Capt. Scott Strathy retires from Shoreline Police

Capt. Scott Strathy

Capt. Scott Strathy will retire from the Shoreline Police Department (King County Sheriff's Office) on July 1. These are his remarks from his retirement celebration.

This past Tuesday I paid my last visit as a commissioned deputy to the Law Enforcement Memorial in Olympia. I am retiring July first. 

Six members of our department, the King County Sheriff’s Office, have lost their lives in the line of duty since I first pinned on my Sheriff’s star in March of 1982; Det. Sgt. Sam Hicks, Det. Mike Raburn, Deputy Rich Cochran, Deputy Mark Brown, Deputy Rich Herzog, and Deputy Steve Cox.

I was reminded of the day 33 years ago today, when fresh out of the academy I was in my first month of field training partnered with my Field Training Officer. At the end of our shift an urgent call for help came over the radio. Sgt. Sam Hicks’ partner was reporting shots fired, officer down. The suspect had fled with his hunting rifle and was now somewhere in the heavily forested area north of Enumclaw. I’ll never forget the tension of the 10 minute code run to that remote location where the suspect had disappeared and Sgt. Hicks now lay dying.

When we arrived my partner left our patrol car to attend to the crime scene I was told to take a perimeter position a quarter mile down the rural county road where the suspect was last seen entering the woods. As instructed, I drove to my position, parked the car, turned on the overhead lights, and with all my senses on full alert, stood there alone in the heat of that June afternoon. Armed with my .357 revolver and my shotgun, I had never felt so scared or unprepared in my life. Staring into the woods for the next 10 hours, listening intently to every sound that came from the woods, I wondered if I was now being lined up in the cross hair of a dangerous and desperate man. Was I next?

I had chosen a career in law enforcement out of my love for my community and the opportunity to protect and maintain the free and civil society we all enjoy. However, I didn’t want to be there, right then. But someone had to be there. I learned very quickly the meaning of “duty”… putting the mission and the well-being of others before yourself. 

All of us in law enforcement have had their particular moment or moments where the realization of the very special nature of our chosen profession, the most noble in my opinion, has been profound. In the current climate of white hot criticism and unprecedented scrutiny of law enforcement, we can never lose sight of the fact that we remain the constant, the reliable, the brave, the professionals that run to the threat, to the danger, while others run away. We are the men and women that are ALWAYS there to answer the bell and put forth everything we have for our communities. 

In parting, I leave with three observations:

• You, the men and women that serve today in our department are the best I have ever seen. Smart, professional, committed to do the right thing, you are a generation of law enforcement that deserves to be supported. We are consistently getting better at serving our communities. Are we perfect? No. But quality service delivered in a fair and transparent manner remains the goal. 

• Always remember and respect the sacrifice our community members make in building the businesses, working the long hours, and paying the taxes that support our ability to serve. Without community support, we don’t exist.

• Take care of each other, be good to each other. No one understands the stressors and the challenges of our profession like those who live it. 

It’s been my honor and a privilege to join you in service in the King County Sheriff’s Office. 

Capt. Scott Strathy

June 24, 2015