Just a year ago, the Democrats praised the Black Lives Matter movement as they promoted police departments all over the country to be defunded. On top of that, the Democrats, thanks to President Joe Biden, have pushed for the COVID-19 vaccine to be mandatory. But now, as the midterms are right around the corner, the Democrats are turning course as the Seattle city mayor granted a $25,000 hiring bonus for officers to help fight the shortages already taking place. While a gracious incentive, the Seattle police union blasted the move as it was the Democrats who caused crime to surge in the first place. 

The Mayor, Jenny Durkan, announced an executive order on Friday that would create the program that would help hire 911 dispatchers and officers. Mayor Durkan was sure to say that it was a “civil emergency” as many police departments were reporting shortages. It should be noted that the shortages continued to worsen due to the vaccine mandate.

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Although the program would offer officers up to $25,000, depending on experience and training level, to be paid after employment, the Seattle Police Officers Guild, which represents 1,300 officers and sergeants, said it was too late. 

Mike Solan, president of the union, released a statement, saying, “The result of this betrayal has caused 350 police officers to flee Seattle since the riots. Many of these former police employees left for lower paying agencies just to escape Seattle’s toxic political climate. We also have another 100 officers now off the street due to the Mayor’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate and another 130 officers currently unavailable for service who are out on extended leave. When totaled, that is just under half the department gone/unavailable in almost two years. Seattle’s current police staffing crisis was caused by our current politicians and sadly it all could’ve been avoided. This political betrayal will forever be their legacy.”

As mentioned above, Mayor Durkan isn’t seeking reelection, causing the police union to add, “To our current and soon to be newly elected politicians that if you want to hire new and lateral police officers, we suggest you also take care of your current officers. These officers worked during the pandemic, are feeling the impacts of dangerous staffing levels and are without a union contract,” their statement said. “SPOG is looking forward to working with our new mayor and the current/new city council members to remedy our city’s issues. Seattle deserves public safety, and is worth saving.”