Seattle Police are excited about a hiring surge, marking their first net gain in officers since 2019
One of the recruits, Greg Kramer, shared that they’re doing a lot of hands-on training, like traffic stops and building searches. He’s got a background in the Coast Guard and even worked as a cruise captain. For him, law enforcement feels like a calling. He said, “There’s no better time than now. If I don’t do it, who will?”
Hiring has been a big focus for the department, especially after facing some serious shortages in recent years. Monica Alexander, who runs the Criminal Justice Training Commission, noted that the challenges from COVID and the George Floyd incident led to many officers leaving. But now, it seems like things are starting to turn around.
Applications for the Seattle Police have more than doubled in 2024 compared to the previous year. The city has been working hard to make the hiring process smoother, ramping up marketing efforts, and even rolling out a new officer contract. They’ve also added wellness programs for current officers.
However, there’s still a long way to go. The number of deployable officers is still 348 less than it was back in 2019. Officer Britt Kelly, who helps train the new recruits, mentioned that hiring is just one part of the bigger picture when it comes to tackling crime in the city. She said it takes time to get recruits ready for patrol.
Kramer hopes they can really make a difference, not just for the city but for everyone who lives and works there. It’s a slow process, but there’s a sense of optimism for the future.