King County Metro mourns one of our own, lost too soon
A loyal friend. A kind and thoughtful operator. A devoted husband.
Metro Operator Shawn Yim was all these things and more. Yim, 59, was killed in the line of duty on Dec. 18.
Thousands of Metro and other King County employees, staff from transit agencies around the Northwest and Canada, dignitaries and members of the public participated in a citywide procession and attended the memorial service that followed. It was hosted by Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 587 at the Lumen Field WAMU Theater.
Love and support from around the Northwest
Under grey drizzling skies, the procession of more than 100 buses and transit vehicles stretched nearly a mile along Fourth Avenue in downtown Seattle in tribute to Yim prior to the memorial. In addition to Metro and other Puget Sound agencies, some came from as far away as British Columbia, Grays Harbor County, Portland, Spokane, Skagit and Whatcom counties. The coaches, driven side by side, were filled with mourners. Shop trucks, Metro Access vehicles, vintage coaches, police and Sheriff cars, and Seattle Fire Department trucks joined the procession.
“Today, we gather to honor Shawn Yim, a frontline public servant, colleague and one of our own,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “My thoughts are with Shawn’s family and his King County Metro family during this impossibly difficult time.”
An electronic sign on an Island Transit coach in the procession read “We remember Shawn Yim.” On Intercity Transit bus from Olympia: “Brother Shawn Yim.”
“Today, we’re all Shawn,” said Metro Transit Operator David Herman.
Onlookers lined downtown streets, holding signs and waving in support as the procession passed by.
King County Metro Transit Police cars helped lead the procession, each bearing Yim’s name and operator number of 21882 across their rear windshields.
Emotional remembrances from friends and coworkers
“On Dec. 18, we lost Operator Shawn Yim. It was one of the worst mornings, the worst days in Metro history,” Metro General Manager Michelle Allison said during the service. “He was an extraordinary person, a person of high moral values who believed in right and wrong.”
“I do think that Shawn would have been so proud of you all these last three weeks,” Allison said. “He would have seen your kindness, your professionalism, and your love for one another. I saw it firsthand that morning and I have seen it every day since.”
Latrelle Gibson, recording secretary for ATU 587 and master of ceremonies for the memorial, said the Yim family is not alone in their grief.
“Shawn was a very kind person who could brighten your day with just a simple greeting,” Gibson said. “He embodied the spirit of the community he served. He was a true joy to work alongside, and he will be deeply missed.”
Thank you for your outpouring of love and support
On behalf of everyone at King County Metro, thank you to everyone who attended the memorial, procession and who carries Shawn Yim in their hearts at this difficult time. Please thank your bus operator for all they do to keep our community connected.
Special thanks to our transit agency partners who attended and sent buses to participate in the procession:
C-Tran (Vancouver, Wash.), Community Transit, Everett Transit, Grays Harbor Transit, Island Transit, Intercity Transit (Olympia), Kitsap Transit, Mason Transit Authority, MEHVA, Pierce Transit, Skagit Transit, Sound Transit, Spokane Transit, TriMet, Unifor, and the Whatcom Transportation Authority.
You just can’t beat a tragedy to bring pontificating politicians out of their caves.
Following the on-the-job murder of King County Metro Transit Operator Shawn Yim, it’s more empty words, from Metro Manager Michelle Allison and County Executive Dow Constantine.
I was a Metro Transit Operator for sixteen years, 2001-2017. I was assaulted four times by drunk, high, and mentally ill passengers. Early in my Metro career, I became aware that neither Metro nor King County cared about the safety and security problems on the buses, except for their opportunity to discipline drivers and their need to avoid civil lawsuits.
Calling for help often meant justifying or defending the right to ask, hearing from the control center, “What is this? Another fare dispute?”. Hitting the emergency alarm and waiting forty minutes for a response. Fight on the bus, no response at all. I could go on. Feel free to go through my file.
Operator Shawn Yim, so he could care for his children, drove in danger every night, when Metro Police and supervisors are running skeleton crews.
Save a life? Save a buck? Pick your priorities. Metro did.
My condolences to the Shawn Yim family. It is not acceptable that our transit drivers can be hurt while working. Protective, bullet proof, drivers cubicles are the STANDARD for metropolitan areas. There are simply too many people in the United States who have access to guns. I am very sorry Shawn had to die in order for that change to happen at King County Metro Transit. PEACE.
My thoughts and prayers are for Shawn Yim Family this was another sad time and for our Bus drivers who have to deal with these sick people They are colleges too I work for King County and I’ve road buses that have had weird people they scare me too I’ve been riding buses for over 30 years and I heard about Mark that got shot in the head I’m getting more scared these day then the day I started here
Metro employees were made to take sick/vacation or leave without pay, to attend the service
I send my sincere condolences to Shawn’s Yims family & Friends may you RIP , Local 819 New Jersey Transit
My prayers go out to Shawn yims family and friends and all of metro this is a sad time for us all to loose such a kind and gentle man. He will be missed by all.
I am so very sorry for Shawn’s family and friends and for whole community of transit workers. Thank you for your service to helping us get around town.