The Seattle Police Department (SPD) is experiencing its highest number of applicants since 2013, with 4,300 applications received in 2024. The department attributes this surge to a streamlined hiring process, increased advertising, and higher wages.
The Seattle Police Department (SPD) is celebrating a surge in officer recruitment, experiencing its highest number of applicants since 2013. In 2024, SPD received 4,300 applications, more than double the number from 2023. Among the 4,300 applicants, SPD hired 84 new officers in 2024. The Seattle Mayor’s Office argues this marks a significant milestone, as the department has now surpassed the number of officers leaving the force, with 83 separations recorded in the same year.
In a press release, Mayor Bruce Harrell touted the 'net positive staffing' as an indicator of progress. SPD officials point to a streamlined hiring process as one of the key factors in this surge. Wait times for applicants to hear back have been reduced from 5–9 months to just 3–5 months. The department also invested heavily in advertising, spending $2.3 million on campaigns targeting diverse recruits. In another effort to attract more recruits, SPD has raised wages. Officers received their first wage increase since 2021, with new recruits starting at just over $100,000 annually. These recruits also receive a $7,500 hiring incentive. Lateral transfers, or officers coming from other agencies, can expect to start at $116,000, with a $50,000 incentive. In the same press release, Interim Police Chief Sue Rahr shared that more than 20 new officers are waiting to go through the academy and that hundreds more are just beginning the process.'As we make the Seattle Police Department a career destination rather than a steppingstone, those officers will continue building this city into the One Seattle we all deserve,' said Interim Police Chief Rahr. A statement from incoming Chief Shon F. Barnes was also included in the press release.'Seattle’s turnaround in police recruitment numbers shows that our community is ready to partner with us to create a safer city,' said Barne
POLICE RECRUITMENT SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT LAW ENFORCEMENT CITY SAFETY HIRED OFFICERS
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