Staff in the Department of Natural Resources and Parks’ Solid Waste Division (SWD) have developed a new safety mechanism to add extra security measures for both employees and customers. The idea, developed by Algona transfer station employees and their supervisors, was installed on March 10.

Henry Dotson, an Operations Supervisor who has been with SWD for eight years, explains how everyone is committed to making changes that promote both efficiency and safety, and that the input of employees is essential when making operational changes.

“It is important so that employees know that they are being heard and that we take their input seriously,” he said.

The team deployed a modified 20-yard roll-off container to create a physical barrier between customers and employees, and the edge of the fall hazard area, limiting access to this security risk. As a continuous improvement measure, the employee suggestion is one of several being piloted to add more security for individuals at the transfer station. Initial reactions and opinions have been positive and well received by customers and employees.

“Safety and security for staff and customers is the top priority at the transfer stations and the landfill,” said Tyler Fogelberg, Operations Supervisor and a member of the team that supervises transfer stations, landfills and other SWD work groups. He has been with King County since 2018.

He explains how the team is proud to take on new challenges and recognize opportunities for improvement.

“If something is identified, we will jump into action as a team to handle the situation and ensure we are safe and secure moving forward,” he said.

Anthony Slaughter is a Cedar Hills Land Fill Shop Supervisor and has been with King County since 1991. He has a variety of duties that also include ensuring staff provide service to our customers at the transfer stations and Cedar Hills. The service provided includes repairs to equipment, fabrication to the station facilities and equipment, as well as servicing vehicles and equipment.

With safety, it is important to always be on the lookout for improvement, especially at the top load stations. They were built in the sixties and seventies and are still operating now in modern times.

Anthony explains that employees are the best resource for suggestions that will improve customer service and safety. In acting on employee feedback, it was a win-win for both the stations and staff.

“They spend a great amount of time at the station and observe as well as perform established processes related to their jobs, so they are in the best position to suggest a modification or best practice,” he said.

“Employees like to know they are being heard, and everyone needs to know they are valued, not just by words, but by actions.”

Henry shares how a need for further safety measures at the top load stations is what prompted this improvement.

“The team responded by first identifying what the most serious concerns were and how to adequately address them without creating drastic changes, then we solicited solution feedback,” he said.

This feedback resulted in a dialogue with safety contractors to offer ideas and propose potential solutions. Eventually a prototype model was settled on, discussed with employees, and finally installed.

“The prototype that we are implementing at top load stations are an important step in not only customer safety but employee safety as well,” Henry said. “Through vigorous conversation we have discovered additional safety related benefits.”

Henry adds that the next iteration of the prototype fall protection box design will feature gates that open for commercial haulers and be able to be easily moved for maintenance projects team accessibility.

Tyler shares how management appreciates working to solve these challenges together, building trust in addition to a safer environment. It is important to have direct employee involvement when making operational changes. These employees often have the direct experience needed to suggest safe and effective solutions.

“The employees always have insight that management may not have thought of,” he said. “It is good for moral for all the work groups when they know that management is listening before acting. We have witnessed this time and time again and understand it is an important part of the process.”

Henry also explains how an added benefit of such safety-conscious employees is customers who value the dedication to providing a secure and efficient experience. Working alongside employees in day-to-day operations, he frequently witnesses how they pursue safety and new process implementation.

“I enjoy the satisfaction seen on our customers faces when they realize that our employees take their profession and customer service seriously,” he said.

For more information about the King County transfer stations and the Cedar Hills Land Fill visit www.kingcounty.gov/recycling-transfer.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. Taking place the first Tuesday in August, it enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while showing a true sense of community.

King County Sheriff’s deputies showed up at a variety of events across the county last week to connect with residents, represent the department, and have a great time. From Fall City to White Center to Sammamish and points in between, officers were out in force making a positive impact on community relations.

“Community engagement is incredibly important, and NNO makes it easy for us to meet with large groups within different areas of our communities,” said Undersheriff Jesse Anderson. “These gatherings give us an opportunity to speak to larger audiences about crime and other policing issues.”

“You also never know what you might run into, such as therapy llamas,” he added. Undersheriff Anderson and Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall met them at the Remington neighborhood picnic just outside of Maple Valley. 

“National Night Out is one of my favorite things to do each year,” said Chief Troy Olmsted of the Criminal Investigations Division. “Neighborhood interaction and plenty of food selections!” It provides a great opportunity to bring law enforcement and neighbors together under positive circumstances.

Next to the Olympic Games, the World Athletics Championships is the biggest track and field stage on the planet, held in the United States the first time for 10 days in July on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene.

A few statistics:

• More than 1,700 athletes from 179 countries participated.
• Team USA broke the record for the most medals at a single World Atheletics Championships, earning 33 in total.
• 1,583 volunteers gave their time to help in all areas of the event.
• K9 units from multiple agencies and states, including two from the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), were on hand providing security.

At an event with such global importance, ensuring the safety of everyone involved – athletes, coaches, volunteers, workers, audiences – is the top priority. This requires bringing in specially trained bomb sniffing K9 units, which are in very limited supply. To pull this off, the Eugene Police Department put out a request for teams that might be available to provide services for a few days.

Like any other profession where there are only a few specialists, reaching out for assistance is common. There were teams from Seattle to San Diego to Texas to South Dakota, representing local police, sheriff’s offices, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). From the KCSO, Deputy Kristi Bridgman and K9 Luna, of the Sound Transit unit, and Deputy Jonathan Akiona and K9 Indy, of the Metro unit, were given the assignment. (KCSO is reimbursed for their time on the job.)

Ambassadors to the world

According to Deputy Akiona, Bomb K9s were stationed at every gate as the first line of defense to clear all vehicles and their contents before entering. Deputy Akiona and K9 Indy’s assignment was as a roving relief team at each gate to give K9 teams breaks and to respond to unattended items. There were no serious issues, besides “a few unattended bags that K9 Indy screened before turning it over to lost and found,” Akiona said, and one individual who attempted to access the event without a ticket under the guise of wearing an “unofficial bomb tech hat” one day and as a driver for a vendor the next day. Both attempts were repelled. “It was all safe, we think he was just trying to get in for free,” he said. But mostly it was “four days of hot work with Indy, a lot of searching, and networking with other handlers and bomb techs from across the region.”

“It was good interaction with the public,” Akiona added. “You got great vibes from participants and the public thanking us for our work.” In situations like this, people understand that the K9 units are there for protection, not because there’s already a bad situation. Comments are typically very positive, and the dogs are more like ambassadors for law enforcement.

Deputy Bridgman and Luna’s last day there was primarily checking in athletes and media. “Luna is a show-stealer,” she quipped, “she knows when the camera is on her.” But Bridgman said Luna “won’t stop working because she got petted.” She knows that doing her job is how she gets her reward. Which, surprisingly, is not a treat, but getting to play with one of her favorite toys.

A personal relationship

The officer and dog that make up a K9 team work strictly with one another. They’re required to have 400 hours of training together to be a certified team. Plus, they have four hours a week of best practices training, to make sure the dog is at peak performance. And it’s not that they just work together, they also live together. The relationship is more than one of simply coworkers. That level of relationship means the officer can tell a lot about from the dog’s behavior.

Deputy Bridgman, who has been with KCSO since 1999, got her first dog in 2011 as part of a drug force task team. She has worked with Luna in the bomb detection division since 2017. Getting to know your partner is essential. She said, “Dogs are easier to train for this kind of work than humans, who come with preconceived ideas. For dogs, it’s simple. Reward the dog with what’s most valuable to them whether it’s food or a toy.” For Luna, that happens to be a tennis ball. When Luna comes across the odor she’s trained to detect, she gets the high value reward of playing catch.

Deputy Akiona, who also started with the K9 bomb unit in 2011, said “Bomb K9s are working out in the public in a proactive approach rather than reactive after an event. We’re creating a sense of security. It takes a very special relationship and balance with your dog protecting people and being public ambassadors.”