(The Center Square) – King County Executive Shannon Braddock on Monday revealed that her proposed 2025 supplemental budget includes $26.1 million to boost King County Metro’s security efforts.
The $26.1 million would be used to increase the number of Metro Transit Police deputies by 10 to a total of 89. Calls for an improved security presence across King County Metro services arose after the tragic death of Metro bus driver Shawn Yim, who was killed on the job in December 2024.
Safety concerns led to King County Metro temporarily closing bus stops along 12th Avenue South and South Jackson Street in Seattle’s Little Saigon neighborhood due to the area being flagged as a safety concern for riders, transit operators and facilities employees.
Despite the proposed $26.1 million in proposed funding, Metro Transit Police Chief Todd Morrell said the Metro Transit Police Department does not have “a recruiting problem,” as Metro has been on a positive staffing trajectory for the past 18 months.
Morrell hints that it will be easy for the agency to reach its hiring goals due to its success in having positive officer morale.
“A recent King County employee survey showed Metro deputies were extremely satisfied and happy with their jobs,” Morrell said in a statement. “This will certainly help attract future applicants.”
Separate from Braddock’s proposed funding, Seattle is using $5 million in revenue generated by its Transportation Levy toward King County Metro’s transit security efforts this year. Both the city and county will distribute funds toward increasing the number of transit security officers that are contracted by Sound Transit.
According to a press release from the King County Executive’s Office, the number of transit security officers increased from 60 in 2021 to 220 in April 2025.
Braddock’s proposed 2025 supplemental budget was sent to the King County Council on May 29, but still has not been publicly available. The council is set to vote on the supplemental budget sometime in July.
