LAKE STEVENS—Susanna Johnson, a decorated and trusted law enforcement leader with a long history of keeping communities safe in Snohomish County, announced Monday, April 27, she will be running for re-election as Snohomish County Sheriff in the 2027 election. Susanna was elected as the 33rd Sheriff of Snohomish County, taking her oath on January 1, 2024.
Sheriff Johnson began her career as a patrol deputy for Snohomish County in 1990. She worked in a variety of roles in some of the toughest assignments, including narcotics detective, K-9 handler, SWAT member and squad leader, as well as leadership positions of sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and bureau chief. Studying evenings and weekends throughout her career, Susanna earned her master’s degree in 2016. Former Sheriff Rick Bart stated, “Sheriff Johnson is the most qualified Sheriff to ever lead the agency.”
Sheriff Johnson stated: “We are just past the halfway point of my first term. I am proud to have stayed true to my commitments, including focusing on investments in our staff, connecting with community and regional stakeholders, advancing public safety strategies, improving transparency in professional standards, and collaborating to build more partnerships. To combat trends of diminishing staffing, we must prioritize competitive wages and settle open contracts. With our Sheriff’s Office motto, “Honor in service,” we have set the tone for our relationship with our community.”
Sheriff Johnson described broad community support for the Sheriff’s Office “Strategic Initiatives” (Public Safety, Employee Investment, Trust & Transparency, and Organizational Resiliency). She stated, “It’s important to have a plan, but people expect progress over process, so it is critical to show results. Credit goes to hard-working staff for our early successes.” Examples included Human Services Direct Response of Designated Crisis Responders in the field with deputies (to help with people in crisis), a public facing accountability dashboard, more than doubling the number of Peer Support for staff, and the entire agency has earned and maintained State Accreditation. Sheriff Johnson added, “The job is far from over, and we are excited to carry this momentum into our second term.”
Former Sheriff John Lovick stated, “The next few years will be difficult for our communities based upon economic uncertainty, reduced interest in people wanting to go into public safety, and the critical need to maintain public trust. I can’t think of anyone more well suited to carry us through this than Sheriff Johnson.”
Sheriff Johnson stated, “Our mission is to serve and safeguard all communities of Snohomish County. It would be my honor to continue to serve as your Sheriff.”
Sheriff Susanna Johnson defeated the incumbent in 2023 after securing a broad coalition of support. She is married, lives in Lake Stevens, enjoys camping, gardening, and hanging out with her dogs. She spent over 30 years working as a coach with a non-profit youth group and she currently serves as a board member for multiple non-profit organizations that support domestic violence victims and area youth.
According to advertisements, Sheriff Johnson’s kickoff event will be this Thursday, April 30.
Source: Susanna Johnson For Sheriff
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
