Seattle’s new police contract has sparked renewed debate over the city’s approach to public safety, accountability, and budget priorities. While the City Council approved the agreement in a 6 to 3 vote, Councilmember Rob Saka, vice chair of the Public Safety Committee, opposed the deal, pointing to what he called critical gaps in accountability and a missed opportunity to align public safety with community values.
Joining Saka in opposition to the contract were Seattle City councilmembers Eddie Lin, and Alexis Mercedes Rinck.
The new collective bargaining agreement with the Seattle Police Officers Guild (SPOG), covering 2024 through 2027, is partially retroactive and preserves Seattle police officers’ status as the highest paid in the state. The contract also introduces new incentives for college degrees and bilingual skills, expands the role of civilian oversight in serious misconduct investigations, and marks a turning point in the deployment of unarmed crisis response teams…