Seattle City Council member Rob Saka has introduced Resolution 32167, a bold reversal of the city’s previous commitments to defund the police, acknowledging the failure of those policies as the city works to rebuild its depleted police force.
Key Insights
- Resolution 32167 explicitly reverses previous council pledges to defund or abolish the police, which were routinely cited by departing officers as reasons for leaving Seattle PD.
- The Seattle City Council initially supported defunding police by 50% in 2020, resulting in the loss of approximately 100 officers through layoffs and attrition, with 134 officers leaving by October 2020.
- The resolution has received support from Mayor Bruce Harrell and four council members with no opposition, signaling a new pro-police era in Seattle.
- Seattle has begun rebuilding its police force with 84 successful hires in 2024 and a 23% pay increase through a new contract to address recruitment challenges.
Seattle Pivots Away From “Defund” Movement
Seattle Councilmember Rob Saka has officially introduced Resolution 32167, which explicitly reverses past city commitments to defund or abolish the police department. The resolution, supported by Mayor Bruce Harrell, acknowledges the failure of the defund movement that gained prominence following protests in 2020. It instead focuses on supporting first responders while maintaining accountability and developing a diversified public safety framework that better serves all Seattle communities.
The resolution passed through a committee vote with support from four council members, no opposition, and one absence. It now moves to the full city council for consideration. This shift represents a significant change in Seattle’s political landscape, where just a few years ago the council had approved reducing the police department by approximately 100 officers through layoffs and attrition, a move that contributed to a mass exodus of police personnel.
Addressing the Aftermath of Police Departures
The impact of Seattle’s previous defunding efforts has been substantial. In 2020, the city saw a dramatic departure of officers, with 134 leaving by October 31 of that year alone. The resolution directly addresses this exodus by stating that anti-police rhetoric and defunding commitments “were routinely cited by departing police personnel as a reason for leaving” and acknowledges these statements were “very divisive” within the community.
“This resolution reverses any prior commitment or pledge by past councils to defund or abolish the police. We know that these statements were routinely cited by departing police personnel as a reason for leaving. We also know that they are very divisive.” – Source
The Seattle Police Department, now under interim Chief Shon Barnes, has begun seeing signs of recovery. The department made 84 successful hires in 2024, slightly reversing the trend of officer losses. A new contract increased police pay by 23%, addressing recruitment challenges that had plagued the department. Mayor Harrell has noted that applications for police positions are now “soaring” as the city works toward a goal of having over 1,000 officers by 2026.
Building a New Public Safety Model
While the resolution marks a clear shift away from defunding policies, it also emphasizes the importance of a diversified public safety response. Seattle has expanded the Fire Department’s capabilities and launched CARE Crisis Response Teams, which operate with a budget of $30 million compared to the police department’s nearly $400 million. The federal consent decree that had placed the Seattle Police Department under oversight for 12 years due to past issues of excessive force and biased policing was lifted in 2023.
“This is finally the time to acknowledge the lessons of the past and pivot decisively toward a better, future-focused public safety model. We are committed to making everyone in our community feel safe and to enhancing our accountability system” – Source
Mayor Harrell has publicly embraced the resolution, stating: “I join the City Council in celebrating the dedication and hard work of our public safety professionals and in recognizing the importance of a diversified emergency response system. I look forward to working with our police department, accountability partners, and Council members as we move to finalize requirements under the consent decree.” This collaborative approach between the mayor’s office and city council signals a unified front in addressing public safety concerns while maintaining accountability measures.
Sources:
- Democrat Seattle Council Member’s Resolution Aims to Reverse Commitments to ‘Defund the Police’
- Seattle City Council resolution would acknowledge ‘failure of defund movement’
- Seattle city councilmember introduces resolution to acknowledge ‘failure’ of defund the police movement
