Seattle: Democratic councilmember introduces resolution to acknowledge "failure" of police defunding movement

Seattle, a city that was once a stronghold of the "Defund the Police" movement, is making a significant shift in its approach to public safety.

Democratic Councilman Rob Saka has introduced Resolution 32167, a bill that seeks to nip in the bud any previous commitments to defund or abolish the local police department while acknowledging the failure of such policies of the movement that emerged after the death of George Floyd in 2020.

In Seattle, as in other cities, the movement gained traction, and several city council members at the time supported significant cuts to the Seattle Police Department (SPD) budget. However, increased crime in the following years led to a change of heart, even among Democrats, who now seek to distance themselves from the initial rhetoric.

H.Res. 32167

Last Tuesday, Rob Saka discussed his proposal with the Seattle City Council's public safety committee. Resolution 32167 not only reverses previous defunding commitments but also highlights public safety gains made in the last year.

Among its key points are the recognition of first responders, progress in complying with the federal consent decree overseeing police reforms, improved police accountability and implementation of a diversified emergency response.

"This resolution reverses any prior commitment or pledge by past councils to defund or abolish the police. We know that these statements were routinely cited by departing police personnel as a reason for leaving. We also know that they are very divisive."

For her part, Councilwoman Maritza Rivera also backed the initiative, noting that she has received requests from constituents for the council to "take a stance against the defund rhetoric that we’ve seen in the past in this city. He’s not the only one I know who has requested this."

Four councilors voted in favor of the bill, with no opposition and one absence, and the resolution will advance to a vote by the full council on April 1.

Support for first responders and focus on underserved communities

A press release from the city council summarized that the resolution "reiterates support for first responders, recognizes the failure of the defunding movement, and adopts a focus on marginalized communities."

Saka emphasized collaboration with the mayor's office to prioritize public safety: "This is finally the time to acknowledge the lessons of the past and pivot decisively toward a better, future-focused public safety model. We are committed to making everyone in our community feel safe and to enhancing our accountability system." 

In addition, Mayor Bruce Harrell also supported this vision, highlighting efforts to strengthen the SPD rather than weaken it. "Seattle has made significant progress on reimagining policing since we agreed to the federal consent decree over a decade ago. We have created one of the most robust police accountability systems in the country. We hired more police officers last year than we lost for the first time in years, and applications are soaring," Harrell said.

Diversifying public safety response

Harrell also highlighted initiatives to diversify emergency responses, allowing police officers to focus on specific tasks. “We have diversified our response options by expanding the Fire Department’s capabilities, and we successfully launched our third public safety department and the CARE Crisis Response Team"s,  he explained.

This approach seeks to balance police presence with community alternatives, a step that contrasts with initial proposals to defund police.