King County Metro will no longer facilitate requests for out-of-service buses to transport law enforcement officers. Additionally, under no circumstances will Metro provide buses to transport law enforcement to demonstrations or protests.
These decisions were not taken lightly and reflect Metro’s core mission of serving the public. Previously, Metro occasionally provided out-of-service buses to transport police officers or state troopers who were ensuring public safety at festivals, marches, and parades.
During the early days of demonstrations protesting the killing of George Floyd, Metro approved requests to make buses available on Saturday, May 30 and Monday, June 1. The transported officers were from Metro Transit Police, the Seattle Police Department, the police departments of nearby jurisdictions, and the Washington State Patrol. At no point during the demonstrations did Metro transport arrested protesters.
The unprecedented frequency, duration, and scope of the requests during the demonstrations quickly became operationally unsustainable for Metro. As such, Metro informed the Seattle Police Department on June 3 that it was no longer in a position to facilitate these requests directly. At that time, we requested that law enforcement entities instead direct these requests to the County’s Emergency Operations Center. This streamlined requests, while still allowing for the potential of Metro’s involvement if public safety demanded, such as following an earthquake.
More recently, however, Metro has considered more broadly the appropriate relationship between a transit agency and law enforcement. At Metro, we are guided by King County’s Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan, we follow the direction of the Equity Cabinet’s Mobility Framework to prioritize service to areas of highest need, and we are dedicated to dismantling racism. We redoubled that commitment following the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many others by police.
However, our conversations and reflections in recent days remind us of the role that law enforcement has played historically in our nation and continues to represent for many within the communities we are most called to serve. It is within that frame that Metro strengthens its June 3 statement by clarifying that, under no circumstances including through the County’s Emergency Operations Center, will we provide buses to law enforcement traveling to demonstrations or protests.
While we are grateful to Metro Transit Police and other law enforcement partners for continuing to keep our passengers and employees safe, it is not appropriate for a transit agency to deliver high numbers of law enforcement officers to a demonstration or protest.
While this is just one step, we continue to work with community to build awareness of our past, disrupt our present, and work toward a more equitable future.
Moving forward together,
Rob Gannon
General Manager, King County Metro
Not supporting the citizens of King County by assisting police with security services – is a negative move for Metro. They want to look liberal and please the violent mobs – alas, The sheer number of King County voters and taxpayers that are now traumatized – and identifying as victims of property crimes, vandalism, assault & battery – crimes committed by these violent protesters – most of whom do not vote or pay taxes in the county – will come to the front of the next request for money.
Thank you, Metro. I am so happy to hear this. Peaceful protests don’t need buses full if cops rolling up ready to incite violence. This makes me feel more safe. Truly, thank you. <3
The violence is there before the cops. Use your head!
Irresponsible. When a Metro bus driver gets attacked don’t call the police. Remember (quote) the role that law enforcement has played historically in our nation (/quote). Who are you going to call? The police department that has historically kept peace in Seattle? Or?
And you must reduce the property tax I just paid to King County.
Since Metro won’t transport the police to demonstrations, will the SPD no longer enforce the law on Metro? Hello Wild West.
A poor decision by Metro.
Metro is disgraceful!
Shameful.
What an idiot
Seems a lot of these commenters are under the impression that police are no longer allowed on Metro’s buses at all. Reading comprehension! Try it out.
Point out the post that demonstrates what you claim. I bet you can’t.
It’s literally the first sentence:
> King County Metro will no longer facilitate requests for out-of-service buses to transport law enforcement officers. Additionally, under no circumstances will Metro provide buses to transport law enforcement to demonstrations or protests.
Metro is an embarrassment! We’d like our tax money back. Support Law Enforcement!
I’d like my tax payer money back then!
So Metro is a political organization rather than a service and transportation organization. Got it.
Disgusting. What a cop out….. no pun intended.
Can’t we have a vote on this…. by the taxpayers that pay for the buses AND the pathetic general manager’s salary. Not just the socialist rioters living in tents
screaming my way or else. Time to crack down on these brick throwing fire starting activists. Peaceful protest my arse. You crazy communists may not realize it but you are vastly outnumbered. You want a civil war? Be careful what you ask for.
You Slavers and “Se-Cesh”want a re-match? Because there’s a good chance that next time, it’ll be the turn of Abraham Lincoln and those hundreds of thousands of soldiers, black and white, many of them Southerners, who took down the traitors to finally get what they PRAYED for.
Only this time, Union troops won’t come out until slavery’s really dead, and not just left to smell that way while it re-groups, like happened last time. This morning’s word to my Senate and my Congress is to get that correctional mention out of the Thirteenth Amendment. Slavery gets washed out of my Bill of Rights with blood if no vaccine’s available.
“No more auction block for me, MANY THOUSAND GONE!” At least we’ll finally have an Anthem the average football fan can sing.
Mark Dublin
Take another toke and sit back down Mark Dublin
(Not your real name)
Disgusting. What a cop out….. no pun intended.
Can’t we have a vote on this…. by the taxpayers that pay for the buses AND the pathetic general manager’s salary. Not just the socialist rioters living in tents screaming my way or else. Time to crack down on these brick throwing fire starting activists. Peaceful protest my arse. You crazy communists may not realize it but you are vastly outnumbered. You want a civil war? Be careful what you ask for.
Weak….SPD has saved your asses so many times. Think back to the driver who was shot last summer. Who came to rescue? SPD. SHAME ON YOU METRO!
This is a after affect like more crooks use in defense of their underhanded decisions. In order to stop something that was once rolling it had to have been ok’d the start a motion in the first place. The insulting part of King Counties so called management is that they truly believe that the working people who keep them paid are idiots but in light has only proved just the opposite. I feel there should be a complete removal of the current head of staff. Starting any where you want just get rid of them all.
this that and the other… weak ass lay up Rob Gannon
Truly a terrible knee jerk reaction that only serves to make Seattle less safe. I’m deeply disappointed.
Bravo!
thats fucked up. when you need police, maybe they wont respond to your emergency. what goes around, comes around. shame on you Metro.
Or maybe they will just transport you to jail as a token of respect to the ones that were the victims of the brutality that you just do not seem or want to understand. Trusting privileged person living in your own bubble.
Tell me what your mean in words that even YOU can understand.
Will y’all continue to provide KC Metro VanPool Vans?
Yes!! Happy see this!
This is a good example of a public agency taking actions that sound good in the moment for public relations but do little to change the culture of our public agencies that support systemic racism.
Metro contracts with the King County Sheriff to provide police services for King County Metro. Taking actions that are aligned to the goals of dismantling racism is about taking a deep hard look at the organizational culture of policing and creating a plan for an alternative approach to public safety.
If Metro wants to really make a meaningful change that requires examining the relationship with the King County Sheriff and how changing that relationship can support both the goals of effective security on Metro buses and also the goals of dismantling systemic racism that are ingrained in police culture including the King County Sheriff.
There is a bigger picture here and the fact is Metro does a mediocre job at providing a safe and secure environment for the public and for bus drivers. If Metro is willing to take a hard look at creating change then that must start with examining the agencies own relationship with law enforcement and rethinking how public safety goals can be accomplished by alternatives that could do something to increase safety on buses while also supporting goals that aligned with Metro’s Equity and Social Justice goals.
more word salad that mean absolutely nothing.
I support you and Metro, Rob. Well done and thank you on behalf of the citizens of KC and Seattle.
What a pandering, cowardly crock. Are you afraid your buses and property may be damaged? Are you afraid that your flaming liberal population will ridicule you for providing a public service during emergencies. Are you no longer a community partner? Do you really believe that your cowardice will serve you well? Do you realize that what you have demonstrated to these terrorists is how Eakins and vulnerable you are?what you should realize is that you are now part of the problem. Congratulations!!!
Stupid this is like telling the state to stay out of your city
Its all public funded services they should all be working together for the greater good of everyone.
#tryingtobewoke
Won’t fix the problem, makes you a sell out and it’s completely undignified. Police officers are citizens too. You are part of the problem. I guess I’ll be Ubering from now on.
You know they’re still allowed to ride the bus right? Now they just have to wait at a bus stop and pay the fare like every other citizen who rides the bus. I’m having trouble understanding what is controversial about that.
Will this apply to Fare Enforcement and to other Securitas personnel?
Police aren’t banned from riding the bus. As stated in the first paragraph, metro is no longer acting as a private taxi service for police. They have to wait at a bus stop with the rest of us, and pay the fare with the rest of us. As they should.
> King County Metro will no longer facilitate requests for out-of-service buses to transport law enforcement officers. Additionally, under no circumstances will Metro provide buses to transport law enforcement to demonstrations or protests.
Rob, you’re an arrogant, ignorant POS. How dare you slap the police in the face in the middle of all this domestic terrorist activity.
You got the arrogant and idiot part right but the other things are a crock.
One Eye, we need to drug test you before you come on here next time.