King County Council members voted to re-establish a permanent gang suppression unit in the King County Sheriff's Office.

The original gang suppression unit was disbanded in 1996.

Council budget committee members also urged priority funding in the 2008 county budget for the gang suppression unit.

"Every community in King County has felt the impact of increasing gang violence, but for the White Center and North Highline neighborhoods, the reformation of the gang suppression unit has special meaning," said Councilman Dow Constantine, of West Seattle.

Constantine was prime sponsor of the motion and is a member of the budget leadership team.

"If this unit can help reduce gang activity, help keep kids out of gangs, and help those trying to leave the gang life, then we will have honored the sacrifice made by Deputy Steve Cox."

Sheriff's Deputy Steve Cox was killed in the line of duty last Cox's December by a convicted gang member.

Cox's mother, JoAn Cox, and the White Center community where he worked collected several thousand signatures calling for reformation of the gang unit, which was eliminated by budget cuts.

Gang-related crime increased 165 percent in 2006 over the previous year, according to the sheriff's office. At least 85 recognized gangs operating within King County.