The King County Sheriff's office budget will be cut by over 11 percent next year and that could mean 79 employees will have to leave the department said Sheriff Sue Rahr, who is urging people to complain to county government right now.

Rahr spoke to alarmed North Highline residents recently at a town hall meeting called "Public Safety in Peril" at the Steve Cox Memorial Park log cabin in White Center.

Burien and SeaTac contract with the Sheriff's office for police services, but according to Sheriff's office spokesman John Urquhart, the cuts won't impact the two cities.

"The cities 'buy' the [police protection they want and they are the only ones that can change that," Urquhart noted. "However, the budget cuts to superior court and especially, the prosecutor's Ofice will directly impact all the cities in King County."

Rahr laid out the realities of law enforcement budget cuts to affect unincorporated King County communities, including the potential of increased crime. She also warned that residents of communities like Burien who live near unincorporated boundaries would also be vulnerable to more spillover crime.

Rahr's panel included Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg and Judges Bruce Hilyer and Barbara Linde.

The bad news resulted from King County Executive Ron Sims' recent announcement of countywide cuts over $93 million in the 2009 budget, with over $10 million from the Sheriff's office. More cuts are planned for the next three years.

To comply, a plan calls for 79 positions to be cut, including 59 detectives and deputies. Dispatchers will be reduced, and gambling and pawnshop oversight units will vanish, and fewer K9 details. Before the Wall Street collapse, cuts of about $30 million were expected.

"You deserve to know the truth," said Rahr. "They will cut 11.4 percent of our budget. The population of unincorporated King County is 250,000, while the county's total population is 1.8 million. So these cuts disproportionately affect unincorporated King County. We are truly a system that we are watching crumble. We urge you to write, phone, and e-mail all nine county council members. This budget process only works effectively if citizens participate.

"The federal government offers 36 assistant United States attorneys in Western Washington and F.B.I. and other assistance, but I don't hold my breath for them to bail me out."

"If you wait till you carve your turkey (to complain) it's too late," said Judge Hilyer. "Everything we are talking about will be decided the Monday before Thanksgiving when the council will vote. Your input is needed right now."

"It wouldn't surprise me if, after this budget passes, criminals figure out that unincorporated areas will be less protected," said Sheriff's spokesman Sergeant John Urquhart. "They should know, however, that we will still have first responders." He and the panel also emphasized their top priority is responding quickly to 911 calls, regardless of budget constraints.

Hilyer said that King County has been ranked at the top nationally for criminal justice. Now a plan is being considered to close courthouses down for three and four day weekends.

"It's a horrible situation to be in, and keeps me awake at night," said Hilyer. "What distinguishes our county is access to justice. This (plan) sets a terrible precedent."

He added that the county's network of social workers and investigators involved in domestic violence cases are in jeopardy. "They have no ax to grind in these 'he said, she said' cases and can question family members and school officials involved."

Prosecutor Satterberg noted, "White Center is a great, but fragile, place to live. When our belt is tightened for us without subjective determination about our priorities, this impacts us all in a disproportionate way. The police on our streets are not just numbers on a spreadsheet; they are heroes, keepers of hope and promise. We've already lost 20 prosecutors since last April. Our office processed 25,000 cases. We have 60 murder cases and those people have to get on trial within the time the constitutions requires. The whole system is under strain, and is becoming a safe-haven for the bad guys."

"The saddest part is cutting the Mental Health and Domestic Violence court budgets," said Judge Linde, who presides over civil and criminal cases and lead in the creation of those courts. She said the Mental Health Court "has misdemeanants and felons with a disease that affects their behavior. Their loved ones see them cycle in and out of jails and emergency rooms, and some become homeless. Our program stabilizes (these offenders) in society, yet the program is now considered 'discretionary.'"

"Since (Deputy) Steve Cox, and then (Deputy) Jeff Hancock came in, White Center turned around," said Rahr, who then received loud applause when she promised the hundred or so who attended, including Cox's mother that the White Center storefront would remain. "I believe that from the standpoint of neighborhood safety, that storefront is critical. Also, a little part comes from my heart."

For more information, go to: www.kingcounty.gov/safety/sheriff/ then click "go" in red box titled "Public Safety in Peril."

Steve Shay may be reached at steves@robinsonnews.com