If you haven’t heard by now, King 5 News has uncovered- and shared with all of us- a video taken in the Metro tunnel at Seattle’s Westlake station. Watch it here.
The majority of those who have seen the video are shocked and disturbed by what plays out before them.
The question which immediately jumps to mind: Why did Metro security do nothing?
Well, according to Metro, that is what the security guards are trained to do- nothing. They are not to intervene in such incidents, they are to “observe and report.”
But, observe and report doesn’t seem to quite cover it, does it?
From King 5 News:
The video clearly shows that all of this is taking place right in front of three security guards. They are well marked with bright yellow jackets that have SECURITY written on the back. While the victim is on the ground getting punched, the guards immediately reach for their radios and call for help, but they do little else.
Since our tax dollars pay the salaries of these guards, (via a contracted agency- yeah privatized security) I think we should be the ones to decide if what they’re doing is worth it or not.
Nope- not worth it. If their job is to observe and report, they should not be called security guards. They should obviously be called observers and reporters- that just seems like a no brainer. But security guards? No. That would be an inaccurate description.
I think we’d all like to know what else has been observed and reported by metro security, in the tunnel or anywhere else for that matter. What else have they’ve just sat by and watched happen? And if that video was caught on five different security cameras, why on earth do we need observers and reporters in the first place? They might as well sit in front of an array of video screens and just watch the camera feeds all day, and report what they see. No need for them to waste time actually walking around.
To call them “security guards” but then give them duties that don’t actually fit the title is ridiculous. Why are we wasting money on this contract? It’s utterly pointless.
Now everyone knows that Metro security isn’t actually on the job to prevent or deter crime- just to observe it. Doesn’t that strike anyone as…problematic?
The head of the division says the matter is under review. King County Exec. Dow Constantine took a step further and ordered and official review; this has turned into a major incident, and we’ve not heard the last of it for some time to come.
My opinion: There shouldn’t be people walking around in uniforms calling themselves security guards if they aren’t prepared to respond to security incidents as they happen.
And on the human side, I don’t know how anyone- on the clock or not- could stand by and watch some punk ass kids beat the crap out of someone.
As for the county- the law suit is coming. Period. liability is glaring in this case, because it’s all about the expectations of a “reasonable person”. A “reasonable person” would expect that if a person was wearing a jacket that said ’security’ on it, they do so because if something happens, they are they ones to step in and do something .
The video doesn’t lie.
Related posts:
- Pt 2: King County Animal Control- Shelter to CLOSE A few weeks ago I wrote a post about...
- King County Animal Control: A True Story This is the true story of a family that...
- King County to Residents: Dam… Most of us don’t know diddly about the Green...
- Pt 2: King County to Residents- Dam… I have been meaning to post this for WELL...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Sable Verity is a reporter and commentator based in Seattle who covers social and political issues for KBCS Radio and a number of online and print news outlets. All of this is her fault. 
I have been thinking about this all day. I am mad at the girl who beat the young woman (and her lame ass friends who apparently were there for the show), dumbfounded that the "security guards" offered no security, and disgusted with Metro and King County who have perpetrated a fraud on the citizens.
The saddest thing to me about this video is that the girl was clearly looking for protection from the "security" guards before she was assaulted. She walked to them hoping that they would deter and protect her from her assailants. Any reasonable person would assume that security guards are there to deter and stop crime. To find out the opposite is true is appalling.
What are these security guards responsible for that video surveillance cameras don't do? What an incredible waste of taxpayer money and what an incredible fraud perpetrated by Metro on the public that it is pretending to protect.
Okay, so the "security guards" did what they were supposed to do. Now that we see how inadequate their charge is, will it change? Is there anyone in authority saying "Yeah, that sucked. We're going to change the instructions to the 'security guards' and direct them to intervene in situations like this in future." But I'm not hearing that. I'm not hearing anyone in the County say that they are in any way dissatisfied with this standard of performance. That's what concerns me.
Even under the restrictions of their contract to – not – get involved, couldn't the guard used their bodies and protected her? I know, sounds absurd, as ridiculous as having people with security vests who are paid to do nothing. What I'm waiting for is more information on why SPD refused to help in Macy's. Police are empowered to pull you over without cause, but can tell you to leave a store when you ask for help? Their statement tries to absolve them with the angle that Steward-Baker didn't make her needs known. What part about asking for help didn't they understand?