SEATTLE — The Seattle Police Department has reported a dramatic increase in hiring, bringing on 60 officers through April 2025, up 500% from just 10 hires during the same period last year, the Everett Post reported.
According to a statement from Mayor Bruce Harrell, the recent hires outpace the department’s first-quarter recruitment totals from the past three years combined. If current trends continue, officials estimate the department could bring on more than 150 officers by year’s end.
Application numbers have also surged. SPD received 1,218 officer applications in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 690 over the same period in 2024.
“Our work to modernize recruiting and increase qualified applications is showing results through record hiring in 2025 – putting us on a path to restore Seattle Police Department staffing,” Harrell said.
The spike in hiring comes after staffing levels dropped to their lowest point in nearly three decades by March 2024, according to the report. A shift in city council priorities following the 2023 election brought a renewed focus on rebuilding the force.
In 2024, the Seattle City Council approved a package of measures to boost recruitment, including hiring bonuses of up to $50,000 for lateral officers and $7,500 for new recruits. The council also ratified a new contract with the Seattle Police Officers Guild that increased wages and reduced hiring timelines to three to five months. The city’s 2025 budget allocated $2.5 million for expanded recruiting and advertising efforts.
“After passing more than a dozen public safety bills last year, I am pleased to see the impacts we as a city are having that can help make residents feel safe,” said City Councilmember Bob Kettle, chair of the Public Safety Committee.
New SPD recruits now earn a starting salary of $103,000, with lateral hires starting at $116,000 — approaching the city’s median household income of $122,000, according to U.S. Census data.
If you are considering a lateral transfer and moving to another department, watch this video for the 12 questions you should answer about the department and community you are considering.
