Seattle – Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell made the following statement after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement launched recruitment ads:
“The recent efforts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement targeting Seattle Police officers in their recruiting campaign using misstatements of both law and fact is disappointing and insulting to the oath that officers took when they raised their hands and swore to uphold the Constitution and serve and protect Seattle communities.
“Public safety is built by community and sustained through trust and cooperation with people who live, work, and visit Seattle. The Seattle Police Department is committed to evidence-based policing and real partnerships, not political theater that puts politics ahead of safety.
“Seattle has been prioritizing efforts to recruit new officers who want to serve our communities, and we’ve been seeing positive results. So far this year, SPD has hired nearly 130 new police officers, almost three times as many as the same period in 2024, making significant progress to build a well-staffed police department that keeps every person in our city safe.
“We are not going to compromise our high standards for law enforcement when the Trump administration tries to bully us into violating our own laws and values. We remain committed to building a police department that serves all people in our city with compassion, professionalism, and a clear commitment to public safety.”