SEATTLE, WA- The mayor of the “woke” city Seattle, Bruce Harrel, just announced a creative and expensive plan to attract and hire more police officers to fill a critical shortage of officers throughout the city.
According to Seattle’s official recruiting and retention plan:
“Over the past two-and-a-half years, the loss of more than 400 police officers has depleted the Seattle Police Department (SPD) to the point where essential services cannot be delivered promptly and effectively.
As of May 2022, the number of trained and deployable officers — just 954 — is the lowest in over 30 years.”
That’s what you get when you label the police the enemy.
Since the George Floyd incident, Seattle has been a leading authority on the ‘defund the police’ movement and ultra-left-wing ideological concepts.
The disastrous CHOP/ CHAZ neighborhood of 2020 only proved that without a law enforcement presence, criminals will take over.
Since Seattle became the self-proclaimed leading authority in police reform and targeting of law enforcement, swarms of police officers have turned in their bag and moved on.
These resignations included both new, younger recruits, the most senior veteran officers able to retire, and everyone in between.
Now Seattle is scrambling to hire cops.
Mayor Harrel announced in a press conference that they intend to offer hefty monetary incentives to attract new recruits.
ICYMI: @MayorofSeattle & Chief @AdrianZDiaz discuss details of the new #OneSeattle recruitment and retention plan at @SeattlePD. Watch: https://t.co/hqUxG5VoGT
— Seattle Channel (@SeattleChannel) July 14, 2022
Mayor Bruce Harrell said at a news conference along with his interim police Chief Adrian Diaz:
“We’re going to get a little more sophisticated in our approach, because, as you well know, in the private sector, companies spend a lot of money in advertising and recruiting,”
According to Spencer Pauley of the Washington Examiner,
“Elements of Harrell’s plan include offering hiring incentives of up to $30,000 for lateral transfers and $7,500 for new recruits; prioritizing recruitment of candidates who Harrell says reflect the city’s values; reimbursing applicant fees, travel expenses and relocation costs when hired; develop marketing plan that includes increasing advertising funding; modernizing application processes to accelerate hiring; and exploring ideas of new programs to support officer tuition assistance.”
That sounds a lot like “refund the police.”
After the last two years of crucifying the Seattle police officers, the city administration is finally beginning to understand that you need police officers for a society to function properly.
Interim police Chief Diaz said:
“The challenges of the past two years have renewed in many a spirit to serve others. The police profession is a service profession, and the Seattle Police Department plans to add hundreds of service-oriented, sworn officers over the next several years.
However, SPD won’t hire just anyone. Despite our current staffing crisis, this is not a numbers game. Our mission is simply to help people, so we will hire only the most compassionate, dedicated, and qualified employees.
And you should know, this dedication to diversity and equity has already resulted in recent success; 50% of SPD recruits hired in 2022 represent multiple BIPOC communities. We are proud of our officers and look forward to welcoming only the best and the brightest.”
That sounds a lot like lip service.
The best way to retain police officers is to simply treat them with respect. Seattle politicians must understand and realize the challenges that police officers endure in a typical tour of duty and show them the respect they deserve- not label them the problem.
Far too often, agenda driven politicians look to burn well intended officers to make a statement and secure votes- albeit common, a very un-American tactic.
The mayor and interim chief can utilize creative marketing and advertising strategies, but if officers don’t believe they have the trust, support, and respect from their elected officials, they won’t stick around.
Seattle’s strategy of ‘throwing money at the problem’ (aka refunding the police) will only have short term success. Money will attract recruits, but respect will keep them there.
Chief Diaz said:
“There is a comprehensive economic package [for retention], but some of that is in negotiation, so I can’t highlight a dollar amount for that very specific piece of it.”
Only time will tell if Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrel and interim police Chief Adrian Diaz’s plan will make a positive impact on the culture and morale of the police department.
Unfortunately, something tells me they will cave in and turn on the police the first chance they get- we’ll just have to wait and see.
Report: Seattle PD may get defunded by 50% and even the mayor might not be able to stop it
SEATTLE, WA – After the city of Seattle endured one of the most bizarre and violent uprisings known as CHAZ/CHOP that masqueraded as protests over the summer, the Seattle City Council is actually entertaining a defunding of Seattle Police by 50%.
Furthermore, reports indicate that the city council will pursue this endeavor with or without the blessing of Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan.
Now seven out of the nine council members are backing the ideals and outlines behind groups like Decriminalize Seattle and King County Equity Now. What makes that such an important aspect to note is that the aforementioned coalitions are vying for the likes of defunding the Seattle Police by 50%.
Also, with now seven city council members on board with organizations presenting said agenda items, the council will have the ability to override a mayoral veto of any proposed defunding.
Per law, any budget-related legislation can usurp Mayor Durkan’s veto so long as six city council members vote in favor of said legislation.
One of the city council members, Andrew Lewis, actually boasted about his adoration of the demands outlined by Decriminalize Seattle, saying the following on Twitter:
“To be clear, I am 100% in favor of the [Decriminalize Seattle] demands, including the goal of a 50% cut of SPD’s budget. I am committed to reinvesting that money in BIPOC led organizations, including many I have directly worked with like @ICHOOSE180 and Community Passageways.”
So, we saw what happens when we re-imagine policing in Seattle and hand it to the community…you get CHOP, which managed to nearly double a year’s worth of violent crime in the same six block area in about 30 days. But yeah, lets cave to lunatics once again. https://t.co/3ApGRAdPGh
— Greg Hoyt (@GregHoytLET) July 10, 2020
The ideas being championed by the majority of the city council in Seattle come on the heels of a police precinct having been essentially occupied by miscreants in the CHAZ/CHOP zone for weeks. Not to mention, the utter destruction, murder, violent assaults, and burglaries that took place within that six-block zone.
Mayor Durkan referred to the defunding of Seattle Police by 50% as being “irresponsible”:
“Target numbers themselves are irresponsible if you’re not looking at the functions and what the police should be doing versus what perhaps other people can and should be doing.”
While the city mayor can perceive the move to be “irresponsible” all day, if the council decides to quickly move on these types of agenda items, then there’s nothing the mayor could seemingly do about it when hit with a majority vote.
If this defunding actually occurs, the city of Seattle will likely (unofficially) be afforded the song “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins as the city anthem.
The city of Seattle had a front row seat to what happens when police are no longer around, which was of course the CHAZ/CHOP area that was disbanded on July 1st after reigning terror for approximately a month.
We reported earlier this month on the executive order delivered by the mayor that led to the madness finally coming to a stop.
According to the executive order issued by the city’s mayor, the following was noted:
“The City’s obligations under the First Amendment do not require the City to provide limitless sanctuary to occupy City property, damage City and private property, obstruct right of way, or foster dangerous conditions.”
Essentially, the mayor finally acknowledged that what was happening in CHOP was neither peaceful nor a lawful protest – it was an occupied area where those who were at odds with the dogma synonymous with CHOP could easily find themselves in harm’s way if present there.
Much like when we had a literal “walk of shame” being filmed as the CHAZ/CHOP occupiers berated this individual while ousting him from the area earlier in June.
Police were said to have warned those occupying CHOP during the morning of July 1st that they would be allotted 8 minutes to safely exit the area and provided directions on where to exit the area as well.
However, some were said to have defied the directive, and Seattle Police were said to have enacted 13 arrests as a result.
The Seattle Police Department noted on Twitter how there has been several violent crimes that have plagued the CHAZ/CHOP area since its inception – even including murder:
“Since demonstrations at the East Precinct area began on June 8th, two teenagers have been killed and three people have been seriously wounded in late-night shootings. Police have also documented robberies, assaults, and other violent crimes.”
Considering that there are still at-large suspects associated with these crimes that were mentioned by police, the SPD also stated that they were going to be adorned in more protective gear than what they’d normally wear during the clearing that occurred:
“Because suspects in recent shootings may still be in the area, and because numerous people in the area are in possession of firearms, Seattle Police officers involved in this morning’s response will be equipped with additional protective gear.”
SPD Chief Carmen Best issued a statement in relation to the clearing of CHOP as well, stating the following:
“As I have said, and I will say again, I support peaceful demonstrations. Black Lives Matter, and I too want to help propel this movement toward meaningful change in our community.
But enough is enough. The CHOP has become lawless and brutal. Four shootings – two fatal – robberies, assaults, violence and countless property crimes have occurred in this several block area.”
The framing of CHOP as being lawless isn’t a frivolous statement either, as SPD noted that during the occupation of the area between June 8th to the 30th resulted in 65 crimes that were reported. Within that same area, there were a total of 37 crimes reported for the entirety of 2019.
It only took CHOP 22 days to nearly double a crime rate of an entire year in one area.
But sure – let’s defund police by 50% after seeing the experiment of what zero police creates.
Seattle loses almost 20% of police force (and climbing) amid year of anti-cop violence and defunding of PD
SEATTLE, WA: Budget cuts and months of anti-police protests and rioting have resulted in a “staffing crisis” as nearly 20 percent of the Seattle Police Department resigned in the past year and a half, according to the police chief.
More than 260 officers have quit the force since the beginning of last year.
Interim Police Chief Adrian Diaz said that stress on officers dealing with Black Lives Matter and Antifa rioters has been compounded by city leaders’ decision to surrender a police precinct to rioters while allowing the mob, often armed, occupy and entire neighborhood for a month.
Officer Clayton Powell, a black officer, has served Seattle Police Department for 27 years. He had a goal of remaining with the department for 30 years, but had decided to retire early because of the situation in Seattle and other cities and towns across the nation:
“The support that we had in my generation of policing is no longer there.”
Officer Powell said that city leaders surrendered to the rioters, and police had to pay the daily price. He said officers, including himself, were targeted with rocks, bottles, cinder blocks, and other items thrown at them, and they had to “stand there and take it”:
“When you see businesses get destroyed and families lose their livelihood because of that destruction and we can’t do anything about it. We’re not allowed to intercede.”
Protests and riots led by Black Lives Matter and Antifa members erupted in Seattle following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on Memorial Day 2020. During the months of violent clashes between protesters and police, Seattle’s homicide rate exploded.
According to end-of-year crime statistics released by the police department, 2020 experienced the highest homicide rate in over two decades. Crime data shows that 52 homicides occurred in 2020 compared to 35 in 2019, an increase of 48.57%.
Chief Diaz called the situation unacceptable:
“We cannot tolerate this level of violence. I’m not going to go into the multiple theories I’m aware of for why we and other cities had such a large one-year increase.
“There’s no one clear explanation. But I do know the department is working to decrease the violence.”
Chief Diaz said he had never seen the police department as undermanned as it is today:
“We are at record lows in the city right now, I have about 1,080 deployable officers. This is the lowest I’ve seen our department.”
More Than 200 Seattle Police Officers Quit Citing ‘Anti-Police’ Climate https://t.co/lA63mXpdDU
— Mateo Abogados (@Mateo_Abogados) May 9, 2021
The Chief called the situation a “staffing crisis’”
Exit interviews with departing officers show that many are leaving to work in other cities or for positions in the private sector. Other officers, like Powell, chose to take early retirement.
Officers in the interviews pointed blame at lack of support from city leaders, and a general anti-police sentiment in the city.
Adding to the department’s low morale is a looming budget cut. The Seattle City Council is considering a new cut of $2.8 million to the department’s budget, adding to a reduction in funding last year. Mayor Jenny Durkan warned council against the cuts in a statement issued from her office:
“Despite an increased focus on recruitment and retention, the Seattle Police Department continues to lose sworn officers at a record pace due to ongoing budget uncertainty,” a spokesperson for Mayor Jenny Durkan said Tuesday.
“Based on exit interviews, we know the Council’s threats of continued layoffs or cuts are having a direct impact on decisions to leave the department. Mayor Durkan continues to caution City Council against making additional one-time cuts without addressing hiring and retention of officers, especially diverse officers, to respond to the highest priority calls.”
+200 Seattle police officers quit in the last year due to anti-law enforcement, racial injustice protests and riots in the city. Many cited anti-police climate (including City Council) as reasons for moving on. Police Chief advised of “staffing crisis.” Let the exodus begin. https://t.co/WRoMpIlZ0r
— TC (@Censorship__No) April 29, 2021
The Mayor’s Office issued a statement saying that residents’ safety relies on having the officers available to respond to emergencies:
“Community safety means that we have officers able to respond to 911 calls with more civilian responses, more crisis responses, and more alternatives. Based on exit interviews, we know the Council’s threats of continued layoffs or cuts are having a direct impact on decisions to leave the department.
“Mayor Durkan continues to caution City Council against making additional one-time cuts without addressing hiring and retention of officers, especially diverse officers, to respond to the highest priority calls.”
Seattle Police Officers Guild President Mike Solan said that council praised the Seattle Police Department until George Floyd’s death, and then “these same politicians couldn’t run away from us faster”:
“They (council) will decimate numbers to fill the uniforms to protect our citizens, and to what gain, if any? What’s the end game?
“I don’t see how that’s a recipe for our communities to feel protected.”
The staffing crisis in Seattle is being repeated across the nation as left-wing groups and Democratic leaders continue to express anti-police rhetoric.
Pat Colligan, president of the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association, the state’s largest police union, said law enforcement has become an undesirable job because of the rhetoric being spread:
“Every action has a reaction. When you vilify every police officer for every bad police officer’s decision, (people) don’t want to take this job anymore.
“It’s been a very trying and difficult time to put on the badge every day. There’s a recruiting crisis.”
Jack Rinchich, president of the 4,000-member National Association of Chiefs of Police, said that veteran officers are taking retirement early rather than remain on the job without support:
“There’s no doubt in my mind that what’s transpiring in our nation today is contributing to the lack of retention and the difficulty in hiring new officers. A lot of cops right now in view of the environment are saying, ‘Hey, I’ve gone 20, 30 years without being sued, shot, or divorced. I’m going to get out while I have an opportunity.’”
Haverford Township Police Chief John Viola, who also serves as president of the Delaware County Police Chiefs Association in Pennsylvania, said departments are struggling to recruit new officers. He said some departments are paying for officers to attend the police academy, waiving application fees, and taking other steps to try to bring in new officers.
Chief Viola said that people do not want to be police officer’s in today’s environment:
”It’s something that all departments have recognized as something that’s getting harder and harder.
“People don’t want to be police anymore. It’s a good job, and good-paying job, but when you look at national news every day, people just don’t want to be officers.”
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