Seattle, WA
SPD sees major hiring boost in 2024 with 84 new recruits
SPD new hires train after successful recruitment year
The Seattle Police Department may finally be turning the corner on its staffing struggles, as 2024 turned out to be one of their biggest recruitment years, with 84 new hires.
SEATTLE, Wash. – The Seattle Police Department is making strides in rebuilding its ranks after several challenging years. In 2024, the department achieved a major milestone, hiring 84 new officers—a significant boost as SPD works to address staffing shortages.
The hands-on training at the academy is designed to prepare student officers for the complex realities of policing, from pain compliance techniques to firearms proficiency.
“It’s serious, the responsibility we have and the trust that we’re given. We don’t want to hurt people unnecessarily,” said 24-year-old recruit Natalie Cornwall.
Cornwall, a Seattle native, returned to Seattle this past summer after applying to the department. She brings with her a background in the military, as her father served in the armed forces. Cornwall also has prior experience with Lacey’s Explorer program, where she participated for four years before aging out at 21.
“I just really missed the kind of sense of purpose on military bases,” Cornwall said. After traveling and completing college, she decided to pursue her passion for public service. “It’s about being part of something bigger than me and doing something that matters,” Cornwall said.
Seattle police, mayor celebrate hiring surge
Seattle Police and the Mayor’s Office are celebrating what they’re calling a surge in officer recruitment.
For another recruit, the journey to SPD marked a significant career shift. Damaris Dominguez, a 39-year-old mother from the Bronx, transitioned from the dental field to law enforcement.
“It was my first choice,” Dominguez said. Dominguez, who will turn 40 next month, said it was a choice she made after doing extensive research into the department. “I saw they were understaffed, just applied, I said I’m going to give it a go and I think it was the best choice,” Dominguez said. “As each step progressed, I started passing, getting calls, and I was like, ‘I’m in.’ It was a sign that I should be doing this.”
Dominguez views her new role as an opportunity to rebuild trust between police and the community. “It’s important to me because we’ve had a downfall in some years. Just being able to support our community…if it can be just a small change, that means everything,” she said.
As a Spanish speaker, Dominguez believes her language skills will be invaluable in connecting with Seattle’s diverse community. “It would be a big help because a lot of situations come from the lack of communication. Sometimes they can be misunderstood, so the fact that I can speak Spanish is going to be a big help when I’m on my beat,” Dominguez said.
The SPD hiring process is rigorous, involving multiple evaluations and months of training. Recruits spend 8-9 weeks at the post-basic academy, followed by additional field training.
Lieutenant Larry Longley, a field training officer with SPD, is optimistic about the department’s recruitment efforts. He noted an influx of candidates from across the country and military backgrounds.
“Some things have changed around the country. Crime’s at a pretty high level, so they’re seeing the necessity for it,” Longley said. He also credited social media for attracting interest in law enforcement careers.
SPD aims to hire 120 to 140 officers in 2025, surpassing 2024’s numbers.
“We need them now more than ever,” Longley said. “They’re going to be highly trained officers and professional officers.”
Despite this recruitment success, Longley noted that the department still faces challenges. “We lost quite a few officers, and we still have to factor in attrition numbers to even retiring,” Longley said. “It’s still years away, several years away, before we’re fully staffed.”
For Cornwall and Dominguez, joining SPD is more than just a career—it’s a calling. “It’s a lifestyle. It’s not just a career,” Cornwall said.
SPD Hires by the numbers
- 2024: 84
- 2023: 61
- 2022: 58
- 2021: 81
- 2020: 51
- 2019: 108
Individuals who have left SPD (Sworn + recruits)
- 2024: 83
- 2023: 97
- 2022: 159
- 2021: 171
- 2020: 186
- 2019: 92
Retirements
- 2024: 39
- 2023: 66
- 2022: 88
- 2021: 100
- 2020: 71
- 2019: 45
Seattle Police says Mayor Bruce Harrell aims to have the department back to pre-pandemic levels of around 1,400 officers.
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Thanks to Carrie Brown for the westward view of our Saturday night sunset. The high today hit 68 at the airport – eight degrees above normal – but nowhere near the record for this date, which was 89 degrees back in 2016. The forecast suggests two more days of partly sunny, almost-70-degree weather, before the chance of rain returns.
CHICAGO (AP) — The struggling New York Mets placed former Seattle Mariners second baseman/designated hitter Jorge Polanco on the 10-day injured list on Saturday with a right wrist contusion.
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The move was made retroactive to Wednesday, a day after Polanco went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in a 2-1 loss at the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 32-year-old Polanco is batting .179 (10 for 56) with a homer and two RBIs in his first season with New York, which has lost nine straight.
“When doctors first took a look at him, it looked like he got hit by a pitch when he didn’t,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “In talking to him, it was just a couple of swings that he took that night. … He didn’t think much of it, but just got worse the following day.
“So you just got to let it calm down a little bit and then we’ll go from there. But we don’t have a timetable for how long this is going to last.”
Polanco, who signed a two-year, $40 million contract with the Mets in December, also has been dealing with an ankle issue.
“He was trending in the right direction,” Mendoza said of the ankle injury. “It’s definitely going to help, obviously now with him being shut down. But the biggest thing now is that we’ve got to take care of that wrist.”
Polanco spent the previous two seasons with the Mariners, who acquired him in a February 2024 trade with the Minnesota Twins.
Polanco struggled during his first season with Seattle in 2024, hitting just .213 with 16 homers in 118 games while playing through a knee injury that didn’t become public knowledge until after the season.
But after the Mariners somewhat surprisingly brought him back for a one-year contract in 2025, Polanco rebounded to hit .265 with 26 homers and an .821 OPS in 138 games last season. He then added three homers during Seattle’s playoff run, along with a 15th-inning walkoff single in Game 5 of the American League Division Series that sent the Mariners to their first ALCS in 24 years.
Seattle Sports staff made additions to this post.
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Seattle, WA
Brandon Nimmo hits leadoff homer, Jacob deGrom works 4 scoreless as Rangers beat Seattle Mariners 5-0
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – APRIL 17: Corey Seager #5 of the Texas Rangers tags out Dominic Canzone #8 of the Seattle Mariners during the fourth inning at T-Mobile Park on April 17, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
SEATTLE – Brandon Nimmo hit a leadoff home run, Jacob deGrom threw four shutout innings and Gavin Collyer earned his first career win as the Texas Rangers beat the Seattle Mariners 5-0 on Friday night.
Seattle lost its fourth straight game, and was shut out for the fourth time in 21 games, falling to 8-13. The Mariners were shut out six times during the 2025 season. Texas won its third straight game.
Nimmo led off the game with a 372-foot shot to right field off Mariners starter Logan Gilbert (1-3). It was Nimmo’s 16th career leadoff homer and second of the season. He also hit a leadoff home run on April 11 in a 6-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
DeGrom effectively maneuvered through Seattle’s lineup, and worked out of a one out, bases-loaded jam in the first inning. The two-time Cy Young Award winner recorded two of his three strikeouts after walking Josh Naylor to load the bases. Randy Arozarena fanned on a curveball, and Luke Raley swung through a fastball.
Texas added to its lead after Nimmo’s homer. Wyatt Langford’s single to left scored Corey Seager, who led off the third inning with a double. The Rangers stretched the lead to 3-0 on an RBI single from Jake Burger in the seventh.
The Mariners’ best scoring chance came in the sixth after Collyer (1-0), who worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings, left the game.
J.P. Crawford singled to left off Tyler Alexander with two out, and Mariners third base coach Carlos Cardoza sent Naylor from second base, but he was thrown out by Langford.
Texas added two more runs in the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Andrew McCutchen and an RBI double by Josh Jung.
Seattle third baseman Brendan Donovan left the game early due to a left hip issue.
Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller, who started the year on the injured list with a left oblique injury, was at T-Mobile Park for the first time this season. He will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday.
Up next
Mariners RHP George Kirby (2-2, 3.25) will face Rangers righty Nathan Eovaldi (2-2, 5.40) on Saturday afternoon.
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