CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to recruitment and retention of police officers in the Seattle Police Department (SPD); transferring positions from Seattle Department of Human Resources (SDHR) to SPD; creating in SPD a recruitment and retention program; amending Ordinance 126955, which adopted the 2024 Budget; changing appropriations to various departments and budget control levels, and from various funds in the Budget; amending Section 4.08.070 of the Seattle Municipal Code; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
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WHEREAS, Seattle Police Department (SPD) officers work to protect the community, are tasked with upholding the rule of law and protecting life and property and put themselves in harm's way to fight crime, get drugs off our streets, and protect Seattle residents and visitors; and
WHEREAS, since the summer of 2020, SPD separation surveys show that some departing officers have indicated that a perceived lack of support from the community and Seattle's elected representatives have contributed to the largest number of officer resignations in recent history, resulting in a net reduction of 337 Fully Trained Officers and 368 Deployable Officers;1 and
WHEREAS, SPD and other large local law enforcement agencies continue to struggle to meet annual hiring goals, and Seattle elected officials wish to create a welcoming environment that attracts quality officer candidates; and
WHEREAS, the Council has since 2021 fully funded SPD's recruitment plans and supports the department's efforts to add by the end of the year a net of 15 new officers, representing a combination of 120 new hires and 105 separations; and
WHEREAS, the Council passed in May 2022 Resolution 32050 calling for the establishment of a hiring incentive program to provide bonuses for entry level and lateral police officer hires, funded by salary and benefits savings from vacant SPD positions to better compete against...
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