Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Thurston County Sheriff's Office has picked up a new beat.
The City of Tenino and Thurston County entered into an agreement that calls for the sheriff's office to provide law enforcement services to Tenino for six months.
The agreement, which was retroactive to April 6, was announced by the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners on May 21.
The agreement was put together after the City of Tenino requested policing assistance due to budget issues. The Tenino City Council voted to dissolve its police department earlier this month.
"Under the agreement, Thurston County Sheriff’s Office will provide essential policing duties while allowing the (city) and (county) time to evaluate long-term costs," said the county in an update on the issue on May 21.
During the trial period, the county’s budget team will work with Tenino and the sheriff’s office on a cost-effective permanent contract based on a full-cost recovery model.
“Our primary goal with this contract is to do the right thing by everyone,” said Thurston County Board of County Commissioners Vice Chair Wayne Fournier in a statement included in the update.
“We’re ensuring immediate public safety coverage for our neighbors in Tenino, and we’re also taking the time to assess the resources it takes to provide these services — it's a step we have to take to be good stewards of taxpayer funds.”
The sheriff's office also provides law enforcement services to the City of Rainier, as well as the Port of Olympia on South Puget Sound inlets.
“Our rural communities are vital to our quality of life in Thurston County and we’re happy to help,” said Thurston County Board of County Commissioners Chair Tye Menser.
“This six-month window will allow our budget team time to get a handle on actual costs so we can develop a contract that works for Tenino and is fiscally responsible.”
3 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
DavidAlbert
Crime rates in Thurston County have fallen precipitously between 1993 and 2025. Murder, robbery, assaults, rapes are more than 60% lower than they were, and they have absolutely nothing to do with law enforcement. We see the same thing nationally, and in the state. Has nothing to do with the amount spent.
So isn't it about time we significantly CUT the law enforcement budgets?
Monday, May 25 Report this
EdgarAllen
DavidAlbert,
Can you provide empirical evidence to support the claim that effective law enforcement has nothing at all to do with the drop in crime nationally? It is nearly impossible to prove what crime is prevented every day, through law enforcement and other means.
Tuesday, May 26 Report this
BillIAm
DavidAlbert,
Source, please
Wednesday, May 27 Report this