(The Center Square) – The Seattle Police Department is projected to hire more than 150 officers by the end of the year, a recruitment milestone that will surpass the combined hiring totals from 2023 and 2024. It marks a significant step in the department’s efforts to reverse a previous staffing crisis.
On Monday, Mayor Bruce Harrell and Chief Shon Barnes announced that SPD is on track to hire its 150th officer of 2025 in the coming weeks, surpassing the combined 145 hires from 2024 (84 officers) and 2023 (61 officers).
By the end of 2025, SPD anticipates a net hire of 87 officers as a result of a projected 82 officers separating from the department…