The Seattle City Council voted 6 to 3 Tuesday to approve a new contract with the Seattle Police Officers Guild, covering 2024 through 2027; the new contract is partially retroactive.
Dozens of people gave public testimony opposing the new contract, and the final vote took place over chants of “jail killer cops,” which made it difficult for Council members to hear one another. Council President Sara Nelson then adjourned the meeting to continue remotely.
The agreement preserves the status of SPD officers as the highest paid in the state, according to Council staff. It also offers new bonuses for college degrees and bilingual skills, and it allows new civilian participation in the most serious misconduct investigations. The contract also expands the city’s unarmed Community Assisted Response and Engagement teams and allows them to respond to certain calls for the first time without a police escort…