Seattle PD staffing levels may be a problem after Oct 13

[nwslopoke]

City council policies have kept us from spending money there for a few years. How people can watch a city be destroyed in front of their eyes and make it a good thing, is shocking.

Like the destruction of what Portland was, we just explored other areas. We've gone to Utah, Idaho and in my wife's case South Dakota. If Seattle/Portland don't want tourists dollars they won't get them. Self inflicted wounds.

 

[308]

So, the old frog in the pot story? Our visit to PDX a few weeks ago was an eye opening perspective like that. Our custom built home backing up to the Powell Butte Nature Park is now looking like trash and the whole neighborhood is overgrown with trees and lawns looking like crap. Trash all along Powell Blvd. Permanent zombie encampments on Division St….traffic is considerably worse. We could not wait to GTH out of that $&@!hole.

 

[whiskeybill]

Well, for every Sodom there needs to be a Gomorrah I guess.


Completely understand your statement. Here is a glimpse. Many drawn to be an LEO want to work in a place where they can make a difference. Bigger cities and cities that have higher crime rates are desired. In the past, most departments were still able to do law enforcement in spite of the city politics. This is clearly no longer true, especially in larger, woke cities.

Last year (2020) a friend in Superior, Montana said there were a number of Seattle PD officers had applied for work with the Mineral County Sheriffs Department. When they realized the pay was nowhere near what they made in Seattle, the applications were withdrawn. The cost of living in that county is considerably less than what it is anywhere on the Left Coast, and the population is so small that they don't have the tax base to lavish big city wages on any public employees.

I had heard that King County and the city of Seattle were trying to make the Sheriffs position an appointed one as opposed to elected. That would be very bad for the rest of King County not incorporated with Seattle proper. That's all King county needs, a hired liberal gun doing Seattles bidding in the rest of the county.

 

[WillametteWill]

Last year (2020) a friend in Superior, Montana said there were a number of Seattle PD officers had applied for work with the Mineral County Sheriffs Department. When they realized the pay was nowhere near what they made in Seattle, the applications were withdrawn. The cost of living in that county is considerably less than what it is anywhere on the Left Coast, and the population is so small that they don't have the tax base to lavish big city wages on any public employees.

I had heard that King County and the city of Seattle were trying to make the Sheriffs position an appointed one as opposed to elected. That would be very bad for the rest of King County not incorporated with Seattle proper. That's all King county needs, a hired liberal gun doing Seattles bidding in the rest of the county.

Yes to this. I image this is happening a lot. Pay at many large departments and even small departments is substantial. I'm sure those who followed me at my old agency are making north of $140k per year with OT. Base pay is approaching $100k (base including at the built in incentives). It's hard to leave a job that pays this much for many, especially with only a HS diploma.

And appointed Sheriff...agree...bad idea. Most of America geographically is "normal" and tends to elect Sheriffs that are like minded.

 

[2506]

For the life of me I cannot see why anyone would be a cop in Seattle or any other liberal city that constantly throws them under the bus.

Because six months after becoming a sworn officer, your base pay is $89,700

 

[Alexx1401]

I can see the pay being a "thing" for Seattle LEO's if they plan to keep living anywhere near there. The cost of housing up that way is insane compared with places even just 50 miles out. Of course for those who own a home and want out there is no better time to sell and bail. Wages always have to be compared with how much it costs to live where the work is. Many years ago a co worker who was an RN was just finishing up here 2 year internship. She was looking at the pay places were offering and said she was looking at a place in LA. She was all excited that they were offering almost 3 times what they were offering here. I told her before you commit look at cost to live there. Well that woke her up. She was shocked at what a studio apartment would run her if she did not want to live in a crap hole or drive for hour's each way. She ended up taking a contract in Hawaii due to it paying more and coming with housing.
So any LEO's working in Seattle could easily find that a job paying half what they are making there could easily end up leaving them in the same life style due to how little it cost to live in many new places and how much they can sell out for if they have a home they bought a while back.

 

[2506]

Yes to this. I image this is happening a lot. Pay at many large departments and even small departments is substantial. I'm sure those who followed me at my old agency are making north of $140k per year with OT. Base pay is approaching $100k (base including at the built in incentives). It's hard to leave a job that pays this much for many, especially with only a HS diploma.

And appointed Sheriff...agree...bad idea. Most of America geographically is "normal" and tends to elect Sheriffs that are like minded.

My first job out of college was working for the Port of Seattle Labor Relations Department as a wage and benefit analyst during the Port's contract negotiations with the police union. Even back then, it was an eye-opener seeing how much cops made. Base salary was high—plus they all work over time, plus additional 3-5% for a college degree, more for a master's, hazard pay, special teams pay, training pay, dry cleaning, etc. And every year to 18 months an automatic pay increase. They're not wanting.

 

[2506]

I can see the pay being a "thing" for Seattle LEO's if they plan to keep living anywhere near there. The cost of housing up that way is insane compared with places even just 50 miles out. Of course for those who own a home and want out there is no better time to sell and bail. Wages always have to be compared with how much it costs to live where the work is. Many years ago a co worker who was an RN was just finishing up here 2 year internship. She was looking at the pay places were offering and said she was looking at a place in LA. She was all excited that they were offering almost 3 times what they were offering here. I told her before you commit look at cost to live there. Well that woke her up. She was shocked at what a studio apartment would run her if she did not want to live in a crap hole or drive for hour's each way. She ended up taking a contract in Hawaii due to it paying more and coming with housing.
So any LEO's working in Seattle could easily find that a job paying half what they are making there could easily end up leaving them in the same life style due to how little it cost to live in many new places and how much they can sell out for if they have a home they bought a while back.

The vast majority of SPD cops don't live anywhere near Seattle.

 

[WillametteWill]

My first job out of college was working for the Port of Seattle Labor Relations Department as a wage and benefit analyst during the Port's contract negotiations with the police union. Even back then, it was an eye-opener seeing how much cops made. Base salary was high—plus they all work over time, plus additional 3-5% for a college degree, more for a master's, hazard pay, special teams pay, training pay, dry cleaning, etc. And every year to 18 months an automatic pay increase. They're not wanting.

During my entire career I never once complained about my pay. I refused to support any job action that was related to pay. If I wanted more pay, I worked more OT. You do that job because you want to do that job. In later years I remember my department make a recruiting poster that said, "How does $87,000 per year to start sound?" I thought this was one of the worst ideas in the history of ever. Guess who started to apply? People who didn't really want to do the job.

The vast majority of SPD cops don't live anywhere near Seattle.

Even thought I adequately compensated I could not afford to live where I worked. 55 mile commute for me.

 

[Alexx1401]

The vast majority of SPD cops don't live anywhere near Seattle.

If they own a home they have had a while they can still sell and move. The housing market in all 3 big counties here is a sellers market. Now if they are doing a commute that is 100 miles a day? Then they could work for a lot less and still come out good. That kind of commute also has to be taken into account when comparing wages. The place I work some have gone to Seattle to work. Pay across the board is about 30-40% more. For those willing to do the commute. The hospitals up there have to pay that or they would have no staff. For those who work 3 day weeks its not too bad. Still not for me. When I was working as a Machinist it was tempting to work for the Lazy B. I could have made a LOT more but, it would mean hours of road time a day. Not worth it to me. I was glad to work for less at a place I could ride my bike to work when weather was nice. All in choices, everyone gets to make them.

 

[titsonritz]

Because six months after becoming a sworn officer, your base pay is $89,700

Not enough under current piss in the wind conditions.

 

[Alexx1401]

Not enough under current piss in the wind conditions.

YEP!! That money may "sound great" to those who have zero clue what the job is like. Those who actually work there would not agree unless they get to work in an office all day. The best part of this is the useful idiots who did this to themselves are going to soon find out how well it works. NONE of the really good people who used to fill these jobs will touch them. So as the good leave they will be forced to hire the people who would never have qualified. Soon the real fun will begin as more Officers who should not be there are on the job screwing up.

 

[Old Dog]

I've lost a handful of my people to SPD. But according to an acquaintance who's been with SPD for more'n 25 years, SPD has lost far more officers that it's admitted to.

The city has become a ****hole. I don't even bother taking family or friends who come visit us into the city anymore -- no Pike Place, no downtown, no Space Needle, nada. (I will shamefully confess that I have gone to M's and 'Hawks games when my team comes to visit, and I'll be watching my guys play the Kraken as well -- but that doesn't mean that I forgive Seattle). A once-proud city that has become festering anarchy replete with "safe injection sites," disgusting homeless encampments sanctioned by the city rulers, streets littered with all manner of trash, militant confrontational beggars, crappy public transportation and all the good restaurants and bars have bailed. Oh, and the avowed Socialist members of the city council (some who believe that being poor means they should be allowed to steal and commit other crimes with impunity) are the icing on the cake...

 

[revjen45]

Wow it's Portland vs Seattle in a race to Hell.
And they're neck and neck!

Unfortunately, I have to go into The Emerald Cesspool for medical care. Otherwise I wouldn't go anywhere near it.

 

[Lilhigbee]

The Emerald Cesspool

Does that mean Potland is The Rose Cesspool??

 

[revjen45]

Yeah - that would make sense.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I haven't been to Seattle since 09.

I saw it on a map once and caught the autism.

 

[JohnnyMac]

I haven't been to Seattle since 09.

 

[223to45]

I had heard that King County and the city of Seattle were trying to make the Sheriffs position an appointed one as opposed to elected.

I believe it is a done deal people of Seattle voted on it.

 

[223to45]

Popcorn, chips and beer ready.

Ammo, don't forgot to have ammo ready too??