Sheriff

The mission of the San Juan County Sheriff's Office

Protect the lives, rights, and property of all people through crime prevention and enforcement of the law with equity and dignity for all. 

The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office is committed to collaborating with fellow community members, partner agencies, and community organizations to create a safer environment for everyone. We are honored and proud to serve all members of our community with equity and dignity. 

The Sheriff’s Office is committed to the Principles of Procedural Justice: 

Voice - Ensure the community has an equal opportunity to be heard. 

Respect - All community members are treated with dignity and respect.

Trust/Neutrality - The community perceives law enforcement as neutral and competent and their decisions as unbiased and accurate.

Understanding - The community understands decisions including the reasons for those decisions.

Helpfulness - The community perceives that law enforcement personnel have a genuine interest in their needs and personal well-being. 

The Sheriff’s Office supports the Constitution and Laws of the United States, the Constitution and Law of the State of Washington, and the Charter, laws and Ordinances of San Juan County. We will faithfully, diligently, and impartially perform these duties with empathy and compassion for all people. 

"I am honored by the trust the voters of San Juan County have placed in me, as the Sheriff of San Juan County. There are many issues that must be addressed and many new ideas for community engagement and collaboration.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you as our Sheriff and for your continued support of your Sheriff’s Office." 

Eric Peter, Sheriff

  1. Update Regarding Hunting Accident on Lopez Island

    At this time, the Sheriff’s Office cannot disseminate details of an ongoing investigation. Read on...
  2. Sheriff's Office Activity on Lopez Island

    This is an active investigation that is still evolving. In the interest of maintaining the integrity of the investigation, no other details will be released at this time. Read on...
  3. San Juan County Sheriff’s Office Accredited for Highest Professional Standards of Policing

    The program is administered by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) and involves an eight-phase process over several months. Read on...
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