From the Sheriff’s Newsletter

On Feb. 10, Metro Transit Resource Officer (TRO) Michael Ramirez conducted a routine patrol at the Burien Transit Center (BTC). The BTC has been the focus of weekly directed patrol missions due to crime and narcotic use in the area.

While patrolling the BTC, Ramirez – a Sheriff’s Office Detective – observed a male slumped over in a wheelchair.

Concerned, Detective Ramirez checked on him and, through training and experience, found that the person had noticeable agonal breathing and was likely overdosing on a narcotic (presumed fentanyl). Detective Ramirez acted quickly and administered Narcan while checking the patient’s pulse.

As he summoned aid, Detective Ramirez remained with the male until they arrived. Medics administered several additional doses of Narcan to the patient while intubating him and ultimately transporting him to St. Anne’s Hospital with a pulse.

Detective Ramirez’s instincts and passion for community service, without question, prolonged the man’s life while limiting negative exposure to Metro passengers and community members.

We are proud of Detective Ramirez, who takes pride in his work and his duties to serve the people of King County and the Metro Transit System.

On Feb. 6, a massive earthquake struck Türkiye and Syria, flattening entire cities and communities. Tens of thousands of people lost their lives and many more were injured. Hundreds of thousands of people have been left homeless in freezing temperatures, without access to basic needs such as shelter, health care, sanitation, food, and water.

King County employees can help these communities recover and rebuild is by making donations to organizations that are providing humanitarian aid and support for the people impacted by the earthquake. A 21-day natural disaster response campaign will allow King County employees to support up to three Employee Giving Program nonprofit organizations responding to the natural disaster. From Feb. 23 – March 15, employees will be able to give in three ways during this special response:

1. Donation of accumulated vacation and/or compensatory time. Download form here (.pdf).
2. One-time payroll donation. Download form here (.pdf).
3. Credit card or e-check. On the storefront here.

Prosecuting Attorney’s Office employees can donate by payroll, e-check, or credit card, but may not donate leave or compensatory time.

Forms must be received no later than 5 p.m. March 15, 2023, by email to employeegiving@kingcounty.gov or interoffice mail to KCEGP CNK-HR-0231.

Three nonprofits are eligible for time or payroll donations:

1. American Red Cross – Türkiye (Turkey) earthquake response #9343. The American Red Cross is part of the global network of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world, and is responding to calls for assistance from the local Türkiye and Syria Red Crescent Societies that are on the ground.
2. Empact Northwest #10108. Empact Northwest is a non-profit, non-governmental entity providing rescue, medical, and logistical support to those affected by disaster worldwide, as well as preparedness support to communities in need and professional rescue training.
3. Médecins Sans Frontieres / Doctors Without Borders #4172. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) was already on the ground in the region and activated their emergency and disaster response plans immediately. They immediately began treating people in their clinics and assisting local hospitals.

This special campaign will be open through 5 p.m. March 15. Please use this form to contribute and find answers to your questions here.

It’s now easier than ever for residents and people working in Seattle, including King County employees, to report non-urgent public issues. The City of Seattle’s Find It, Fix It mobile app is a simple way to report an issue, track reports, and view service requests. Examples of issues include a streetlight outage, clogged storm drain, graffiti, abandoned vehicles, illegal dumping, unauthorized encampment, and potholes.

If you see an issue that needs addressing near or on the way to a County workplace in Seattle, use the app to report it. The app is not for reporting urgent matters or emergencies. However, the app does include phone numbers and links for reporting urgent matters to the City, Seattle City Light, Seattle Public Utilities, Street Repair and Maintenance, and other non-emergency criminal activity. In an emergency situation where you feel threatened or witness a serious event, you should always call 911 first.

Android users can download the app from the Google Play Store and iPhone users can download it from the App Store.

On Feb. 22, 2023, Microsoft will update the Authenticator phone app that King County employees use for multi-factor authentication (MFA).

What does this change mean for you?

Just like today, employees signing into King County enterprise systems may be asked to verify their identity through MFA; this can be done via text, phone call, digital fob, or using the Microsoft Authenticator app.

After the update, employees who use the Authenticator app will no longer click the “Accept” button to confirm their identity. Instead, the app will generate a random number you will type into the security pop-up window on your computer. This improved security will better protect King County’s data and systems from cyberattacks.

Please note: This change only affects employees who use the Microsoft Authenticator app for MFA.

KCIT strongly encourages all employees to add a backup MFA authentication method.

You can add, review, and update your MFA authentication options here. If you have questions, please contact the KCIT Helpdesk at 206-263-HELP (3-4357)

Example below of what the upcoming change will look like:

Updated Jan. 8, 2024

Extremely cold temperatures, snow, and strong winds are forecast for our region this week, so please be prepared for possible commute delays and impacts to business operations. 

If you work on site, please be prepared for cold weather. Have a plan for your commute, dress warmly, and let safety be your guide when making commute decisions. If you drive, have an emergency kit in your vehicle, including extra clothing, food, water, and a flashlight.

Power outages: If you are teleworking and experience a power outage that affects your ability to effectively work remotely, please contact your supervisor to discuss other options for completing work tasks. These may include taking leave or working from your regular King County worksite.

HR Policies: When an agency remains open, but conditions prevent you from reporting to work or from reporting on time, notify your supervisor as soon as possible. You may request leave, subject to approval by your supervisor. If you have no leave accrued, your supervisor may approve leave without pay to cover absences. Sick leave may not be used. Refer to HR Bulletin 2011-0009 County Operations During Emergency Situations and Inclement Weather (Sheriff’s Office employees refer to KCSO Inclement Weather Policy; Superior Court and District Court employees please see check court policies).

Alternative work arrangements: If you are impacted by the weather and adjusting work schedules, working at an alternative location, or taking vacation are options for your job, please discuss these beforehand with your supervisor.

Stay informed: Make sure you’re getting the latest King County information at work and at home in the event of inclement weather.

• Sign up for KCInform, King County’s employee alert and warning system. KCInform is used to reach County employees during an emergency with timely information about infrastructure disruptions, facility impacts, changes in your department’s business operations, and other critical impacts. Your King County desk phone and @kingcounty.gov email are already in the system. It is important to register your County-issued cell phone (if applicable) and personal cell phone and email address to ensure you receive time-sensitive messages. This service is free, and your personal contact information is secure and protected. To sign up, please contact kcinform@kingcounty.gov anytime or 206-296-3830 between 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday to request your unique registration link. Visit the KCInform website to learn more or watch our short video.  
• Call the Employee Hotline—206-205-8600 (save it to your phone now!).
• Check your King County email for information on business operations, delays, and closures. Log on at http://outlook.kingcounty.gov. Some agencies may send additional instructions directly to their staff.
• Contact your supervisor for specific instructions.
• Visit the Emergency News page at kcemergency.com for regional impacts.

Resources for travelers

• Metro: Visit MetroWinter.com and Eye on Your Metro Commute, and sign up for Metro Transit Alerts (text, email, tweets via @kingcountymetro and @kcmetroalerts, see RSS feed via desktop or mobile RSS reader)
• Roads: Visit Roads’ Snow and Ice resources and sign up for King County Road Alerts (text, email, tweets via @kcroads)
• Water Taxi: Sign up for King County Water Taxi Alerts (text, email).