Letter-writing campaign to bring Deputy Jeff Hancock back to White Center
By Tracy Record
White Center Now editor
After King County leaders’ move to restore funding for the White Center storefront sheriff’s deputy, the question immediately arose: Can Deputy Jeff Hancock come back?
(June 2010 WCN photo of Deputy Hancock speaking to North Highline UAC)
He held the job after the murder of Deputy Steve Cox, and became ingrained in the community. Then suddenly in summer of 2010, Deputy Hancock was out of White Center (WCN broke the news), and there was an uproar. The Sheriff’s Office insisted he had been reassigned to duties including Vashon Island because of family concerns, among other things (as explained in this July 2010 WCN story, which also noted that deputies were taken out of storefronts, period, at that time).
So now, the storefront deputy job will return in October. When King County Sheriff’s Office higher-ups appeared at the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council last Thursday, they were immediately asked about the chances of bringing back Deputy Hancock. As we reported after the meeting, their answer was fairly cautious, including caveats that they hadn’t spoken with him, and that the formal application process hadn’t been opened yet.
Now, fresh off her successful campaign fighting a bank over a foreclosure threat, Village Green Perennial Nursery owner Vera Johnson is spearheading a letter-writing campaign to support returning Deputy Hancock to the storefront job. Co-publisher Patrick Sand dropped by the nursery for a quick interview this afternoon, and she told WCN he told her he’ll apply for it:
In case you can’t see the video – the address where she’s asking for letters of support is verajohnson5@comcast.net. She is in particular looking for actual stories of ways in which Deputy Hancock made a difference in the White Center community while working here.
As the KCSO leadership made it clear at the NHUAC meeting last week, the final decision is theirs – but they appear to be moving on a fast timetable, as the funding restoration was expected to take effect within weeks, and they hoped to have the deputy in place next month. So Vera is putting out the “call to action,” as she called it on Twitter, right now.
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September 9th, 2011 at 4:33 pm
With what officer Hancock did for white center it is a know brainer for KCS office to put him back in white center. Which ever king county elected ofical makes this happen, can put a feather in there cap at election time. It is time to listen to the people.
September 9th, 2011 at 8:38 pm
Deputy Hancock patrolled the streets of White Center on foot and made real connections wiht many business owners. His no non sense approach to dealing with the drug dealers, gang members and prostitutes made White Center a safer place to eat at the new Full Tilt Icecream shop.
September 10th, 2011 at 1:08 pm
If he asked to be reassigned, then I suspect we won’t be getting him back.
Whomever IS assigned, I hope that person can be as effective as Deputy Hancock was.
September 12th, 2011 at 10:17 am
In the article above Vera said Deputy Hancock will apply for the wc storefront position. Thanks Vera and Patrick.