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FEBRUARY 18, 2026
VOL. 107, NO. 7
Gaps in County’s Behavioral Health 911 Response Staff Report
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BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RESPONSE GAPS Auditors found that King County has expanded alternatives to traditional law enforcement responses for behavioral health crises in recent years, including a 911 Diversion program that connects eligible callers with behavioral health professionals and social service referrals. However, the communications center does not currently have a standardized operating procedure instructing call receivers on when or how to route callers to those non-police options. Instead, deputies responding in the field are often responsible for making referrals, which auditors said can strain limited law enforcement resources. The report also noted that some behavioral health-related calls that do not involve an immediate law enforcement emergency may not receive attention, potentially missing opportunities to connect individuals with services before situations escalate. Leadership structure was also highlighted as a challenge. The communications center is overseen by a rotating captain rather than a civilian leader with specialized emergency communications experience. Auditors found that frequent transitions between captains have disrupted continuity on longer-term initiatives, including efforts to modernize crisis response protocols.
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Seahawks’ Celebration Boosts Morale, Economy Laura Marie Rivera
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ast Wednesday, the Seattle Seahawks brought championship energy back to the Pacific Northwest with a trophy presentation at Lumen Field followed by a downtown parade
that transformed Seattle into a sea of blue and green. Tens of thousands of fans filled the stadium early in the morning to celebrate the team’s Super Bowl LX victory, erupting in cheers as players took the stage and Coach Mike Macdonald lifted the coveted Lombardi Trophy before the massive home crowd. The stadium celebration felt equal parts party and heartfelt reunion. Confetti rained down as music blasted through the speakers, and players shared
laughs, gratitude, and emotional reflections about the season that led them to the top of the league. Coaches and team leaders addressed the crowd, thanking Jody Allen and the devoted “12s” whose support fueled the team throughout the year. The festivities spilled into the streets shortly after, as the parade wound its way through downtown Seattle. An estimated one million fans lined the route shoulder-toshoulder, waving flags, holding
handmade signs, and chanting as buses carrying players and staff slowly rolled past. Many athletes paused to greet supporters, snapping photos and tossing a football with those packed along the barricades. For a city deeply connected to its football team, the celebration was more than a victory lap — it was a shared moment of pride, unity, and lasting memory etched into Seattle sports history.
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Seafair Celebration Expands Year-Round Cozy, Rain-Friendly Waterfront Experience: February 21 Courtesy of Seafair
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eafair, Seattle’s signature celebration of community and maritime culture, today announced the launch of Seafair Winter by the Water, a new waterfront festival presented by the Downtown Seattle Association and in partnership with ExplorePNW. The event marks Seafair’s first major expansion beyond its traditional summer season. Winter by the Water invites residents and visitors to rediscover Seattle’s waterfront as a year-round destination combining exploration, entertainment, and local flavor in a celebration of winter in the Pacific Northwest. “Seattle winters are full of life, coziness, and connection, and we want to celebrate that,” said Emily Cantrell, President and CEO of Seafair. “Winter by the Water flips Seattle’s PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE
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SEATTLE, WA PERMIT 1271
MICHAEL J MAGEE
new audit from the King County Auditor’s Office found that while the county’s 911 Communications Center meets national standards for answering emergency calls, it lacks clear procedures for directing callers experiencing behavioral health crises to non-police resources. The report, released Tuesday, reviewed operations at the King County Sheriff’s Office 911 Communications Center from 2020 through 2025. Auditors examined how the center handles calls involving behavioral health concerns, supports vulnerable populations, and manages staffing and scheduling. King County’s 911 center fields more than 300,000 emergency calls each year and dispatches deputies serving unincorporated areas as well as 12 contract partner jurisdictions. “The Sheriff’s Office has committed to taking steps to improve service for vulnerable callers and efficiency of communications center operations in response to our audit,” King County Auditor Kymber Waltmunson said in a statement. “Increased coordination within the county and expanding options for behavioral health crises will have a positive impact for both employees and people reaching out for assistance.”
no umbrella reputation on its head and invites everyone to embrace our city’s rainsoaked magic together. It’s about community, color, and joy, even in the gray.” Participants will journey along the waterfront, collecting stamps in a Seafair Winter Passport at iconic stops that feature food, music, and experiences. Along the waterfront
route, attendees can sport a Seafair + ExplorePNW umbrella, or bring their own, to transform the promenade into a moving “Umbrella Parade.” The route concludes at Pier 66, where a live concert will serve as the festival’s finale.
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