Honoring Service And Sacrifice

On December 2nd, 2016 the King County Sheriff’s Office unveiled a memorial honoring the 18 members of our department who lost their lives in the line of duty since the founding of the KCSO in 1853. 

Today, on the anniversary of the passing of Deputy Steve Cox: December 2, 2006, we want to take a moment and honor his memory.

Deputy Steve Cox: December 2, 2006

On December 2, 2006 at about 0151 hours, King County Sheriff’s Deputy Steve Cox was working in the area of Coronado Springs Apartments in White Center when he advised radio shots fired.  He had heard gunfire near his location and several other deputies responded to the area to investigate.

A male had been involved in a crash and was shot in the head.  Deputies found the male next to his vehicle along with a lot of blood and spent shell casings.  Deputies were told by witnesses that those responsible for the shooting had gone into the house at 10452 12th Avenue SW.

Deputy Cox went to the house with other deputies to investigate the shooting.  Deputy Cox began interviewing people in a separate room.  At one point, Deputy Cox began interviewing Raymond O. Porter in the back bedroom when Porter pulled out a gun and shot Deputy Cox in the head. 

Porter left the room where he engaged deputies in gunfire in a hallway.  Deputies shot Porter as he retreated towards the other room and shot himself in the head.

It wasn’t known at the time, but Porter had killed Dominique McCray and dumped his body on a SeaTac street earlier in the evening.

Deputy Cox was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where he died.

In 2007, White Center Park was renamed Steve Cox Memorial Park in honor of the fallen deputy.

Deputy Steve Cox was 46 years old and had served with the King County Sheriff's Office for 9 years.  

Be well.  Stay safe -

Sheriff Mitzi G.  Johanknecht