Spring of 2026. 

Board of County Commissioners, Sheriff
Press Release
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