In efforts to bolster the strained Seattle Police Department, City Councilmember Sara Nelson has put forth a bill to shift $310,000 and three personnel roles from the Seattle Department of Human Resources to the SPD with a focus on improving police recruitment and retention, reported Big Country News Connection.
The move comes as the department continues to reel from the loss of 337 officers since 2020, an exodus that has led to spiraling 911 response times, Seattle has seen these issues compound in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ordinance aims to create a more efficient recruitment apparatus within SPD to address urgent staffing needs.
Sara Nelson’s initiative would not only transfer funds and jobs but also reorganize structural processes; the Public Safety Civil Service Commission would make a jump to a public safety testing service already adopted by neighboring law enforcement in King County, opening up wider access to candidates applying to multiple agencies, as per details from Everett Post.
Moreover, the commission is also pegged to increase engagement with Seattle's potential police force, as Nelson's proposition sees them reaching out to entry-level and lateral exam applicants within two business days of application, this action aims to augment support during the examination phase and nurture a closer connection between the department and its future officers.
