Backpack giveaway event at Overcomer Covenant Church
Last week, the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) joined forces with Overcomer Covenant Church to distribute backpacks to the South King County community.
In partnership with Mission Africa, the church generously provided 500 backpacks filled with school supplies to local children. This event also offered valuable community resources and snacks for all attendees.
Sgt. R. Nishimura and Deputy K. Ray staffed the KCSO booth, spreading joy by distributing frisbees, bracelets, and stickers to the excited kids. Officers were particularly moved by a young child who took an immediate liking to Deputy Ray and expressed her aspiration to become a police officer, showing the positive impact of our engagement with the community.
It was a heartwarming day of community support, reaffirming KCSO’s commitment to partnering with faith-based communities.
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First-of-its-kind behavioral health crisis center opens in north King County
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections
On Aug. 12, Connections Health Solutions and the City of Kirkland opened the region’s first walk-in 24/7 behavioral health crisis center along with partner cities of Bothell, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, and Shoreline.
The new crisis center will provide walk-in urgent care and continued stabilization for people experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis. Its opening completes the first fully connected local crisis care system for behavioral health in King County: connecting and providing our North King County community members with someone to call (988 or the Regional Crisis Connections Line), someone to respond (mobile crisis teams) and now somewhere to go plus someone to follow up (crisis care centers). This is the system we are working to create countywide through the Crisis Care Centers Initiative. Read more.
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King County Executive and Sheriff’s Office announce arrests as part of ‘Operation Safe Transit’ initiative
Summary
King County Executive Dow Constantine and the King County Sheriff’s Office announced successful arrests as part of “Operation Safe Transit” to combat crime along the key transit corridor in downtown Seattle.
Story
King County Executive Dow Constantine and the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) announced four arrests as part of a larger public safety initiative to make transit safer, combat crime, and provide behavioral health supports and resources, particularly along the transit corridor in downtown Seattle.
The larger initiative, known as “Operation Safe Transit,” was launched by KCSO on May 1 as a pilot program focused on targeted work on transit and at transit locations such as bus stops and station platforms.
The enforcement completed on Wednesday is an example of the type of efforts Operation Safe Transit includes and resulted in arrests of four individuals, three of whom are known drug dealers. The fourth suspect had a warrant for assault. Deputies also recovered drugs and two handguns, one of which was stolen.
Operation Safe Transit leverages years of experience and knowledge from security officers, co-response teams, and law enforcement to effectively increase public safety and combat crime. The Seattle Police Department, King County Metro, Sound Transit, and other partners are collaborating with KCSO on this initiative. At the request of KCSO, the King County jail has made exceptions to bookings for misdemeanor crimes committed in the transit system since the operation began in May.
“Public safety requires a multi-faceted approach, with agencies, branches of government, and jurisdictions working in concert, and that is the approach we are taking to challenges at or near transit facilities in downtown Seattle,” said Executive Constantine. “Seattle streets host Metro bus stops and Sound Transit rail stations, and we are building seamless collaboration across local governments, departments, and agencies to ensure those stations, stops, and streets are clean and safe.”
“We recognize how the situation in this part of downtown is affecting the public, as well as employees and we are taking every step possible to help improve safety in this area,” said Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindal. “The ultimate goal here is to abate crime and fear of crime on our transit system. We are doing whatever we can to remove potentially threatening and harmful situations and take the most dangerous people off the streets, the trains, and the buses. We want our message to be clear – if people don’t behave lawfully, there will be consequences.”
Transit riders will see increased police and security presence around Third Avenue, the King County Courthouse, Metro bus stops, and the downtown transit tunnel. Bike teams from Metro Transit and Sound Transit will also play a significant role, as their visibility often serves as a crime deterrent.
“We remain committed to collaboratively work with our partner agencies to ensure our transit system is safe and used as intended, while simultaneously drawing upon internal and external resources to respond appropriately to a variety of circumstances,” said Sound Transit Acting Chief Safety Officer Branden Porter.
Over the past year, Metro has successfully implemented several key strategies to improve safety on transit. The agency engaged with thousands of people through the Safety, Security and Fare Enforcement (SaFE) Reform Initiative, and heard a clear desire for an increased safety presence and appropriate support for community members in need.
Metro’s “Care and Presence” approach includes more than doubling the number of transit security officers to 170, establishing a group of 17 Metro Safety Ambassadors to assist riders, and coordinating with King County’s Department of Community & Human Services to deploy a team of 14 behavioral health specialists. Since its launch, the behavioral health team has made over 7,621 contacts and responded to 396 crisis or de-escalation events.
“Communities have made it clear to us that there is a need for both security and compassionate support for those who need it,” said Metro General Manager Michelle Allison. “Based on what we heard from you, we developed an approach to keep riders safe that focuses on ‘Care and Presence.’ We have more than doubled the number of Transit Security Officers and added Metro Safety Ambassadors to engage with riders. We also deployed Behavioral Health Specialists, who provide de-escalation, resources, and support.”
Aside from Wednesday’s work, Operation Safe Transit has resulted in 82 arrests. Half of those came from deputies who viewed criminal activity directly and made arrests in real-time. This operational work will continue to ensure those who live, work, and visit downtown see and feel the enhanced public safety impacts. Both Executive Constantine and Sheriff Cole-Tindall are committed to this joint effort, aiming to make 3rd Avenue a place that is welcoming and accessible to all.
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Beat the bell: Get your kids vaccinated before school starts
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
Summer may have the longest days of the year, but they always seem to go by the fastest. With the new school year just a few weeks away, now is a great time to make sure your child has the vaccinations they’ll need. Not only are vaccines required for school and childcare, they’re also among the best tools to help your child stay healthy and thrive, this year and beyond.
Start with your healthcare provider
If your child has a doctor, we recommend getting ahead of the crowd and making an appointment now. As the new school year gets closer, appointments often book up quickly. You can use this opportunity to also talk with your child’s doctor about any other health concerns, get a general wellness check, or complete a sports physical. Some healthcare providers offer vaccination-only visits if you’re pressed for time or have no other healthcare needs.
In Washington state, all children ages 0 to 18 can get vaccinated at no cost from a healthcare provider that participates in the Childhood Vaccine Program (CVP). Your healthcare provider might charge an administration fee (a fee for giving the vaccine), but you can ask to have it waived if you can’t afford it. Find a CVP provider near you. Read more.
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Regional Animal Services reduces all pet adoption fees during “Clear The Shelters” event, August 10 through September 10
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC
Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) is joining with hundreds of other animal shelters nationwide in the “Clear The Shelters” initiative. During this special event, which runs from August 10 through September 10, RASKC will reduce adoption fees on all pets. The fee to adopt a cat or dog is just $30, the cost of a pet license.
“Adopting a pet from RASKC is always a great value, and during the ‘Clear The Shelters’ campaign it’s even better,” said RASKC Manager Dr. Gene Mueller. “No matter if you’re looking for a dog, cat, rabbit, guinea pig, or other companion, our goal is always to match great pets with great homes.” Read more.
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Records management reminder: Teams chat should only be used for transitory communications
Many King County employees use Microsoft Teams chat to communicate with colleagues on a daily basis. As a reminder, employees’ chat messages may disappear from view within three days, but are retained in servers up to 17 days. During that time, they are discoverable and subject to public disclosure.
Best practice is to only use Teams chat for transitory communications that do not need to be retained as documentation of your work. If your agency’s retention schedule requires a message to be kept for longer, consider using email that can be filed to Content Manager.
Examples of transitory communications appropriate for Teams Chat include:
- Asking if a coworker is available for a phone call
- Sending an FYI that you’ll be late for a meeting
- Sharing non-work related information
Please direct technical questions about Teams to KCIT.
For more information, visit the county’s Records Management Program website or contact them at records.management@kingcounty.gov. The Records Management Program, in the Department of Executive Services, provides guidance, resources, and training to all King County employees to assist them with managing King County’s public records according to state and local legal requirements and best practices.
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White Center Coffee with a Cop event successful
On a sunny Wednesday morning, the inviting aroma of freshly brewed coffee and delicious Hawaiian cuisine wafted through the air at Patrick’s Café. This popular local spot, known for its warm ambiance and tasty offerings, played host to a special gathering – Coffee with a Cop, organized in partnership with the King County Sheriff’s Office.
The event drew a good number of community members, attracting both regular patrons and passersby. Community Service Officers (CSOs) and Deputies, accompanied by several members of the command staff and leadership, engaged in meaningful conversations with community members, listening to their concerns and answering questions.
The generous hosts at Patrick’s Café provided complimentary coffee and an assortment of pastries, creating a welcoming atmosphere for all attendees.
The event was a resounding success, fostering positive connections between law enforcement and the community while exemplifying the spirit of unity and collaboration.
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Call for photos to be featured at in bus shelters across King County
Metro is partnering with the Photographic Center Northwest (PCNW) on an international call for photos to be featured at bus shelters across King County. Successful photos could remain in bus shelters for up to 10 years. This call is open to all County employees and their family members of all ages.
This year’s theme is “Show Us Your World” and intended to explore personal, cultural identity and connection. This can include, but is not limited to, photos that display:
- Culture, values, and traditions that have been passed down from previous generations.
- Shared bonds within a specific community.
- One’s history, identity, and bond to the past, present, and future.
- A visual representation or documentation of what is meaningful to you.
King County employees can submit up to five photos at no cost using the discount code 2024Discount.
To be considered, photos must be submitted by Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, through the online application form. More information about the photo call, including specifications and submission instructions can be found on the application page. A panel of judges will select up to 100 photos to be printed and installed in Metro bus shelters starting in late 2024.
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New King County Metro bus operators to benefit from improved training
Crossposted from Metro Matters
Recruiting and training new bus operators allows our region’s transit network to continue to grow. On June 21, King County Metro celebrated the graduation of 54 part-time operators to full-time status. June also marked Metro’s highest number of full-time operators since 2021, although we still need to add many more to meet the high demand for transit service in the coming years. In addition, we recently began training our first class of external candidates seeking to become full-time bus operators.
Metro has historically hired part-time operators who can later apply for full-time status. We’ve switched to hiring external candidates, which is a proven approach used by many transit agencies. While a part-time operator hiring model fit our system when more riders were traveling during commuting hours, full-time operators better fit Metro’s current workforce needs in delivering reliable all-day service. Metro plans to hire and train both part-time and full-time operators in the years ahead to meet the varied needs of our riders. Read more.
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