Staffing Update for Year End 2008

By the end of 2008, SPD had 1,329 sworn police officers, the highest number in the Department’s history.  This number includes both officers already deployed and also those in some phase of training.  Aggressive recruiting efforts are resulting in a steady stream of new officers being assigned to the precincts, once they complete their training.  The recruiting goal for 2008 was set at 92, but the Department exceeded that number with 111 hires.

TRAINING TIME

It takes almost a full year from hire date to train an officer and put him or her on the street.  Since 78 of the 1,329 officers currently employed are still in some phase of training, the Department has not yet realized their full benefit.  The good news is that a steady stream of officers is regularly completing the field training program and being assigned to precincts.  By the start of summer 2009, an additional 45-50 officers are expected be deployed. During 2009, hiring under the Neighborhood Policing Plan will add 80 more officers to the department. These will be deployed to precincts as they complete training in the fall of 2009 and beyond.

ASSIGNING OFFICERS TO PRECINCTS

The Department assigns officers to precincts based on a set of workload measures that takes into account reported crime, service calls and service hours.  The chart below compares the precinct staffing levels with workload metrics as of the end of 2008.  While the chart demonstrates a close alignment between workload and officers, the assignment of new officers in the coming months will be allocated to improve that alignment. Please note that the chart counts 9-1-1 responding officers only. It does not count bike officers, anti-crime teams, community police teams, sergeants or other precinct-based patrol officers.

Other steps being taken by the Department include adopting a task force approach to targeted crimes and crime areas and active participation in the Seattle Youth Violent Prevention Initiative taking place in three neighborhoods. More specific response efforts are described on the precinct level pages.