Seattle moves to reverse prior pledges by past councils to 'defund' the police | Law Enforcement Today

SEATTLE, WA - On Tuesday, March 25th, Seattle councilmember Rob Saka spoke with fellow members of the Seattle City Council's public safety committee about his recently introduced "Resolution 32167," which recognizes work to improve public safety and to completely cut ties with any commitments to defund the police.

According to Fox News, after the death of unarmed Minneapolis resident George Floyd in 2020, the slogan and movement to "Defund the Police" swept from coast to coast. Over the last several years, many cities across the country have seen a rise in crime, causing many politicians on both sides of the aisle to distance themselves from the notion that defunding or abolishing the police is the right move.

The measures in Saka's resolution include appreciation for first responders, consent decree progress, police accountability, a diversified public safety response, and reversing "defund" commitments. 

He said, "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." Fellow councilmember Maritza Rivera added that she has seen at least one constituent share his wish to see councilmembers "take a stance against the defund rhetoric that we've seen in the past in this city," adding that "He's not the only one I know who has requested this."

Four councilmembers voted in favor of the bill, with none opposed and one absent. The resolution will now be forwarded to the larger city council meeting on April 1st.

A city council press release summarized that the bill "reiterates support for first responders, acknowledges failure of defund movement and embraces focus on underserved communities." Saka said in the announcement, "This council, in collaboration with the Mayor's Office, has made improving public safety an absolute priority.

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." Mayor Bruce Harrel was also quoted, noting that rather than defund their police, the city has instead made progress in working to expand the force.

He said in a statement, "Seattle has made significant progress in reimagining policing since we agreed to the federal consent decree over a decade ago. We have created one of the most robust police accountability systems in the country. We hired more police officers last year than we lost for the first time in years, and applications are soaring."

He added, "To help our police officers focus on what they do best, we have diversified our response options by expanding the Fire Department's capabilities and we successful launched our third public safety department and the CARE Crisis Response Teams. Seattle's first responders do amazing and heroic work every day to save lives and solve crimes, and ensure people in crisis get the help and support they need."

Since taking office in 2024, the new city council has adopted 14 pieces of public-safety legislation, a record number since 2015.