Sammamish launches police services survey

The survey deadline is June 2 and any community member can participate.

The city of Sammamish is looking to the community for input regarding how the city can continue to deliver high quality police services that align with community priorities.

The city has launched a police services study survey that will be a component of a larger Police Service Study effort being led by city staff in collaboration with BERK Consulting. The study will look at how factors such as population growth, annexation, and increasing density in areas like the Town Center have created new challenges and opportunities for the Sammamish Police Department.

The city desires to best serve residents, business owners, and visitors by providing responsive, well-managed, effective, and efficient law enforcement that are reflective of community concerns and priorities. To accomplish this, the city is conducting community engagement and an operations analysis to establish a long-range plan to identify, prioritize, and operationalize opportunities for positive change.

“This is the first time since the city of Sammamish’s incorporation that we’ve paused to determine if the services we’re delivering as a department still align with the community’s vision,” said Chief Michelle Bennett in a press release. “This is a great opportunity for the police department to connect with community members and ensure that our services reflect the community’s current needs.”

The final product will be a consultant report, which will align the understanding and expectations of the community, the city, the police department, and the King County Sheriff’s Office (the city currently contracts police services through the King County Sherriff’s Office), establishing a road map for the police department’s continued evolution. The consultant report will incorporate contemporary policing strategies and best practices to help the city address changes in the community and the broader operating environment.

The Police Services Study survey is currently available online at https://www.opentownhall.com/6235. The deadline to submit your input is June 4.