King County Metro beefs up security after fatal bus shooting in White Center

October 09, 2023 / 5:01 pm

caption: A King County Metro bus on 12th Ave S at S Jackson St on route to White Center.

King County Metro is beefing up security after a recent fatal shooting on a bus in White Center that left one person dead.

“While this was a tragic incident, it was an isolated incident," said Al Sanders with King County Metro. "It's rare, and we're grateful that no one else was was injured."

Still, Metro is responding by adding two teams of security officers to ride the Rapid Ride H bus line for the “foreseeable future.” The agency will accomplish this by transferring four security officers from other areas to patrol this line. Sanders said that the security will be there to protect riders and bus drivers.

“Their job is to drive the bus," he said. "If there are things that involve law enforcement or transit security officers, there are steps and procedures they can take to make sure that those people who can enforce and can enact, get there as quickly as possible.”

The shooting on a metro bus also happened days after another mass transit incident, when a man assaulted riders with a hammer at a Sound Transit train station.

Sanders notes that there is a difference between security officers and Metro Transit Officers. Security is employed by Metro and officers are unarmed. There are about 140 security personnel on the job with Metro. There are also Metro Transit Officers, who are part of the King County Sheriff's Office and are armed.

"Metro currently has 200 security staff across our system between the Metro Transit Police and our ... security officers," Sanders said. "They are spread throughout our system. They give a presence wherever they are assigned."

"The H line, we are adding security; security is put where it is needed. If there are issues that have come up, that is where they will put the transit safety officers and also the Metro Transit Police."

Sanders said that passengers should always be aware of their surroundings and if they are not feeling safe, they can contact the driver. In case of an emergency, they can call 911 or call the non-emergency number at 206-296-3311.