I recently had the chance to go behind the scenes in a place I hope you will never see – behind the bars of our jail! The Pierce County Jail is made up of both the “old jail” and the “new jail” – and operates like a self-contained city. The jail has a medical facility, […]
Hold on, tomorrow needs you
Submitted by Bruce Dammeier, Executive. Last week, I went to Open Pierce County to find an answer I needed to know – but was concerned by what I would find. Last year when I had checked the Medical Examiner’s data on fatal accidental drug overdoses in Pierce County, it showed nearly one resident dying per […]
A celebratory week
By Bruce Dammeier, Executive. How many lawyers does it take to ensure our community has adequate access to legal representation? (No, that is not the lead into a joke!) The short answer is, more than we have in Pierce County today. Those of you who have lived in Pierce County for many years will remember […]
Good vibes only
Submitted by Bruce Dammeier. I stopped by yesterday’s Career Fair, and I left in such an upbeat, positive mood! The Pioneer Park Pavilion in Puyallup was the perfect setting for this year’s hiring event – it was buzzing with eager job seekers and enthusiastic County employees. The Career Fairs held in previous years have been […]
A fresh perspective
Submitted by Bruce Dammeier. Time and time again in my life I have seen the power of a fresh perspective in confronting a problem or opportunity. Asking “Why do we do it this way?” or “Have we ever considered this approach?” can be powerful catalysts for innovation. “Out of the box” (or “out of the […]
Transformation
Submitted by Bruce Dammeier, Executive. Every time I watch the news, we are confronted by stories about crime in our region. And often those crimes are fueled by addiction – which is ravaging peoples’ lives. Sadly, we rarely hear the stories of those who have taken back their lives and embarked on a new and […]
Making progress
Submitted by Bruce Dammeier. Today, we are releasing our fourth Annual DEI Report. It reflects the work many of you are doing to provide opportunities for everyone to reach their full potential. I’m proud of the progress we have made. For example, since 2017 we’ve significantly broadened opportunities in management, hired more women and veterans, […]
History in the making
Submitted by Bruce Dammeier. When we talk about various commemorative “months” or “days” we raise awareness of those who came before us. We do this to remember those who overcame great challenges and to celebrate their achievements – and sometimes – their cultural heritage. These stories inspire us and help us think beyond ourselves. The […]
Put your heart into it
Submitted by Bruce Dammeier. I’ve always said that we work with amazing people, and I recently learned about another extraordinary County employee. During the day, Kyra (O’Keefe) Smithlin is an Accounting Assistant II with the Finance Department. But the rest of her time is devoted to the American Heart Association. Once you hear her story […]