Chief People Officer Whitney Abrams joined a group of employees and labor representatives on a tour of the King County Courthouse and its surroundings to review ideas for improving access to the courthouse while maintaining security at the building.  

The tour, led by Facilities Management Division Deputy Director of Operations Drew Zimmerman, was part of efforts to create safe, more welcoming environments around King County facilities in downtown Seattle and across the county. 

The group discussed options for improving access to the Courthouse after hours, especially in the darker, winter months, improving overall safety, and reestablishing onsite amenities. They also toured the Facilities Management Division (FMD) Emergency Dispatch Center on the building’s first floor. 

“Our goal is that no matter where our workplaces are located, every employee and visitor should feel safe and welcome,” Abrams said. “It is also crucial that we maintain security of the Courthouse for staff, jurors, and other users of the building. We are continuing to look at a number of options to achieve both these outcomes.” 

Suzette Dickerson, Senior Staff Representative with The Washington State Council of County and City Employees/American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees, Council 2, was one of the labor representatives attending the tour.  

“It’s really important to be able to see first-hand the concerns that our members are raising and their ideas for addressing them,” she said. “We know that this is a complicated issue but by working collaboratively with County leadership, I am confident that we can find solutions that benefit our members and all courthouse users.” 

Expanded security and custodial services that have already been made include: 

• Sheriff’s Deputies are posted at the Third Avenue entrance to the Courthouse between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. – and sometimes later – Monday to Friday.  
• Facilities Management Division (FMD) Security Officers conduct exterior perimeter patrols of the downtown campus. 
• Trash and general clean-up occur each morning, with pressure washing three times per week. Custodial staff are also be on-call during normal hours to respond to cleaning incidents as needed. 
• King County’s employee Walking Bus pilot program now offers five departures each weekday evening walking with a FMD Security Escort from the Third Avenue entrance of the King County Courthouse – meeting at the Information Desk in the First Floor lobby – to the King Street Station and Colman Dock via the Pioneer Square light rail station entrance. 
• Employee card reader locks have been installed in Courthouse bathrooms. 

“I am grateful for the ideas that our employees and labor partners have shared with us and look forward to continuing to work with them to provide a safe, welcoming, and secure work environment,” Abrams said.