King County Sheriff’s Deputy awards athletes in Special Olympics Winter Games
Cross-posted from the Sheriff’s Newsletter
Deputy Dylan Centanino-Sweers recently attended the Special Olympics Washington Winter Games in Wenatchee. He was joined by officers from other local jurisdictions.
The Sheriff’s Office stated, “We were honored that Deputy Centanino-Sweers was chosen to award athletes who placed in their respective sports. As a former Renton Special Olympics track and field coach, he has continued to work closely with the organization.”
The officers were all there to encourage and congratulate the athletes in their respective sports, which included downhill skiing, boarding, cross country, and other winter games. As a matter of fact, thumbs up and high-fives were given to over 1100 athletes in attendance.
In their ongoing effort to support the Special Olympics, Team KCSO recently raised $10,636 in the annual “Polar Plunge” challenge.
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WA Cares Fund program update: Mandatory payroll deductions begin July 1, 2023
The WA Cares Fund is a mandatory long-term care insurance benefit established by state law. It can be used to purchase long-term care services, which may include professional care, equipment, home safety evaluations, and/or compensation for family members who provide care. The WA Cares Fund is administered by the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) and the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).
Beginning July 1, 2023, all employers in Washington are required to collect the WA Cares Fund premium for the State via mandatory payroll deduction from all employees, unless they have been granted an exemption.
The current premium rate is 0.58% of gross wages, or $0.58 per $100. For example, if an employee earns $50,000 annually, the total annual premium is $290 or $11.15 per paycheck. Use the WA Cares Fund calculator to Estimate your contribution.
Qualifying for benefits
You may qualify for WA Cares Fund benefits after contributing for a certain number of years. To learn more about how to qualify for WA Cares Fund benefits go to Earning Your Benefits. Starting as early as July 1, 2026, benefits can be used to purchase long-term care services.
Exemptions to the WA Cares Fund
Some employees may be eligible for a permanent or conditional exemption from the WA Cares Fund. For the most current information and to request a program exemption, go to the official state website: WA CARES Act Exemptions & Information. Below is a general list of exemption types:
- Military veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 70% or greater.
- Out-of-state workers.
- Workers with non-immigrant visas.
- Spouses/state-registered domestic partners of an active-duty U.S. armed services member.
Note: Employees who had private long-term care insurance on or before Nov. 1, 2021, were able to apply for an exemption from the WA Cares Fund from Oct. 1, 2021, until Dec. 31, 2022. Those exemptions are still valid. If you have already submitted your approved exemption letter to King County, there is no need to resubmit it.
If you are granted an exemption from ESD, submit a copy of your final approval letter and your nine-digit PeopleSoft ID# by email to: WA.CARES.Exemption.Letters@kingcounty.gov or by U.S. mail to: Central Payroll WA CARES, 401 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104. Central Payroll will review your exemption letter and will work to get the mandatory deduction turned off. You are not entitled to a refund of premiums taken before you notified King County.
More information
King County does not administer any part of the program beyond collecting premiums via payroll deduction and reporting employee pay and hours to ESD. To learn more about submitting an exemption approval letter, go to the King County WA Cares Fund webpage.
For more information about the program, go to Contact the WA Cares Fund or call 844-CARE4WA (844-227-3492). The state also offers a newsletter, FAQ, and live webinar sessions to help you learn more about the WA Cares Fund and get your questions answered. Go to Learn More on the WA Cares Fund website.
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Have your say in upcoming ESJ Plan Refresh sessions
King County is refreshing the county’s Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) Strategic Plan, and you’re invited to share your ideas and experiences and help shape the plan.
All Come Awareness Raising Sessions
Participate in the All Come Awareness Raising Sessions and learn more about the current plan and future engagement opportunities. Join virtually for one of the following sessions:
- Tuesday, March 28 from 6:45 to 7:15 a.m. via Zoom. Register here.
- Tuesday, March 28 from noon to 12:30 p.m. via Zoom. Register here.
If you are unable to attend these sessions, they will be recorded and posted on the ESJ Strategic Plan Refresh Sharepoint website.
Identity-based Affinity Spaces
Any employee can opt-in to identity-based affinity spaces, which will focus on uplifting the voices of on-site, shift, and customer-facing workers.
Facilitators will engage with these employees to talk about how to create a more equitable workplace by focusing on what’s working, what’s not working, and what King County can improve.
Identity-based affinity spaces include:
- Black and African affinity space
- East, Southeast, and South Asian affinity space
- Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander affinity space
- Native American and Alaska Native affinity space
- Latinx affinity space
- Mixed-Race/Bi-Racial affinity space
- Pro-Equity/Anti-Racist White affinity space
- Women affinity space
- Black, Indigenous & other People of Color (BIPOC) Leader affinity space (on-site supervisors, crew chiefs, etc.)
- Disability Equity affinity space
- LGBTQ+ affinity space
- Military & Vets affinity space
- Immigrants and Refugees affinity space
- Affinity Space for Interested Employees Not Identified Above
While any employee can attend these affinity spaces, these sessions are designed to create an environment where people are more courageously able to share their perspectives based on shared identities. Because space is limited, within these identity-based spaces, the perspectives of employees who are on-site, customer-facing, or shift workers will be centered.
You do not need to be an active member of an affinity group to participate in these spaces. Presenters will share more about the Identity-based affinity spaces during the All Come Awareness Raising Sessions, but those interested can opt in here. Please submit your Opt-In Form by April 11, 2023.
This is an exciting opportunity to engage and provide information and ideas on how King County can improve its workplace culture, increase equity in workforce practices, and ensure inclusion and belonging for all employees.
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Passing the Torch: An Intergenerational Conversation
The theme for the annual King County Council Women’s History Month panel is “Passing the Torch: An Intergenerational Conversation.” This live, online event is sponsored and moderated by Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles, and co-sponsored by Councilmembers Claudia Balducci and Sarah Perry, the Legislative Branch Equity and Social Justice Team, and the King County Women’s Advisory Board.
Wednesday, March 29 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
Join via livestream on King County TV or Facebook.
The panelists sharing their experience and vision will be:
- Ana Mari Cauce, she/her, President and Professor of Psychology, University of Washington
- Luna Crone-Baron, she/her, Student Director on the Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors
- Mia Dabney, she/her, Youth activist, member of NAACP Youth Council of Seattle, and student at Howard University
- Debora Juarez, she/her, Seattle City Council President
- Estela Ortega, she/her, Founder and Executive Director of El Centro de la Raza
- Mary Ellen Stone, she/her, Chief Executive Officer of King County Sexual Assault Resource Center
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BEES patrol flies at street level
Updated April 23, 2024
“The BEES are easy to spot and quick to offer help,” said King County Metro General Manager Michelle Allison. “Their presence maintains safety, deters crime, and brightens the day of our riders, employees and community members.”
For nearly 20 years, there has been a King County Sheriff Patrol that focuses on Metro transit stops and the surrounding areas. Unlike the typical deputy in a vehicle driving around a specific district, responding to calls sometimes miles away, the Bicycle Emphasis and Enforcement Squad – known as BEES – can be found pedaling between the central business district and the International District (ID).
“The flexibility of the BEES is invaluable to the METRO Transit Police. By deploying on bicycles as opposed to vehicles, they can move and respond quickly throughout the busy downtown corridor,” said Police Chief Todd Morrell. “They are also inherently accessible to the public and are an integral part of the transit landscape. Whether providing directions to customers, engaging with tourists, or educating people about the transit system and our code of conduct, the BEES are the embodiment of the caliber of people we want working in our agency.”
The BEES patrol’s primary function is monitoring Metro transit stops, which is technically not part of the Seattle Police Department’s (SPD) jurisdiction. They have the same authority as any deputy, but their presence also serves as a deterrent to activity that might create an unsafe atmosphere for Metro riders and operators.
“We try to be nice about conveying a message to move along and educate what’s accepted behavior at bus stops,” said Sergeant Tom Liu. “Most people are pretty cooperative and move along.”
According to Sgt. Liu, being on the bike allows the patrol to get up close and personal, be more approachable. “The bike might even be a starting point for conversation,” he added. “People going to and from work who start talking about biking, asking questions. Lots of tourists ask for directions.” These interactions make the public feel safer and more at ease, which is not something that happens as easily from a inside a vehicle.
“We take action by having a progressive approach, educating people on acceptable behavior,” Sgt. Liu said. They do not intervene or make charges unless they see repeat behavior.
Being on patrol at such a level allows the BEES to develop relationships with those in need. The BEES are not there to harass or bother people that are just hanging out. They’re able to get to know people by name and become more friendly, building a decent relationship, due to their accessibility on the bicycles. “People that we know, we’ve visited in the hospital,” Sgt. Liu said of regulars that they talk to daily. “We care about their well-being.”
But their work in that district has a very serious side. Deputies carry Narcan with them to deal with the high number of drug overdoses that have plagued the area. Sgt. Liu said that Deputy Nix, a member of the BEES, has administered it over 20 times.
“When we’re downtown, we listen to the SPD radio,” said Deputy Bob Nix. He told of an attempted child kidnapping that took place where “private security, local cyclists, and the Seattle Police Department chased down the criminal.” While his grandmother gave a statement, the BEES patrol helped distract the child from the incident by taking him to a police car and letting him play with the siren. They then escorted the shaken couple to Chinatown for lunch.
“The grandmother wrote a very nice letter of thanks,” Deputy Nix added, “Explaining that she brought the child back downtown a few days later to help him not be afraid of going there.”
With their frontline viewpoint, the BEEs also serve as a source of information for Metro when it comes to issues and policies for policing trouble spots. Areas in Seattle like Third Avenue and Pike Street, Union Station, and 12th Avenue and Jackson Street in the International District have seen increases in illegal activity over the last several years. The BEES have accompanied Metro and City of Seattle representatives when assessing these areas in person, and their experience allows them to provide consultative ideas in how to help alleviate the issues, making the Metro stops safer for riders while treating the non-riders there with respect and concern.
The deputies on the BEES also develop a strong presence with businesses in those areas. Business owners know they can reach out to for direct support when they need it. When command staff meet with business associations, they always get praise for the BEES patrol.
“The Bicycle Emphasis and Enforcement Squad (BEES) have established ongoing relationships within the neighborhoods they patrol,” said King County Metro Chief Safety Officer Rebecca Frankhouser. “Knowing the businesses, residents and riders allows the BEES to build trust, to prevent and identify issues, and to provide an appropriate response when needed. We’re grateful for their thoughtful service to the community.”
This method of patrolling is so successful that Metro has asked for a presence in other areas. BEES patrols can also be found in Federal Way, Kent, Des Moines, along the Pacific Highway, Shoreline, and north Seattle along A and E Metro lines.
“The BEES can do ethos, focus on service, and their commitment to safety of our transit community is unparalleled,” Chief Morrell said. “They are the backbone of the METRO Transit Police.”
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Inspired by Women in Aviation International Conference
Pictured: From left to right, Sandi Trevino, incoming Maintenance Crew Chief; Patricia Beckman, founding member of the Women in Aviation International Conference, and Vanessa Chin, Innovation Section Manager.
Cross-posted from Plane Talk
After attending the Women in Aviation International Conference in February, King County International Airport’s Vanessa Chin, Innovation Section Manager, and Sandi Trevino, incoming Maintenance Crew Chief, came back inspired. So much so that Chin is reaching out to Women in Aviation International to see about starting a chapter in Seattle.
“It was absolutely an incredible learning experience,” Chin said. “We met so many exceptional women in aviation.” Read more.
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Goat Hill Parking Garage safety reminders
If you park in the Goat Hill Parking Garage, 415 6th Avenue, the Facilities Management Division (FMD) of Executive Services reminds you not to leave any valuables in your vehicle and to lock your car. There have been several “smash and grab” burglaries of vehicles at Goat Hill recently at night. Be vigilant, especially during overnight or early morning hours. Daylight saving time starts this weekend, so early mornings will be darker.
Security escort program: Upon request, King County provides security in downtown Seattle for individuals moving between their workplace and their commute. Please contact the emergency dispatch center at 206-296-5000 to arrange for a security escort whether coming in to work or leaving work. Escorts are limited by available staff.
Walkpooling: Walkpool is a program where you can walk to and from work with a buddy. Visit the Employee Transportation Program website for more information.
To report a non-emergency incident, use our online form, call 206-296-5000, or email FMD.Security@kingcounty.gov. In case of emergency, call 911.
See additional resources and programs for personal safety at work.
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Daylight Saving Time reminder to spring forward March 12
This is a friendly reminder to all employees that Daylight Saving Time officially begins on Sunday, March 12 at 2 a.m., meaning we will move the clock ahead one hour.
Daylight Saving Time will end on Nov. 5, 2023.
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County Supervisors recognized for Military and Guard employee support
The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriot Award recognizes supervisor support for employee National Guard and Reserve members, highlighting the contributions, awareness, and care that enable their employees to both serve their country and their organization. Such support includes creating flexible schedules, providing time off before and after deployments, supporting families, and much more.
The ESGR, an official Department of Defense program, has recently bestowed two Patriot Awards to King County supervisors:
- Jane Corcoran and Amanda Gudmunson from the Department of Executive Services Business Resource Center for their outstanding support of employee Ashley Baker throughout her ongoing service in the Air Force Reserve.
- Chief Lisa Dove from Metro Transit for outstanding support of employee Chris Cappelletti during his career in the U.S. Coast Guard.
ESGR serves to foster a culture of understanding between employers and members of the Reserve and National Guard. If you are a Reserve or Guard member who wants to nominate your supervisor for the Patriot Award, please visit the ESGR website for more information.
Pictured above, left to right: Chris Cappelletti, Patriot Award recipient Lisa Dove, and ESGR representative Phil Sanders.
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Ready for the next rainy season? The work to shore up clean water systems begins now
Cross-posted from Clean Water Stories
It’s certainly not news that Western Washington is a wet place. That means a lot of water can flow into King County’s treatment plants on a daily, or even hourly basis.
Rain doesn’t belong in the sewer, but it gets in there through cracks in sewer pipes or from drains on building roofs and foundations that are connected to the sewer system. In some parts of Seattle, sewer and stormwater systems are combined. And while the Wastewater Treatment Division is dealing with the rainy season, they’re also planning and strategizing for the work to be done during the dry times. Read more.
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