May 18-24 2025 is National Emergency Medical Services Week
King County Executive Shannon Braddock has declared May 18-24, 2025, as Emergency Medical Services Week in King County. “This is in recognition of the value and the accomplishments of our emergency medical services personnel throughout our region,” she said. EMS Week is a time to honor emergency medicine’s frontline workers who provide lifesaving services in our community – day and night. Our own Medic One/EMS system in King County has been called “one of the world’s best” which can be directly attributed to the dedication and skill of the EMTs, paramedics and… Read More
Drug incidents down 35%
Crossposted from Metro Matters Drug incident reports on or near King County Metro decreased by more than one-third from 2023 to 2024. The positive trend coincides with the transit agency reinforcing expectations of riders, and encouraging employees and riders to report incidents. In 2023, there were 1,578 drug-related incidents reported on or near Metro (e.g., buses, bus stops, transit centers, etc.). That represented roughly one incident per 49,000 boardings. In 2024, there were 1,022 drug-related incidents reported, which represented about one incident per 80,000 boardings. “More than 300,000 riders take Metro every… Read More
Honoring those who served and their sacrifices this Memorial Day
Dear fellow King County employee, As we prepare to observe Memorial Day, I want to take a moment to recognize the profound significance of this day. Memorial Day honors the brave members of our country’s armed forces who gave their lives fighting to protect and preserve freedom here at home and around the world. We owe a debt of gratitude to all who have served, and particularly to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Their sacrifices—and the sacrifices of their families—remind us of the true cost of the freedoms we enjoy. We… Read More
Tech Tip: Personally Identifiable Information
What is sensitive information? Sensitive information is privileged information which – if compromised through alteration, corruption, loss, misuse, or unauthorized disclosure – could cause serious harm to an individual or organization. You must always give the highest level of protection to privileged information. Here we discuss Personally Identifiable Information, or PII. What is Personally Identifiable Information? For the purpose of data protection, PII is defined as: any instance of an individual’s first name (or first initial) plus the last name, and any one of 29 additional confidential items. Read more.
Meet Wellness Hero Aaron Parker
Balanced You Wellness Heroes highlights employees doing things to better their lives, the lives of their colleagues, and our community. Meet Wellness Hero Aaron Parker, Director of Community Corrections Division, Department of Adult & Juvenile Detention (DAJD). In this video, Aaron talks about his career and role at King County, the benefits of sports for youth mental health, and what he does outside of work including volunteering at the Seattle Central District Little League. They most recently had the opportunity to officially open the Mariners season!
All in for Road Services All Hands event
What happens when more than 300 Road Services Division employees get together to learn, connect, and recharge? They roll up their sleeves at the fourth annual All Hands event, held on May 7, 2025! With teambuilding as the theme, collaboration and connection were at the heart of every activity. The Road Services Division hosts this annual daylong event to offer employees valuable professional development opportunities, help them learn more about the wide range of King County benefits, and most importantly, foster greater collaboration and connection across the team. The event draws hundreds… Read More
Facilities hosts Continuous Improvement open house
Crossposted from DES Express Facilities Management Division’s Continuous Improvement (CI) team hosted an open house last month to showcase some of their ongoing projects and initiatives. Staff at seven different tables talked about their work and highlighted upcoming changes. At one table, warehouse improvements were featured. At another, employees could try to shoot a plastic cup off a CPR dummy to win first aid supplies and prizes. Employees could learn about legislative issues and upcoming changes to validated parking at another table. Read more.
DES well represented at Women in Trades Fair
Crossposted from DES Express The annual Women in Trades Fair is an opportunity for middle and high school students and others around the region to learn more about high-paying, skilled careers in the trades, from electrician and plumber to meat packer and security guard. There are hands-on demonstrations and tables with information. Lines formed to make a desk organizer with the King County Facilities Management Division (FMD), for which FMD won a second-place ribbon this year. Folks also stood in line to “shoot the (rubber) ducks” with a water sprayer and get a free… Read More
Honoring AANHP Heritage Month
Crossposted from Metro Matters In celebration of American Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pasifika (AANHP)* Heritage Month, please join me in recognizing the cultures, histories, creativity and lasting contributions of AANHP communities who help shape the fabric of King County and our region. This month is both a celebration and an opportunity for reflection. As we honor the richness and resilience of AANHP heritage, we also recognize the ongoing impact of exclusion, discrimination and systemic racism—from the Chinese Exclusion Act to the scapegoating of Asian communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, to tragedies like the… Read More
Gone but not forgotten – Indigent Remains Ceremony 2025
Crossposted from Public Health Insider Every few years, the King County Medical Examiner’s Office (KCMEO) hosts a memorial to ensure that every King County resident is remembered. The KCMEO’s Indigent Remains Program provides burial for King County residents who have died without resources or family to claim their remains for a proper burial. The next ceremony to remember these individuals will take place on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Renton (100 Blaine Ave NE). It’s open to any member of the public who wishes to pay… Read More
Employee News 