New Data Shows King County DCHS Services Reached Nearly Half a Million Residents
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections
King County’s Department of Community & Human Services (DCHS) released new data highlighting the department’s transformative impact. Last year, DCHS reached more than 477,000 residents through services including affordable housing, behavioral health treatment, child care, education and employment opportunities for youth and young adults, support for veterans, and resources for people with developmental disabilities.
For the first time, department-wide data includes all five divisions, giving a more comprehensive look at DCHS’ impact, including the location of funded services, where participants live, how services were accessed and investments made, among other findings. Read more.
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The newest back-to-school must-have: Free Youth Transit Pass!
Crossposted from Metro Matters
Binder, paper, pens and pencils, calculator, backpack, ORCA Card!
With school just around the corner, a useful item that also makes a great fashion statement is a Free Youth Transit Pass (FYTP)—also known as a Youth ORCA card!
The pass is good 24/7/365. This will be the fourth school year that youth 18 years of age and younger will be able to use it to board transit for free. The card is the stress-free way for getting to after school activities, picking up siblings, getting to work, or heading to a movie or concert on Metro and other transit agencies throughout the region. Read more.
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KCSO hosts IVLP for delegates from Kazakhstan
Crossposted from the KCSO Employee newsletter
Chief Jose Marenco and Sound Transit Police Chief Marcus Williams recently welcomed a delegation from Kazakhstan as part of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). The visit served as a platform for an information exchange centered on strategies for countering corruption and promoting transparency in law enforcement.
During the session, KCSO leadership shared best practices, oversight measures, and community engagement approaches aimed at building trust and accountability. The Kazakh delegates offered insight into their own challenges and solutions, fostering a mutually beneficial dialogue.
By participating in the IVLP, the King County Sheriff’s Office continues to strengthen international partnerships and demonstrate its commitment to ethical policing and global collaboration in the fight against corruption.
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Farewell to the voice in our ears: Melanie Browne is hanging up her headset
Crossposted from the KCSO Employee newsletter
After 38 years of keeping her cool under pressure, looking out for deputy safety, and making the Communications Center a place people want to be, Operator 72 — Melanie (Mel) Browne — is officially hanging up her headset.
Mel has done it all in her time here: call-taking, dispatching, training, leading — and always making sure the people she worked with felt supported. She’s known for her quick wit, her calm in chaos, and her ability to make even the toughest shifts just a little bit lighter.
But her talents go far beyond the radio waves. Mel pours a meannnn root beer float every year at the Goats n’ Floats fundraiser for the One Heart Wild Animal Sanctuary in Silverdale. She is a decades-long supporter of GLOBE Youth of Snohomish, helping make Snohomish County a safe and nurturing place for LGBTQIA+ youth — and you can still catch her at their annual Sno-homo Bingo.
Mel is the chef of her homestead, famous for smoked salmon, ribs, gumbo, and a spice collection that could rival a gourmet market. She and her wife, Brenda, share their pasture with five goats, two cats, and one bear (the bear just likes the salmon scraps). And now they are ready to travel; Alaska, Badlands National Park, and Mount Rushmore are at the top of their list.
We are celebrating her incredible career at her retirement party on Aug, 28 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Communications Center (3511 NE 2nd Street, Renton). Come for the hugs and stay for the stories! There’s 38 years’ worth!
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Now recruiting 2025 Employee Giving Program Ambassadors
Bring a little inspiration to your day and build connection with your team by signing up to be an Ambassador.
The Employee Giving Program is now recruiting King County Employees to serve as an Ambassadors for this year’s Annual Giving Drive to their work groups/sites.
As an Ambassador, you are the heart and soul of our Employee Giving Program team. We CANNOT run this program and support so many great causes without you. Last year that resulted in $2.37 million! You are the key to making sure that every King County employee has an opportunity to connect to a cause they care about through the program. Read more.
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Data dashboard reveals changing legal needs of people in King County
Crossposted from King County Superior Court
The King County Superior Court Clerk’s Office has launched a data dashboard to display statistics and historical data for cases handled by King County Superior Court.
The dashboard enables anyone to look at the flow of cases into King County Superior Court over time, observe the length of time between filing and resolution, and see the work that lies ahead. For each type of case, the dashboard shows, by month or year, the number of cases filed, resolved, and pending.
“Every matter brought before a court is as unique as the individuals involved, and much can be learned from the mosaic they create,” said King County Superior Court Presiding Judge Ketu Shah. “Taken together, data from King County Superior Court cases forms a picture of the changing legal needs of the people in King County.” Read more.
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King County and City of Seattle partner on region’s second Crisis Care Center location
King County Executive Shannon Braddock and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced next steps for a Crisis Care Center in Seattle providing behavioral health care for people experiencing a mental health, drug, or alcohol crisis. The facility would be located at the former Polyclinic building at 1145 Broadway.
King County voters approved the Crisis Care Centers Initiative in 2023 to create five centers across the region where anyone can walk in for behavioral health and substance use care. Read more.
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From First Appearance to ‘Not Guilty:’ DPD’s interns conclude a summer of impactful representation for their clients
Crossposted from For the Defense
Last week, the Department of Public Defense’s (DPD) summer interns concluded their 10-week program representing clients through Washington’s unique Rule 9 license, which allows closely supervised law students to speak on the record in court. With the support of experienced supervisors and in partnership with attorneys in DPD’s misdemeanor units, interns gained invaluable experience defending clients from their first appearance following arrest to trial. Read more.
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New intranet homepage for employee safety, security, and emergency preparedness resources
September is National Preparedness Month, an annual campaign to remind people that preparing for emergencies and disasters can keep them, their families, and their communities safe. As part of this year’s King County Preparedness Month employee campaign, King County has launched a new tool for employees. It’s a new intranet homepage or one-stop-shop for King County employees to find all links to campus safety and security, safety at work, and emergency management webpages on kingcounty.gov and the intranet. The goal of the new homepage is to help King County employees to find this vital information quickly and easily.
Click here to visit the new Safety, Security, and Emergency Preparedness Homepage.
Don’t forget to bookmark this link. You can also access the new page on the King County Employee Intranet Homepage in the Quick Links and Employee Resources sections. Read more.
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K9 Fury retiring on Sept. 1
Crossposted from the KCSO employee newsletter
Detective Dave Keller and K9 Fury proudly served the King County Sheriff’s Office as a Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission certified Narcotic Detection K9 Team. They were assigned to the Precinct 4 Special Emphasis Team from April 26, 2017, to Oct. 2022, and later served as back-up to K9 Quinn from Oct. 2022 until Sept. 1, 2025, an impressive 8½-year career.
Over the course of his career, K9 Fury played a key role in the impressive seizure of approximately 1,480 pounds of narcotics, valued at more than $40.5 million.
Effective Sept. 1, 2025, K9 Fury will officially retire from police service, with ownership transferred to Detective Keller.
Thank you, K9 Fury, for your dedication and service to our community. Wishing you a long, happy, and well-earned retirement!
Employee News 