Seattle police aim to hit full strength in 2 years with aggressive hiring push

Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes is optimistic about reaching full staffing levels within two years, having already hired 50 officers this year, a substantial increase from just ten last year. The department currently operates with 924 deployable officers, aiming for a full strength of 1,300. The recruitment process has been streamlined, cutting wait times from up to nine months to about five, which has encouraged over 4,000 applicants to apply. Deputy Chief Yvonne Underwood noted that the applicant pool is diverse, with ages ranging from 21 to 60, and 50 officers have applied for lateral transfers. The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center has also enhanced its training capacity, accommodating 844 recruits last year compared to a previous limit of 600.

Barnes is committed to recruiting one officer at a time, emphasizing the importance of community support and leadership. New recruit Janelle Willit expressed her motivation to serve, inspired by her family's encouragement. This renewed focus on staffing aims to address the challenges posed by previous declines in police numbers.