CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to the Seattle Police Department; creating an incentive program for hiring lateral police officers; and repealing obsolete Sections 4.20.530, 4.20.540, 4.20.550 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
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WHEREAS, the Seattle Police Department strives to maintain a highly qualified, diverse, and engaged police service to meet the complex demands of the Seattle communities; and
WHEREAS, the Seattle Police Department has successfully increased the hiring of people of color from 22 percent in 2014 to 40 percent in 2018; and
WHEREAS, The City of Seattle and the Seattle Police Department have recognized the need to hire additional qualified officers responsibly and quickly to meet community expectations; and
WHEREAS, the Seattle Police Department has seen an increase in competition for qualified applicants for the position of Police Officer due, in part, to regional and national hiring incentives at law enforcement agencies; and
WHEREAS, the Seattle Police Department has seen a significant decrease in the number of lateral Police Officer applications since 2016; and
WHEREAS, the costs of on-boarding lateral Police Officers are far lower than hiring new recruits, as the Equivalency Academy at the Criminal Justice Training Commission is free and lateral Police Officer hires are deployed to patrol five months earlier, which realizes significant salary savings; and
WHEREAS, Sections 4.20.530, 4.20.540, and 4.20.550 of the Seattle Municipal Code are obsolete; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The Seattle Police Department may offer police officers who are candidates for lateral hires a hiring incentive of up to $15,000 to be paid after beginning employment with The City of Seattle.
Section 2. Section 4.20.530 of the Seattle Municipal Code, enacted by Ordinance 95256, is repealed:
((4.20.530 Police holidays.
Uniformed Poli...
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