Noting an increase in gang activity in several King County communities, members of the King County Council last week proposed the creation of a gang suppression unit in the King County Sheriff's Office.

JoAn Cox, mother of slain King County Sheriff's Deputy Steve Cox, led a community petition drive earlier this year supporting establishment of a gang unit.

Deputy Cox was shot and killed last December while questioning a suspect with reported gang ties in White Center.

According to a July briefing to the Council by Sheriff Sue Rahr, gang-related incidents have risen sharply in the past two years.

In 2005, the sheriff's office responded to 199 incidents, compared with 528 in 2006 and 210 during the first quarter of this year.

Rahr said she has responded to gang activity by adding emphasis patrols and increasing efforts to monitor high-risk convicted felons.

"Sheriff Rahr has taken major steps to curb this outbreak of criminal activity, but the result has been to shift resources from other important functions of the sheriff's office," said Councilman Dow Constantine, D-West Seattle, the prime sponsor of the motion.

"We need an organized, securely funded law enforcement response to gang-related crime in our communities. At the same time, we must remember that supporting positive programs for young people and intervening to steer at-risk kids away from gangs are equally important parts of the battle against gang activity.

Councilwoman Julia Patterson, D-SeaTac, who is a co-sponsor of the legislation, said, "Establishing a gang unit will help identify gang members, see that they are punished for the violence and crime they commit, and restore trust and security in communities afflicted by gang activity.

"Gang violence and crime are thwarting efforts to build communities that thrive economically and that are safe and desirable places for families and their children."

Councilwoman Kathy Lambert, who chairs the Law, Justice and Human Services Committee, noted the "sheriff's office has documented and reported to us that gang-related crime and gang activity are growing public safety problems that cross jurisdictional boundaries."

Lambert, another co-sponsor of the legislation, said, "King County needs to dedicate the resources that will make it very clear to gangs that King County is not a gang-friendly place for them to operate.

"Enforcement is just one piece, but an important one, in our broader efforts to put a high value on education and succeeding in school while also supporting families and keeping young people from getting involved in gangs."

The council referred the legislation to its Law, Justice and Human Services Committee for further action.