Seattle Police Paid $6.3 Million In Overtime Since Protests Began

SEATTLE, WA — The Seattle Police Department has paid out millions to officers and employees since protests over police killings, brutality and systemic racism began May 29, according to data released Wednesday.

Under the current city budget, roughly $30 million is earmarked to cover officers' overtime costs for the entire year.

SPD assembled the information in response to a request from the Seattle City Council, where a "deep dive" on the police budget began earlier this month.

By the department's accounting, nearly 1,300 sworn officers and civilian employees were deployed during recent demonstrations, logging 72,619 overtime hours equaling $6.3 million. Councilmember Lisa Herbold voiced concern that the total was an "extremely high number."

The figures represent only overtime pay through June 9, one day after officers left the East Precinct, following nightly clashes with protesters at a police barricade near 11th Avenue and East Pine Street. More than two dozen probes are underway into allegations of officer misconduct during the demonstrations.

Related: Seattle Looks To Limit CHOP, Restore East Precinct

Councilmembers on Wednesday asked for a more complete breakdown of the costs associated with the police response, including regular pay and itemized by type of employee. Those numbers were not immediately available.

The police department provided general estimates for year-to-date spending on riot gear, tactical equipment and "crowd control devices," like flashbangs, tear gas and pepper spray.

Under legislation that passed the council unanimously last week, such devices will soon be prohibited by law. A federal judge granted a temporary restraining order on the weapons June 12, in response to a lawsuit.

Mayor, councilmembers consider varying levels of police cuts

On Tuesday night, Mayor Jenny Durkan sent a rebalanced budget proposal to the council, as the city looks to fill a $400 million shortfall due to steep declines in revenue and high costs associated with the ongoing coronavirus response.

Included in the mayor's proposal is a $20 million cut for the police department this year, equaling about 5 percent of its annual budget. Protesters, community leaders and some city councilmembers have repeatedly called for defunding the police by up to 50 percent, redirecting that money toward community-led programs and alternative public safety practices.

According to the police department, the mayor also asked SPD to prepare budget models reflecting a 20 percent, 30 percent and 50 percent defunding. Angela Socci, SPD's budget and finance head, told the council that preliminary estimates for halving the police budget expect more than 1,000 staff cuts, including 755 sworn officers.

Socci said the department expected to continue its hiring freeze through the end of the year and would not hire 21 recruits as planned in the fourth quarter. If the hiring freeze continues through 2021, when the department planned to hire 60 officers, Socci estimated a cost savings of about $18 million.

Further discussions over the police budget, and the mayor's initial rebalancing proposal, are scheduled to resume at the budget committee next Wednesday.