Seattle Council’s Stance: Balancing Police Support with Funding and Reform Tensions

Seattle City Council introduces resolution to reverse police defunding policies as crime surges and officers flee the department.

Quick Takes

Resolution 32167, introduced by Councilmember Rob Saka, explicitly reverses previous council commitments to defund the police
The proposal acknowledges the “failure of the defund movement” and aims to rebuild public trust in law enforcement
Since Seattle’s 2020 defunding efforts, the police department experienced significant officer departures, with 134 officers leaving by October 2020
Mayor Bruce Harrell supports the resolution, signaling a unified approach to public safety between the mayor’s office and council
The resolution maintains accountability measures while seeking to resolve issues under the recently lifted federal Consent Decree

Seattle Backtracks on Police Defunding

Seattle City Councilmember Rob Saka has introduced Resolution 32167, a formal acknowledgment that the city’s previous “defund the police” initiatives failed to deliver on public safety. The resolution explicitly reverses prior commitments made by past city councils to defund or abolish the police department in the wake of 2020 protests. The proposal received initial support from four council members with no opposition during committee review and now heads to the full council for consideration, marking a significant shift in Seattle’s approach to policing and public safety.

The resolution comes after years of turmoil within Seattle’s police department following the city council’s July 2020 proposal to defund the police by 50%. Though that specific target wasn’t fully implemented, the council did approve measures to reduce the department by approximately 100 officers through layoffs and attrition. The resulting exodus of officers created significant staffing challenges that persist today, with the department still working to rebuild its ranks after falling below critical staffing levels.

Acknowledging Failure and Rebuilding Trust

Saka’s resolution represents a formal recognition that the defunding approach damaged both officer morale and public safety capabilities. “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,” Saka stated in introducing the measure. The resolution focuses on supporting first responders while maintaining accountability and diversity in public safety approaches.

“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,” said Councilmember Rob Saka.

The impact of Seattle’s defunding efforts was felt almost immediately. By October 2020, just months after the initial defunding votes, the department had lost 134 officers, with 23 departing in a single month. This exodus created serious operational challenges that affected response times and overall public safety capabilities across the city, particularly in higher-crime neighborhoods that ironically needed police services the most.

Mayor and Council Align on New Public Safety Approach

Mayor Bruce Harrell has voiced strong support for the resolution, signaling alignment between his administration and the council on public safety priorities. “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,” Harrell said. “I look forward to working with our police department, accountability partners, and Council members as we move to finalize requirements under the consent decree.”

“We hired more police officers last year than we lost for the first time in years, and applications are soaring,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell.

The police department, now under interim Chief Shon Barnes, has made recruitment and retention top priorities. Recent efforts have started showing results, with 84 successful hires in 2024 – slightly reversing years of staffing losses. A new contract approved last year increased police pay by 23%, addressing a key recruitment challenge. The department now aims to rebuild to over 1,000 officers by 2026, still below pre-2020 levels but a significant improvement from recent lows.

Balancing Reform with Public Safety

While rejecting the “defund” approach, Seattle has maintained elements of police reform and alternative response. The resolution acknowledges the city’s creation of the CARE Department with a $30 million budget (compared to SPD’s nearly $400 million) and expansion of Fire Department capabilities. The federal consent decree that had governed SPD operations for 12 years due to past issues of excessive force and biased policing was lifted in 2023, though the resolution commits to resolving remaining issues.

“Amid violent, nationwide uprisings and protests against police officers, Democrat Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan’s office stated that 134 officers have left the city’s police force as of October 31. Last month alone, 23 officers left their positions at the department” – Source

The resolution reflects growing acknowledgment across many cities that previously embraced defunding that public safety requires well-staffed, properly trained police departments working in conjunction with alternative response models. As Seattle continues navigating this policy shift, the resolution signals a pragmatic approach that seeks to balance accountability with the fundamental need for effective law enforcement in a major urban center.