Seattle reverses stance on defunding police department

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Seattle City Councilmember Rob Saka has introduced a resolution aimed at formally distancing the city from previous commitments to defund the police, marking a significant shift in public safety policy.

The resolution comes years after the 2020 murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, which sparked nationwide calls to defund police departments. However, as cities across America have reported increasing crime rates, many Democratic strongholds have begun retreating from this position.

During Tuesday’s public safety committee meeting, Saka presented Resolution 32167, which focuses on enhancing public safety through various measures, including supporting first responders and strengthening police accountability while explicitly rejecting previous defunding efforts.

NEW: Seattle city councilmember introduces resolution to acknowledge 'failure' of defund the police movement. Courageous move.
That's because the cop-hating far-left activists will now target him.
The city must stand with @CMRobSaka.https://t.co/wl9nqAc4hx

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— Jonathan Choe (@choeshow) March 30, 2025

“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,” Saka explained.

“This is finally the time to acknowledge the lessons of the past and pivot decisively toward a better, future-focused public safety model,” he continued.

The resolution garnered support from other council members, including Maritza Rivera, who noted that constituents have explicitly requested the council to take a stance against previous defunding rhetoric. The measure passed the committee with four votes in favor, none opposed, and one member absent. It will advance to the full city council meeting scheduled for April 1.

According to a council press release, the resolution “Reiterates support for first responders, acknowledges failure of defund movement and embraces focus on underserved communities.”

Seattle Councilmember Rob Saka introduced a resolution to end the city's failed defund the police experiment @CMRobSaka said Resolution 32167 "…reverses any prior commitment or pledge by past councils to defund or abolish the police. We know that these statements were… pic.twitter.com/LTvtEfSRS7

— Ari Hoffman 🎗 (@thehoffather) March 30, 2025

“This Council, in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office, has made improving public safety an absolute priority,” Saka stated in the announcement. “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.”

Mayor Bruce Harrell emphasized the city’s progress in police reform and recruitment, stating, “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.”

“To help our police officers focus on what they do best, 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 Teams,” Harrell added.