King County Metro asks ‘Where to?’ in rider-centric ad campaign

Crossposted from Metro Matters A bicycle race. A first date. A polar plunge. Every rider has a different destination, but they’re all taking King County Metro to get there. Our new advertising campaign, “Where to?”, shares some of the individual aspirations behind the 1.8 million trips that Metro delivers each week. Metro’s in-house creative and marketing teams captured stunning visuals of riders using transit to traverse our beautiful region by bus, light rail and water taxi. In a nod to the destination signs on buses that might read “Ballard,” “Downtown” or “Skyway,” each… Read More

BBQ held at Precinct 3 to celebrate our little chiefs

Crossposted from the King County Sheriff’s Office employee newsletter On Aug. 14, King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) employees gathered to welcome LC Carson and LC Easton into their law enforcement family, and were thrilled to have their families join too! A special barbecue was in order. LC Carson had a special request for ribs, and KCSO staff were more than happy to serve them up. A special shout out to Det. Hoaglan for preparing! As for LC Easton, since he loves to drive, we surprised him with a police car, complete with… Read More

National Payroll Week Sept. 1-5

National Payroll Week is Sept. 1–5. It is a time to honor and celebrate the vital work of payroll professionals. The Department of Human Resources (DHR) Director Jay Osborne says, “I want to take this opportunity to thank our payroll professionals for everything they do for all King County employees. They are always there for King County employees, ensuring we receive our pay accurately and on time for each pay period. Our employees know that they can rely on the payroll team’s expertise and professionalism, and the systems they have developed and manage.” … Read More

Preparing for emergencies in National Preparedness Month  

September is National Preparedness Month and King County wants to help you stay safe – and keep your family and community safe – in the event of an emergency.    The best time to prepare for a natural disaster or emergency is before it happens. Here are some steps you can take to be more prepared:    Make a plan workbook: Use the Get Ready King County fillable workbook to start (or continue) your preparedness journey. The step-by-step workbook guides you through the resources and items you need to be ready for an emergency. Personal and family… Read More

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.

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… Read More

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… Read More

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… Read More

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… Read More

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… Read More