Sheriff’s Travel and Public Responsibilities
Since January, Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank has been on multiple trips across the country and even internationally. These include attending policing conferences, visiting Washington, D.C., traveling to Florida, and going to South Africa. Additionally, he was present at a seminar for his wife’s work in selling beauty products.
According to calendar and travel records obtained through a public records request, these six trips have taken up more than six weeks of his time, equivalent to 33 weekdays when he was away from his duties. Being a sheriff is a 24/7 job, and Swank insists that he is never truly off the clock. Even during his 17-day trip to South Africa, where details of his conflict with Prosecutor Mary Robnett were reported, he remained connected.
“I’m hailing stuff whenever I have WiFi,” Swank said. “I read emails every day. I do work every day whether I’m out of town or not, so I really don’t ever really have a vacation where I can just sit around and do nothing.”
When Swank is out of town, Undersheriff Cynthia Fajardo acts as the acting sheriff. Swank emphasized that his position does not require him to work a specific number of hours per week.
Pierce County covered the costs of two policing conferences in January and May, which totaled approximately $5,421 for travel, lodging, meals, and registration fees. Swank stated that other trips were funded by his own money.
Swank is responsible for providing police services to an estimated 450,750 people living in unincorporated areas of Pierce County, as well as the cities of Edgewood and University Place, which contract with the Sheriff’s Office. His annual salary for 2025 is $196,832.85.
His first seven months in office have included several challenges. One major issue is an ongoing lawsuit filed by Robnett to prevent a private attorney from giving legal advice to Swank, particularly regarding his stance on federal immigration enforcement, which he has since softened.
There was also the DUI arrest of the head of the Sheriff’s Office’s Criminal Investigation Division. Swank appointed Major Chadwick Dickerson to the position and addressed the controversy in various media interviews. The incident also brought attention to Swank’s own 2007 conviction for negligent driving, which he explained occurred when he was sobering up after celebrating a friend’s successful elk hunt but wasn’t driving at the time.
Swank maintains an active presence on social media, specifically X, where he has over 18,000 followers. He regularly comments on news and politics and engages with users. Since August, he has made over 100 posts or replies. When asked about balancing work and social media, Swank mentioned that he often posts early in the morning or late at night, as he is too busy during the workday.
“Tonight I have a meeting at 6 p.m., a community meeting for two-and-a-half hours that I’m going to be at,” Swank said. “Then I’ll be home at 9:30 or 10 o’clock, and my day started at 4:30 this morning so that’s what a typical day for me is. But I love it.”
Swank has more out-of-town travel planned, including at least one trip per month through the rest of the year. The longest is an 11-day trip in late September to Mansfield in Douglas County, followed by shorter trips for training conferences and time off around Christmas.
Detailed Travel Itinerary
From January through July, Swank’s schedule included several notable trips:
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January 31 to February 6: Attended the National Sheriffs’ Association Winter Conference in Washington, D.C. This event included training on active shooter incidents, homeland security, networking lunches, and seminars. Swank stayed at a Hilton Garden Inn near the White House.
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Mid-February: Took a full week-long vacation in Florida, a state he considered moving to before running for sheriff.
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April 7–9: Traveled to Washington, D.C., to support Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner, who testified before a U.S. House committee against sanctuary laws like the Keep Washington Working Act.
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May 18–22: Attended the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs Conference in Spokane, staying at the DoubleTree by Hilton.
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May 23–June 8: Took a 17-day trip to South Africa, described as a “sightseeing and safari” excursion. Swank did not hunt during the trip, though his friends hunted Sharpe’s grysbok, a species classified as “Least Concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
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July: Spent five days in Charlotte, North Carolina, supporting his wife, Nina, who attended a Mary Kay seminar. Swank humorously referred to his role as “arm candy” for his wife on social media.
Swank continues to balance his professional responsibilities with personal commitments, maintaining an active presence both in his community and online.
