Urgent action is needed to address Seattle police staffing shortage, councilmembers say

With the police department at its lowest staffing level in approximately 30 years, several Seattle City Council members said their top priority is increasing police department staffing and that urgent action needs to be taken.
The Seattle City Council Public Safety Committee received an update on March 12 about police recruitment and retention from the Seattle Public Safety Civil Service Commission and the Seattle Police Department (SPD).
"I think if rock bottom was ever a thing, we are probably here" said District 1 councilmember Rob Saka.
The Seattle Police Department has lost more than 700 officers in the past five years and is at its lowest staffing level since the 1990s. Currently, the department has 913 actively working police officers.
“This council is extremely worried about staffing levels,” said Seattle City Council president and citywide councilmember Sara Nelson.
READ MORE: www.king5.com/article/news/lo...

[@abelcompany1556]

Oh now they are worried 😂

[@wreckloosecibblecaboot]

Yup it's the city council's fault. Now they cry wolf. Go figure

[@abelcompany1556]

@@wreckloosecibblecaboot I'm so surprised 🤯

[@stevecanyon4577]

You treat the police like garbage they go somewhere else.

[@betetete6072]

police are do nothings here. have been for decades

[@dapug24]

@@betetete6072 your grammer says they tried and yall were pissy, hateful, and got what you wanted.

[@betetete6072]

@@dapug24 hey every one a grammer cuck has comminted

[@TheGrafford]

I mean they are garbage though

[@TheGrafford]

"Ya'll" blah blah blah Grammer. You're an actual moron

[@chrisgunsandguitars1403]

So Seattle is concerned about the shortage they created. That’s like taking credit for bringing prices down that you drove up!

[@mrm3152]

1900 applications in 2023 and hired only 61- what a joke

[@user-ts7ns7bt2v]

1900 applicants? Many better “departments” get 40,000 applications for 100+ jobs. Best of luck

[@Alex-ih9lc]

You get what you vote for

[@betetete6072]

cool

[@michaelhayes3627]

Looks like the department is purposely turning applicants down.

[@iMatti00]

I understand what you’re saying and I agree with a lot of it, but this is what happens when elected officials have not insured that the Police Dept would be held accountable and the police department has not insured that their officers would be held accountable. The police to be held accountable as much as they hold citizens accountable. That too often that has not happened. And for those reasons people now are furious and not trusting.

[@Alex-ih9lc]

@@iMatti00 I believe sensationalized media convinced most people not to trust officers, not the officers themselves which is crazy. Also what’s the point in teaching adults approaching their deathbed-… yet abandoning the kids… who will be the next generation of cops? So stupid our society eh?

[@timothyrobinson7913]

The city didn't want police anymore, so stop crying about it.

[@ttmax9109]

Its not barriers! It support and respect! City of seattle deos not allow them to do their job.

[@wreckloosecibblecaboot]

Ikr. It's like getting hired to be a waiter but doing bus duties. The city council screwed up. Smh big lesson they hopefully will learn from in the future 25 yrs from now.

[@wreckloosecibblecaboot]

seattle police will never be the way is was anymore. So get used to it. Its not even worth being a cop in WA.!

[@jodylancaster8706]

Sad, but true. No amount of hiring bonus is going to help. Seattle, you did this to yourself.

[@scottelkinsmedia]

Aren’t these the same folks that spear headed defending the cops?

[@FlintYeastwood]

Except Seattle never actually defunded the police. SPD just reallocated funds. The SPD never loss any funding. Some smaller low level departments like Traffic and parking enforcement were defunded and those funds were used elsewhere within SPD. The idea that SPD was “defunded” is kinda false.

[@deanrobertoleson4669]

The solution by the same people who caused the problem? Again.

[@DC90X]

Maybe judges can stop releasing violent offenders back to the street so police don't risk their lives for absolutely nothing 🤷‍♂️

[@rick-ug3rd]

cops have one of the safest jobs that exist.

[@EricaGamet]

They didn't explain why out of 1900 applicants only 62 were hired. Was that all they had budgeted for? Did applicants not like the low pay (in relation to other cities)? A little more info would be good... and a larger budget for new hires.

[@Brexin212]

As a previous applicant to other police departments in the state, I can say that its likely that most candidates don't get in because of the background investigation. Pass the background but get an inconclusive on the polygraph because you are nervous, you're out... Pass the PT tests but Dont pass the physical exam, you're out... Not enough of your references take the time to fill out the hour long questionnaire on you... you're out... Pass the mental exam, but the background investigator doesn't like your personality... you're out. The standard at which the departments use to hire candidates has never changed, so as less people are interested in being an officer these days, the number of people who meet the bar decrease, and less get hired. They shoot themselves in their own feet (the departments) and sit and complain that they are short staffed, but don't adjust any part of their hiring process. Im sorry, but its hard to feel bad for them... I dont.

[@JBryan352]

@@Brexin212 More or less this was my experience. I'll continue on elsewhere.

[@user-ts7ns7bt2v]

Pay is high Would you like hiring just any guy who shows up? Hmm. Seems like you legit ruined it.

[@JBryan352]

Applied, got to the background process - Not selected due to not having enough references. Though I provided approximately 6 or so. 🤷‍♂Just shedding light on this topic. Seeing as this is the norm through out the entire nation. "Help help help" though deny deny deny. Also clear background, etc. I currently work in law enforcement - Was just looking for something different.

[@xxrkg8437]

are you white?

[@snowscout1018]

Can't blame anyone from not wantitng to work for the SPD. They are hated in the community, They are hated by the mayor, They are hated by the counsel, they are hated by the governor...why would you want to work for a horrible city with a horrible crime policy. Hat's off to the officers still on the job, Don't blame a single one of them for walking off the job.

[@TheGrafford]

They could try not to be a plague on the community they're policing. They've never tried it yet and it might just work

[@deplorablechump8758]

It’s not the money. It’s the support from the city and the DA office to stop demonizing them and start prosecuting criminals.

[@scottelkinsmedia]

Next thing they’ll say is less training putting more pinheaded folks in uniform

[@higrnd]

Cincinnati implemented a defunded department protocol reducing staffing during "low activity" period and limiting service calls to "active emergency" calls. It is the opinion of many concerned that this will become the model for major cities in the near future.

[@pamallinder3287]

The problems are in Seattle. They need to be paid the higher

[@greenmonkey7305]

All the cop hating from the riots up to now has done nothing but skyrocket salaries. At the department that I worked at for years the maximum top pay was $73,000 in 2016. As of last year it’s now $127k. Cop hating has radically skyrocketed wages well into the $50ish dollar per hour pay scale. And this is just here in staunch conservative Texas where most people support the police.

[@SE-fm2nw]

Why be a Seattle Officer? You can be a Bellevue mall cop or Redmond Microsoft cop for way more money and not be treated like garbage by the city, the people in the city, and the crazies running I.A.

[@mvcharisma2968]

Umm y’all wanted to abolish the system remember?? This is what you get

[@trailerhaul8200]

I thought diversity and inclusion will make it better?

[@pamallinder3287]

Ive spoken to other police in other areas. Change the rules. Allow police to be police

[@user-ts7ns7bt2v]

Nobody’s coming anytime soon. Sorry bout that

[@wl6020]

Kent cops get paid good plus much lower cost of living. I guess to be a seattle cop, its the name, and its probably better for career advancement due to the name, as in moving on to fbi, cia, us marshalls, or bigger city like NYC or LA. Its much harder to apply for something bigger if you are a kent cop, which nationwide no one knows.

[@pamallinder3287]

All of the restraint on police seattle. Police don't want to come to seattle

[@pamallinder3287]

What a giggle. It got to be a mess a long time ago. Now they can't correct it

[@butchgriggs6325]

No accountability equals fewer cops

[@benjaminthe1st]

It's NOT just the funding, it's the way the city council and key leadership have kept police from policing. My neighbor left Seattle for King County during the exit... Money is influential but if you are going to disrespect the police from leadership levels what do you expect? If you were looking at starting your tenure today why would you believe that this city isn't going to go back to old habits of voting for people who then make Cops lives harder, and underpay them??? I don't have a blue stripe flag, I know that it's not a job I'd want to do.... but the problem isn't just money... it's a symptom.

[@JYDIVISN]

Robocop

[@user-zt9ws2dz4c]

I thought they were all about defunding the police and add more social workers 😂

[@pamallinder3287]

Absolutely

[@boblee3132]

I guess they accomplished the goal of defunding. Unfortunately they are now living with the results.

[@colbystensland2508]

I suppose the military is the only way

[@JUNGLESTRIKEOFDOOM]

You wanted FTP, you got FTP @Seattle liberals.

[@ChrisRuckSRC]

Back the Blue. Create a Reserve unit.

[@Charmcity199]

They have “limited value”

[@mercedeswilliams8193]

This. That quote is stuck in my brain. He got away with no repercussions for that. Disgusting

[@Charmcity199]

@@mercedeswilliams8193it’s just the tip of the iceberg on what they get away with. One lawsuit cost us millions when a cop shot a man in the face while he was holding his toddler and while he was surrendering. The cop should be in prison but he’s not.

[@krakatoainc2809]

Kent is the best force in the state. If you are a criminal, stay out of Kent.

[@mr.fantasticbaby1831]

Ummmmmm..ok 😂 u don’t know nothing about criminal s activities in Kent areas it’s everywhere

[@zachjohnson4530]

Connor is cute

[@FarahAbdul]

Well I am a law abiding citizen and believe me I enjoy very much the less officers the better and also on the other hand those who break the law a lot enjoy it even more. It wasn't long ago when something very simple happens 6 police officers who have nothing to do will show up to a traffic stop any if I remember clearly they were starting to wear SWAT team uniforms perhaps leftover blackwater uniforms. Officers are supposed to be part of the community not behave like Chinese military police

[@greenmonkey7305]

You havent the absolute slightest clue as to what you’re talking about. You’re just another whiny citizen aimlessly babbling nonsense based off of no actual law enforcment experience or knowledge of the occupation. You’re the exact type of person who would reap what they sow if push came to shove from being an idiot.

[@johnber994]

We just need Kshama Sawant back.

[@blade3399]

Wait, wasn’t this the same city that literally defunded Seattle Police. Who would want to work here?

[@justinhopkins1947]

lol no they did not

[@greenmonkey7305]

@@justinhopkins1947The fck they did not. The city council had an entire council majority vote on defunding the police department and the police union prohibited them from doing it.

[@higrnd]

Cincinnati implemented a defunded department protocol reducing staffing during "low activity" period and limiting service calls to "active emergency" calls. It is the opinion of many concerned that this will become the model for major cities in the near future.