For the first time since 2019, the Seattle Police Department has experienced a net increase in officers, hiring one more than it lost. This milestone comes as the department aims to bolster its workforce, offering starting salaries of $103,000, which Chuck Wexler, director of the Police Executive Research Forum, likened to an MLB team recruiting a star player.
Last year, the department welcomed 84 new hires, though this figure still falls short of the annual target of 120. Notably, the 83 officers who departed represent the lowest attrition rate in at least six years, a significant decrease compared to the numbers following Seattle’s major protests.
This positive shift is attributed to a surge in applications and a decline in resignations and retirements, marking a departure from the staffing challenges of recent years. The political climate surrounding police funding has also changed, with city officials eager to attract and retain officers, including those from neighboring jurisdictions.
At the state level, lawmakers are addressing the low per capita number of police officers in Washington, making public safety a bipartisan priority. Governor Bob Ferguson has proposed $100 million in funding for a local hiring grant program through Senate Bill 5060.
To facilitate recruitment, Seattle officials have streamlined testing processes and conducted prompt follow-ups with potential applicants. However, the primary allure remains the competitive salaries; Seattle’s entry-level officers are now the highest-paid in the state, aided by a new contract with the police union, which includes signing bonuses of up to $50,000 to entice returning officers.
Mayor Bruce Harrell remarked on the significance of this staffing increase, acknowledging that while progress has been made, much remains to be done. Wexler noted that this uptick in hiring is reflective of a national trend, although larger departments still face challenges.
Despite these advancements, the demographic makeup of the hiring class remains a concern, with only 15% of new hires being women, far below the department’s goal of 30%. The majority of recruits have backgrounds in the military, with over 20% having served compared to about 3% in the broader Seattle population.
In total, the department added 73 new recruits, alongside nine officers returning from previous stints with the Seattle Police Department and two who transferred from other forces. The financial incentives have been particularly appealing for those who previously left, with many returning officers capitalizing on lucrative signing bonuses from both Seattle and other departments.
Currently, the department’s strength stands at 933 officers, still shy of its peak of nearly 1,300 in 2019. However, the doubling of applications compared to last year provides a hopeful outlook for continued improvement in staffing levels.
Source: Seattle Medium
