Landlords and property owners will now play a greater role in combating crime on properties in North Highline and other unincorporated areas in King County under legislation recently adopted by the King County Council.

The "Safer Neighborhoods Ordinance" brings landlords and tenants together with the King County Sheriff's Office for the first time to combat drugs and violent crimes in the unincorporated areas. King County Sheriff Sue Rahr and the Rental Housing Association of Puget Sound endorse the ordinance.

"In a perfect world owners would always know about crime taking place on their property, but that isn't always the case," said Reagan Dunn, prime sponsor of the ordinance. "This legislation will go a long way towards strengthening cooperation between property owners, tenants and the county to ensure safer neighborhoods for law-abiding citizens."

The legislation stems from a case last year just outside Renton in unincorporated King County in which residents, Tom and Florence Pruitt took action to help shut down a methamphetamine lab in their neighborhood after observing more than a year of criminal activity.

Sheriff's deputies responded to numerous incidents at that rental property over a 13-month period, but neighbors were unable to convince the landlord to evict tenants suspected of using and dealing meth.

According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies visited the property 37 times during this time, with neighbors taking down license plate numbers from more than 242 cars that visited the property.

With the help of the information gathered by neighbors, sheriff's detectives later made drug arrests and confiscated guns from the property. "The drug dealers moved across the street from the wrong grandma" was Florence Pruitt's comment when the legislation was introduced,

"The Pruitts and their neighbors had to live with a drug house in their neighborhood for far too long," said Dunn. "This law will send a message to drug dealers and violent criminals that they can't just move into a rural area and expect to flout the law. We will not let them terrorize our citizens in their own neighborhoods and homes."

Under the approved ordinance, the Sheriff's Office would identify "problem houses" in unincorporated King County and notify the landlord when a serious crime is committed on the property, including most Class A and B felonies as well as drug and sex offenses and the furnishing of alcohol to minors.

After three separate notifications of crime on rented property in a six-month period, owners would be required to take reasonable action to prevent the recurrence of such crime or face fines themselves.

Such action could include asking the Sheriff's Office for assistance or advice on how to prevent crime, participation in a landlord training course, or beginning the process of eviction.

The legislation directs the Sheriff's Office to provide assistance to landlords who take action.

"Community policing emphasizes partnerships between the police and anyone who has a stake in quality of life issues and safe neighborhoods," added King County Sheriff Sue Rahr. "Councilmember Dunn's legislation is a perfect way for the owners of rental property and the Sheriff's Office to work together for the betterment of both tenants and owners."

Julie Johnson, President of the Rental Housing Association of Puget Sound, noted that her organization was pleased to have participated in the development of the Safer Neighborhoods Ordinance,

"Open collaboration and communication between the Sheriff's Department, tenants and rental housing owners is essential if we are to be successful in protecting our communities and properties from crime," Johnson said. "Partnerships like this are an invaluable ingredient. We all have a stake in the successful implementation of this ordinance, and rental housing owners are eager to do our part to make this legislation a success."

Dunn noted confidence in the Sheriff effectively using the new tool to complement her community policing efforts.

"We will continue to look for new and innovative ways to go after drug dealers as long as they operate in King County," Dunn said.