Sheriff’s Communications Team brings awareness to Vehicle Theft Prevention Month
Cross-posted from the KCSO Newsletter
As July is National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month, the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) communications team thought this would be a great time to teach the community how to keep their vehicles – and everything inside – safe from would-be thieves.
The team invited the media for something of a ‘show-and-tell’ where Sergeant Eric White (pictured above) provided great tips and tricks for protecting property.
Three of the four local TV stations covered the event, resulting in some great stories and ‘news you can use’ for their viewers. You can watch KING 5’s piece here.
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King County study of Lake Washington sediment shows decline in once-common dangerous chemicals, offering a roadmap to address newer health risks
A King County study of Lake Washington’s lakebed sediment shows levels of PCBs, the once common and dangerous chemical are expected to fall below currently detectable levels within the next two decades. Researchers say the findings reaffirm the effectiveness of regulations and personal actions and offer a strategy for addressing emerging environmental threats, including stormwater pollution.
The pilot study, including lakebed coring conducted by scientists aboard the King County research vessel SoundGuardian, also showed how the techniques for collecting and analyzing samples could be used in other research projects to detect human-caused changes in environmental conditions.
“The research conducted by our scientists on the sediment layers beneath Lake Washington sends an unmistakable message: The best way to protect people, fish, and wildlife from harmful chemicals is to stop their production and use,” said Executive Constantine. Read more.
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Discounts available for Seahawks and Huskies
King County employees can now purchase discounted tickets for several upcoming football games for the Seattle Seahawks and University of Washington Huskies.
For the Seattle Seahawks, tickets are available for four home games on Aug. 24, Nov. 3 and 24, and Dec. 22. Ticket prices start at $35, plus a $3 handling fee. Use promo code KING24. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
For the UW Huskies, tickets are available for three home games on Aug. 31, Sept. 21, and Nov. 15. Ticket prices start at $18. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
See all available employee discounts on the Employee Discount webpage.
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Black Women’s Experience Project examines equity at King County
Crossposted from the DES Express
The Black/African Women’s Affinity Group, co-chaired by DES’s own Miesha Vaughn, Tort Claims Investigator in Risk Management, and by Ebony Frazier, EIB Manager in the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD), recently released a report with the Wright Resource Group, “An examination of the experiences of Black women employees at King County.”
From the Executive Summary:
“The purpose of the project is to understand the current state of Black Women employed at King County and to provide recommendations to address possible inequities and promote a healthy workplace culture that supports an intersectional demographic that is often not fully incorporated into Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) or Equity and Social Justice Initiatives. Read more.
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Maple Valley Bike Rodeo teaches kids about safety
On the beautiful morning of Saturday, June 22, the Maple Valley Police Bicycle Rodeo at Lake Wilderness Park provided an excellent opportunity for new bicycle riders to hone their skills. Children ages 10 and under were able to practice essential cycling skills, such as navigating around distracted pedestrians in crosswalks and maneuvering around “boulders,” painted foam pieces on the road.
Sixty-two kids took turns overcoming these obstacles under the guidance of Officer Baldwin and Master Police Officer Olmsted, along with the assistance of the Maple Valley Explorers, a volunteer program for young adults to participate in community events and police training. This year, the event was joined by Bicycle Rescue for Youth, a nonprofit organization which set up bike stations and ensured that the participants’ brakes and tire pressure were in top condition before they took on the course. Along with great memories, each child received a certificate, safety reflectors, and other cool giveaways at the conclusion of the event.
Maple Valley Police contracts with the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) to develop this annual event, as the officers who lead it are KCSO deputies. View photos and more information at https://www.facebook.com/MapleValleyPolice.
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FMD Security Officer Brian Pollack saves man from overdose
Crossposted from the DES Express
Security Officer Brian Pollack from the Facilities Management Division (FMD) saved a life last month outside the Robert Clewis Center (RCC), a low-cost medical clinic in downtown Seattle. An RCC customer was overdosing outside the center, which was closed at the time. The man’s friends had tried to administer Narcan but weren’t successful. Pollack acted quickly due to training he recently received.
“I am grateful for the Opioid Reversal Training I received from Public Health, which proved invaluable during a critical incident,” said Pollack. “I’m thankful I could use my training to save the life of a valued community member. Inspired by this experience, I recently became an Opioid Reversal Training instructor for the King County FMD Security Unit. I look forward to teaching others this life-saving skill.” Read more.
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July is Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Month
July is Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Month, a time to highlight the unique strengths and challenges faced by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in relation to mental health. Named in honor of Bebe Moore Campbell, a journalist, teacher, author, and mental health advocate, this month is dedicated to continuing her legacy by focusing on the mental health needs and experiences of BIPOC communities.
Fear of judgment, cultural beliefs, generational differences, and lack of access to resources often prevent people of color from addressing mental health struggles openly and seeking the help they need. To overcome these barriers, it is essential to foster open and honest conversations about mental health. Breaking the silence is a crucial step toward healing and prioritizing mental wellness. Read more.
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In their own words: Meet the dynamic AANHP Leadership Council
Since its inception, the American Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pasifika (AANHP) Affinity Group has flourished under exceptional leadership: Sung Cho and Stephanie Santos (2019 – 2020), Renee Hosogi and Phoebe Naguit (2020 – 2022), and Helen Potter and Guru Dorje (2023 – 2024). As we transition into a new phase, a collective decision has been made to establish a joint leadership structure known as the AANHP Leadership Council (ALC). This council aims to honor the collective identity of the AANHP community through collaborative leadership. The ALC comprises the following members:
- Allen Ikua Gomes, Crafts Crew Carpenter at Department of Natural Resources and Parks, Parks Operations Section;
- Mark Manuel, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Manager at Metro;
- Meon Yu, Neighborhood Pop-up Customer Service Coordinator at Metro, Mobility Division;
- Molly Marie Faletufuga, Permit Review Coordinator at the Department of Local Services, Permitting Services Division;
- Tyler Jenicek, Lead Customer Services Coordinator at Metro Transit, Mobility Division; and
- Yingying Huang Fernandes, Service Planning at Metro.
We welcome these new leaders as we learn what motivated each of them to step into their roles and how they plan to lead collaboratively. Read more (Sharepoint).
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New Mindfulness offerings for King County employees
Balanced You is excited to share that we heard employees’ requests for more class variety to accommodate busy schedules. As such, Balanced You worked with CuriosityBased and SolJoy to offer shorter class options at varied times beginning in August. Initially, all classes will be online and there will be in-person classes in the future. A schedule and class registration for summer 2024 can be found here.
We look forward to offering new mindfulness programing to all King County employees as we continue our mindfulness journey together.
For more information on mindfulness and other offerings, contact Balanced You at balancedyou@kingcounty.gov. Read more.
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Remembering DNRP’s Steve Bleifuhs
The Seattle Times recently published a tribute for Steve Bleifuhs, a longtime member of the Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) Water and Land Resources Division leadership team who died July 7 in a small plane crash in Eatonville. The article shares:
Steve Bleifuhs worked as a bicycle mechanic while studying economics at the University of Wisconsin, and later in Seattle’s University District, where he moved to in 1994.
He then started a nearly 30-year career working at the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, where he eventually managed a team of about 70 people.
“Everybody is devastated because of the suddenness” said Josh Baldi, director of the King County Water and Land Resources Division and Bleifuhs’ boss. “We’re going to be processing this for a long time.”
Read more in the original article, Family, friends remember 2 men killed in Eatonville plane crash.
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