The Patriot Journal reports:
In 2017, before the “defund” movement took hold, Seattle recorded 27 homicides. By 2022, that number had skyrocketed to 54 murders – a 100% increase. Rapes jumped from 255 to 347, and aggravated assaults soared from 2,474 to 3,516. Surprised? We’re not.
Meanwhile, the Seattle Police Department hemorrhaged officers. More than 700 police personnel have separated from the department since 2020, when the city first embraced anti-police initiatives following George Floyd’s death. The force plummeted from 1,400 sworn officers in 2017 to a mere 913 in 2024 – an unprecedented staffing crisis that left neighborhoods vulnerable and response times dangerously long. How many 911 calls went unanswered while Seattle’s leaders were busy virtue signaling?
On March 25, Seattle councilmember Robert Saka introduced Resolution 32167, which did something almost unthinkable in one of America’s most liberal cities: it officially acknowledged the failure of the “defund the police” movement and reversed course completely. Yes, you read that right—they actually admitted they were wrong.
The resolution didn’t just quietly walk back previous policies – it explicitly honored and affirmed “the essential services provided by the Police Department” and recognized the vital work done by all first responders. This represents a complete 180-degree turn from the anti-police rhetoric that dominated Seattle politics just a few years ago. Amazing what a crime wave can do to clarify thinking, isn’t it?
Even more telling, the resolution passed with unanimous support from those present. Not a single council member voted against it. The hard reality of their failed experiment had become impossible to deny, even for the most dedicated progressive ideologues.
Perhaps most remarkable is the personal transformation of Councilmember Saka himself. This is the same official who once wore a “Black Lawyers Matter” T-shirt to a Floyd-related protest and proudly declared his belief “in the principles of BOTH the American Flag and the Black Lives Matter movement.”
Now, Saka acknowledges that the anti-police rhetoric was “very divisive” and harmful to public safety. His evolution mirrors that of many progressives who have been forced to confront the devastating real-world consequences of their ideological crusade against law enforcement. How many victims had to suffer before this realization finally dawned on him? ….
The SPD is now working to rebuild, with interim Chief Shon Barnes prioritizing recruitment and retention. The department aims to reach at least 1,000 officers by 2026 – still below pre-“defund” levels, but a step in the right direction. It will take years to undo the damage of their progressive experiment.
~E
