Democrat city where 'Defund The Police' caught fire makes shock move after tragic consequences
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A councilman from a liberal city where 'Defund the Police' gained significant traction has introduced a bill to completely sever ties with the movement.
Seattle Councilmember Rob Saka proposed Resolution 32167, which 'acknowledges the failures' of and 'reverses commitments' made to defunding the city's police, according to a March 25 statement.
'This resolution reverses any prior commitment or pledge by past councils to defund or abolish the police,' the Democratic councilman said in a council meeting, according to Fox News.
'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.'
One of the bill's key provisions is to show gratitude towards the heavily scrutinized Seattle Police Department (SPD) officers, as well as city firefighters and Community Assisted Response & Engagement (CARE) workers.
The resolution also 'recognizes the significant reforms' made by the SPD when it comes to use of force, crisis intervention and data analytics.
Another included goals are improving the police force's accountability system and diversifying public safety responses across the city's departments.
'This is finally the time to acknowledge the lessons of the past and pivot decisively toward a better, future-focused public safety model,' Saka declared.
'This Council, in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office has made improving public safety an absolute priority,' Saka, a Democrat, said.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, who is also a Democrat, noted the 'significant' progress made within the SPD over the last ten years.
Harrell said in the press release: 'Seattle’s first responders do amazing and heroic work every day to save lives, stop and solve crimes, and ensure people in crisis get the help and support they need.
'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 shocking decision that goes against the blue city's reputation comes as Seattle experiences severe shortages within its police force.
In 2017, there were 1,400 sworn officers. That number dropped to 1,050 in 2023 and to 913 in 2024, Fox News reported.
'The problem is still stemming from the defund movement,' radio personality Jason Rantz told Fox News in June 2024.
'You had a movement that was out there calling cops murderers and racists, and unfortunately you had a city council at the time that embraced and amplified those messages. So, people started to leave in huge numbers.'
In 2023, the city was saw rampant drug usage and skyrocketing crime rates that only minimally declined the following year, according to the most recent city data.
'We're in a staffing crisis,' Sue Rahr, the then-interim chief of the SPD, said in July 2024, according to KUOW.
'We're down 400 officers, and we are doing our level best to try and increase our ability to hire more officers more quickly.'
But Harrell said he remains confident in the SPD's recruitment numbers despite the staffing crisis.
'We hired more police officers last year than we lost for the first time in years, and applications are soaring,' he stated in the press release.
The SPD hired 84 new officers last year, according to Capitol Hill Seattle.
SPD interim Chief Shon Barnes has reportedly been prioritizing re-building up the police force. The department is anticipating at least 1,000 officers by 2026.
The 'Defund the Police' movement gained momentum in 2020, after George Floyd died at the hands of Minneapolis, Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin.
Black Lives Matter activists called upon the politicians of big cities across the country - including Seattle - to cut funding and add reforms to their police departments.
In August of 2020 - following a summer of protests and riots stemming from Floyd's murder - the Seattle City Council voted to cut the police department's budget by $3 million.
Four council members voted for Resolution 32167 and no one opposed it. The bill is set to be further discussed at a Tuesday meeting.
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