Seattle, WA

Seattle Considers Big Bonuses, Tuition Help To Attract Police Officers

Published

2 years ago

July 14, 2022

Seattle Considers Big Bonuses, Tuition Help To Attract Police Officers

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell introduced a $2 million plan Wednesday for coping with what he described as a important scarcity of cops within the metropolis, together with recruitment bonuses, reimbursement of shifting prices and doable tuition help.

Seattle has misplaced greater than 400 officers since 2019 because the division was closely criticized for its typically violent response to racial justice protests and Metropolis Council members embraced calls to defund police following the killing of George Floyd.

Harrell’s plan contains $1 million the Metropolis Council already authorised spending for recruitment and hiring bonuses. That cash got here from financial savings in unspent officer salaries.

“We would like the appropriate numbers of officers and the correct of officers,” Harrell stated. “It crosses racial strains, it crosses socioeconomic strains that individuals need to really feel protected, they usually have a proper to really feel protected.”

The Seattle Police Division stays down 372 officers out of a pressure authorised for greater than 1,300. That is damage emergency response instances, prompted the division to cease responding to low-priority calls and required officers to work extra time, hurting morale.

The present variety of officers is Seattle’s lowest in 30 years. Seattle’s inhabitants has soared in that point. About 40% of the division’s detectives have needed to deal with patrol duties, severely reducing the quantity obtainable to analyze critical crime.

Harrell desires to supply signing bonuses of as much as $30,000 for lateral transfers from different police departments and as much as $7,500 for brand new officers — quantities that will make Seattle aggressive with different cities attempting to recruit and retain police, he stated.

He referred to as for reimbursing candidates’ applicant charges, journey bills and relocation prices, and stated he needed a research performed to find out the feasibility of paying tuition for faculty college students who decide to working for the division for a minimum of 5 years.

The plan additionally requires redoubling efforts to draw officer candidates from minority communities in Seattle and increasing career-advancement alternatives for present officers.

Town is negotiating a contract with the Seattle Police Officers Guild, and Harrell steered retention bonuses or different financial incentives would probably be a part of these negotiations.

Interim Police Chief Adrian Diaz stated the division might want to preserve the officers it has and add 500 over the subsequent 5 years. To this point this 12 months, although, 109 have left, whereas fewer than three dozen. Half of the brand new hires this 12 months are folks of shade, Diaz stated.

Source link

Seattle, WA

Seattle weather: Drier and cooler stretch ahead

Published

9 hours ago

January 11, 2025

Press Room

Seattle weather: Drier and cooler stretch ahead

Seattle weather: Mostly dry weekend

FOX 13 Seattle Meteorologist Ilona McCauley has your latest western Washington weather forecast!

A soggy start to our Friday morning where many locations picked up measurable rainfall. Amounts ranged from around .10″ to just under 1″ closer to the coast. While the lowlands saw widespread rain, our mountain passes got several inches of snow with more on the way overnight.

A wet start to the day on Friday where many spots picked up .25″ to .80″ of rain.

A mainly dry night around western Washington tonight except for a convergence zone which will set up in Snohomish County. Light rain will continue to fall along the line with more snow, especially through Stevens Pass.

Mainly dry Friday night with a few showers north.

A convergence zone sets up in the north sound with a chance for light rain overnight.

Many of our mountain ski slopes picked up around 6″ of snow earlier today with more falling tonight. A Winter Weather Advisory was issued till 6 a.m. for the Central Cascades, including Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass.

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect over the Central Washington Cascades. (FOX 13 Seattle)

After the rain wraps up tonight, our weekend and the extended period looks fairly dry. Afternoon temperatures will be cooler, only in the low to mid 40s with overnight lows dropping to near freezing.

The 7 day forecast for the greater Seattle area.

A long dry stretch begins Saturday in Seattle. Temperatures will be cooler with lows near freezing.

BEST OF FOX 13 SEATTLE

New 2025 laws that are now in effect in WA

Orca Tahlequah seen pushing second dead calf in WA waters

WA skiers demand action as ‘rampant’ thefts plague Stevens Pass

Here’s when you’ll need REAL ID to go through US airport security

New restaurants coming to Seattle in 2025

To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.

Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.

WeatherWeather Forecast

Source link

Seattle, WA

State ferries: A better idea from Nordic countries

Published

21 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

State ferries: A better idea from Nordic countries

Re: “Diesel or hybrid ferries? How about simply reliable” (Jan. 7, Opinion): Gov. Jay Inslee, Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson and The Seattle Times editorial board are asking the wrong question: diesel or hybrid ferries? Inslee and the majority of Democrats support…

Source link

Seattle, WA

Manhunt underway for Mason County shooting suspect

Published

1 day ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Manhunt underway for Mason County shooting suspect

Manuhunt underway for Mason County assault suspect

Mason County deputies are looking for a man wanted in a shooting in Belfair on Monday.

MASON COUNTY, Wash. – The Mason County Sheriff’s Office is currently searching for a convicted felon wanted in a recent shooting.

The sheriff’s office says Michael Allen Beyer is wanted for first-degree assault and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.

Deputies believe Beyer was involved in a shooting that happened in Belfair on January 6.

Beyer is considered armed and dangerous. If you see him, do not approach him and call 911 immediately.

Anyone with information regarding Beyer’s whereabouts is asked to call Detective Helser at 360-427-9670 x657, or Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).