Seattle Shed A Record Number Of Police Officers In September

SEATTLE, WA — The Seattle Police Department in September recorded its highest number of departures in a single month, according to data released by the mayor's office Friday.

The attrition report shows 39 officers left the department in September alone, including three officers still in training. According to the city, that figure is more than double the next highest month on record, and far above the five to seven expected in a typical September.

SPD has logged 110 total departures since the year began, comprised of 53 resignations, 50 retirements, six firings and one death, according to the report. Forty of the officers who left were with the department for more than 25 years, and 32 were there less than five. More than half of the departures were among patrol officers. By demographics, the vast majority of the officers who have left are white.

The Seattle Times reports, 2020's separations to-date are the most seen since 2012 and narrowly higher than in 2018. A hiring freeze enacted in March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic remains in place. According to the police department's projections, if the hiring freeze continues through the end of 2021, available staffing levels could drop below the number employed in 1990, when the city's population was 44 percent smaller.

The department's staffing concerns come amid a public outcry to defund and shrink the police department, redirecting funds to community-based public safety programs and teams of mental health professionals who can respond to situations where an armed officer would not be required.

Protesters and community activists have called for a 50 percent defunding — a goal that Mayor Jenny Durkan has staunchly opposed, and a majority of the City Council signaled support for over the summer. The mayor's proposed budget for 2021 would end the hiring freeze and include funds for approximately 1,400 positions.

The mayor said she supports working toward community-based alternatives but contends further reductions in officers would have a detrimental effect on emergency response times and fail to meet the staffing standards set forth by a federal oversight agreement.

"If we don't act now, we'll soon see undeniable impacts to 911 response times and investigative services," said Kelsey Nyland, a spokesperson for the mayor. "It could also impact the department's ability to sustain the gains and meet the requirements of the federal Consent Decree."

Budget discussions for 2021 are underway at the Seattle City Council and due for a vote on Nov. 23.

Read the full attrition report below: