John Urquhart (Washington politician)

John Urquhart is an American politician and law enforcement officer from Washington state. He served as the Sheriff of King County, Washington, from 2013 to 2017.

Urquhart began his career in law enforcement as a deputy with the King County Sheriff's Office. He held various positions within the department over several decades, including detective, sergeant, and spokesperson.

In 2012, Urquhart successfully ran for Sheriff of King County, defeating incumbent Sheriff Steve Strachan. During his time as Sheriff, he oversaw a large law enforcement agency responsible for policing unincorporated King County and providing contract police services to several cities within the county. His tenure was marked by both accomplishments and controversies.

Urquhart sought re-election in 2017 but was defeated by Mitzi Johanknecht. Since leaving office, he has remained active in local politics and commentary.