Seattle, like Portland is always a tinderbox waiting to go off. Now, things are so bad the city on the verge of a serious catastrophe after all their defund the police crap.
The Seattle Police Department is facing a crisis. Low staff due to the “Blue Flu,” extended leave, and officers removed from duty have caused a staffing crisis that threatens the city’s safety.
Conservative radio host Jason Rantz reported this week that the SPD’s “Unavailable” list, which includes officers who “are on extended leave and cannot be deployed” has grown “considerably” as of December 10. Officers on the list have been absent for at least 14 days.
Rantz reported that the SPD is also struggling to fill vacant patrol slots and is currently below minimum staffing. Rantz noted that every precinct in every district is facing a shortage of officers.
“The HR Unavailable list was at 126 on Oct. 20, two days after the COVID-19 vaccine mandate deadline passed and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan pulled nearly 100 officers from duty,” Rantz reported. “Now, the HR Unavailable list has ballooned to 155, according to an SPD source. This is on top of the 335 exodus of officers since 2020.”
“The list includes illness, disability, and maternity and paternity leave. But officers burning accrued vacation or sick time will also appear on the list. It’s a move an officer typically takes before separating from the department. The SPD will likely see several separations before the end of the year,” Rantz continued. “Many of the officers that are out of service come from patrol. It’s causing a staffing crisis.”