WOUNDED DEPUTIES PART OF FOCUS ON LOCAL DRUG DEALERS

MAPLE VALLEY -- The three detectives shot Sunday are part of the Sheriff's
Office's drive to take the war on drugs into local neighborhoods.

For years, deputies in a centralized drug unit went after big drug dealers
who supply the crack cocaine, marijuana and other drugs that threaten a
community's sense of security.

But Sheriff Dave Reichert, after listening to public sentiment, decided
last year the best way to rid neighborhoods of drugs is to target local
dealers and their clients.

Each precinct has five or six detectives who handle drug cases as part of a
Neighborhood Drug Enforcement Team. Often, detectives are called in from
other precincts for a major operation, according to Sgt. Greg Dymerski, a
spokesman for the Sheriff's Office.

That was the case Sunday, when about 20 detectives served a search warrant
at the home in the 24800 block of 208th Avenue Southeast where drug
activity was suspected.

The routine task turned deadly when a man was shot and three detectives
were wounded.