Maddie White

Unionized security officers working in the Seattle area have authorized a strike over wage disputes. SEATTLE — Nearly 5,000 security officers across King County — stationed at the airport, on public transit, and in local tech companies — are preparing for a possible strike, according to their union. Leaders of SEIU6, the union representing the workers, warn that a strike could have serious consequences for public safety, particularly on Seattle-area transit systems.  “It’s workers that kind of go unnoticed, right? And unseen... until you need them,” said Greg Ramirez, deputy director of SEIU6. Ramirez said officers’ responsibilities go beyond monitoring, often putting them in the position of de-escalating dangerous situations. He pointed to a deadly incident last December, when Metro bus driver Shawn Yim was fatally stabbed while on duty. “If one of our folks would have been there...” Ramirez said, adding, “Our members, a lot of times act like first responders.” At the center of the labor dispute is pay. On Friday, union members unanimously voted to reject the latest employer proposal, which included a 30-cent raise in the first year.  “That’s not even a 1.5% increase,” Ramirez said. The median salary for a security officer in King County is less than $55,000, according to a bargaining survey by SEIU6. Union officials note that local living costs far exceed that.  “You need to make $92,000 in King County to have a one-bedroom apartment,” Ramirez said, referring to the National Low Income Housing Coalition's 2024 Out of Reach report. At SEIU6 headquarters, members wrote messages on a whiteboard explaining their “no” vote. One read, “I put my life on the line every day and my pay should reflect that.” Another said, “I vote no to support my sisters and brothers.” PalAmerican, one of seven employers in contract talks with the union, provides security services for King County Metro and Sound Transit. Ramirez said public transit riders should be concerned about the potential fallout if an agreement isn’t reached. PalAmerican has not yet not responded to KING 5's request for comment. On its website, CEO Ashley Cooper states that the company’s “employees are at the heart of [their] success.” Ramirez said the union and employers are scheduled to return to the bargaining table Sept. 18. “We’re looking to get back to the table at least by then, if not sooner,” he said. “But again, if those talks are not fruitful... then the next step is having a strike at the end of this month.” The implications, Ramirez warned, would be immediate. “It’s really about what it would mean to not have security throughout King County,” he said. “If those folks aren’t on the job, it’s going to have a real impact.”

People working at GoldBoyz in downtown Puyallup shared surveillance video with KING 5 that shows a driver crashing head-on into a moving, occupied police car. PUYALLUP, Wash. — Friday night marked the end of what law enforcement refers to as the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer,” a period notorious for a spike in fatal crashes. But in downtown Puyallup, a routine DUI stop turned into a dramatic and dangerous incident that left witnesses stunned and police grateful no lives were lost. Paris Ryan, who works near the scene, said the aftermath was hard to ignore when he arrived at work Saturday morning. “Came to work today with a little bit of a different scene — a sign on the ground, cone by the sidewalk, spray paint on the concrete,” he said. “Was a little bit confused about what happened.” Surveillance footage from GoldBoyz Auto Sales, across the street, would soon provide answers. “Super scary,” Ryan said. The video shows a police cruiser driving into frame from the left side of the screen — and on the right, a wrong-way driver. They crashed head-on. Puyallup police said officers had been searching for the suspect moments before the crash. Authorities believe the driver intentionally rammed the police vehicle, which burst into flames. Smoke can be seen billowing from the cruiser. Inside were an officer and a K-9 unit — both escaped unharmed, according to the department. “Oh, good, that’s good. They weren’t hurt. Wow,” Ryan reacted. Police told KING 5 the driver was a convicted felon, and they believe the situation could have ended far worse. According to officers, the pursuit began when the suspect was spotted driving the wrong way on a one-way street in downtown Puyallup. “We get a ton of people from all across the country that come up here for the Washington State Fair,” said Ryan. “So yeah, it’s a pretty high-traffic area.” Ryan, who works at a neighboring Ford dealership, recognized the model involved. “That’s an Explorer. Ford Explorer? Oh yeah,” he said, adding, “Good thing for their Interceptors being such, such durable vehicles.” He credited that same model, a Ford Police Interceptor, for shielding both the officer and K-9 from serious harm. “There’s a reason why they use them,” Ryan said. No further injuries were reported. The suspect was booked into the Pierce County Jail, and his car was seized. Officers said they believe they saw drugs, guns and ammunition inside.

A woman from Sequim is encouraging people to wear life jackets on the water after her son drowned while kayaking near the Dungeness Spit. SEQUIM, Wash. — As families across western Washington enjoy a long weekend by the water, one grieving mother is hoping her son’s story will serve as a reminder: water safety can mean the difference between life and death. Michele Duncan recently built a memorial bench in her backyard for her son, 21-year-old Ty Bradley Coone, who drowned in May while kayaking near the Dungeness Spit. “I know my son is in a beautiful place,” Duncan said. “He was a light… always a light for everybody.” Duncan learned this weekend of several recent drownings and near-drownings across the region — incidents that struck a deeply personal chord. “Safety first. I cannot emphasize that enough,” Duncan said. Coone’s death was a sudden and tragic turn. What began as a routine day on the water turned deadly when conditions changed. “It can turn on you in a minute, and that’s obviously what happened that day,” Duncan said. “Ty did not plan to go out and have high winds come up, and it became a small craft advisory… and it took his life.” She hopes others fully understand the potential dangers that can arise on the water. “He was fit, he was strong, and Mother Nature doesn’t play favors on who you are, or how old you are," said Duncan. First responders echoed that message. “We’ve had three accidents. These all could have been prevented,” said Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy Carly Cappetto, adding that she's never seen a drowning victim who was wearing a life jacket. “It really shows that wearing a life jacket can save lives." Labor Day weekend typically marks the start of some of the warmest water temperatures of the year in western Washington — drawing swimmers, kayakers and paddle boarders out in large numbers. But officials say that’s exactly why extra caution is needed. Paddle sports have seen a surge in popularity. Yet, according to a Washington State Parks report, paddle sport deaths have increased 28% in the last decade. With more people expected to head out for water activities during the warmer months, authorities are reminding paddlers to wear life jackets, avoid going out alone and be aware of water temperatures. A beachgoer at Lake Sammamish State Park shared her reaction with KING 5 after learning that the day before, a pair or kayakers or canoers accidentally fell into the water and were hospitalized.  “It’s a shame,” said Pam Brown. “There’s lots of issues with water safety and people not wearing their life jackets.” Some parents at the beach Sunday enforced their own rules. “You just never know, especially with power boats and waves,” said Tanya Edden, who said she always makes her children wear life jackets, even amid pushback. “We just have a standard: when you’re on the lake, you wear the life jacket. It doesn’t always go down well… sometimes we just have to be, ‘Sorry, we’re just being the parent.’” Those are the kinds of actions Duncan hopes more families will take seriously. “Know that it can only take one second for you to make the wrong mistake,” Duncan said. “And that will be the mistake that will change your life and everybody else’s life forever.” The reminders come after an alarming weekend in Western Washington, with three separate water incidents leaving two dead and two hospitalized. In addition to the Lake Sammamish State Park incident, a 43-year-old man drowned at Gene Coulon Beach Park while reportedly trying to evade police after a suspicious vehicle report. Also, in Pierce County, a 55-year-old man drowned in Lake Tapps on Saturday. Witnesses say he was found floating face down, and investigators are working to learn whether he suffered a medical emergency related to his diabetes. “Safety is so important,” Duncan said. “A life jacket will make a difference between whether you live or you die.” To learn more about water safety, visit this American Red Cross webpage.