Derek Sanders
Independent · WA · Thurston County Sheriff
Derek Sanders is the 24th Sheriff of Thurston County. Before his election as sheriff and taking office in January 2023, he served six years as a Thurston County deputy and received the Medal of Valor and two Lifesaving awards.
Where Derek Sanders stands, based on their records
Supports
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties (1 record)
Mixed record
Public Safety and Crime Control (4 support · 1 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 4 support · 1 oppose
Testified in opposition to SB 5974, which proposed statewide eligibility, background-check, certification, and volunteer-role rules for sheriffs and other law-enforcement leaders.
January 15, 2026Opposes Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov
Deployed a spike strip during a pursuit that ended in five arrests and publicly defended the Sheriff’s Office’s use of vehicle pursuits.
February 27, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: fox13seattle.com
Publicly backed a 0.2% sales tax dedicated to public safety, saying proceeds were designated for at least 28 additional patrol deputies.
August 1, 2023Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: thurstoncountywa.gov
Testified in support of creating a no-fee Hope Card program for people with full civil protection orders under HB 1766.
February 14, 2023Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov
Testified in support of HB 1363, which expanded the circumstances in which Washington law-enforcement officers could initiate vehicle pursuits.
January 31, 2023Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov
Track record — Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties · 1 support
Suspended a deputy without pay for a derogatory comment about women in law enforcement; a grievance arbitration upheld the punishment.
September 10, 2024Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: kiro7.com
Track record — General
General · 2 records
Hired former Tacoma officer Christopher Burbank, then accepted his resignation two days later and apologized for failing to consider the community impact of the hire.
April 3, 2024
Source: fox13seattle.com
Testified as a neutral witness at a 2023 Senate hearing on a bill setting up a statewide police vehicle-pursuit policy work group and a pursuit-technology grant program (Senate Bill 5533).
January 30, 2023
Source: lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov
Past race Derek Sanders ran in:
- County Sheriff · August 4, 2026 · Thurston County, Washington · incumbent