Seattle releases long-awaited police hiring study

SEATTLE — The city of Seattle released a long-awaited study Friday analyzing how many more police officers it needs to meet 911 response times and other service goals.

The answer, however, is not a simple one: up to 175 new officers, plus the equivalent of dozens more in overtime.

In his state of the city address last month, Mayor Ed Murray pledged he would hire 200 new officers by 2019-- doubling his initial goal. Altogether, the SPD has so far added about 50 officers to the force, beyond attrition.

“There's no question in my mind that we'll have our 200 on board within the time frame that's been determined,” Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole said at the time.

The study released on Friday, known as the Berkshire study for the name of the consulting company that conducted it, cost taxpayers $122,500.

>> DOCUMENT: Berkshire Final Report

>> DOCUMENT: Staffing Study Cover Letter

It describes two scenarios for how many more officers need to be on the streets.

It calls for 143 to 175 new police officers, which is well under Murray’s goal of 200. But it also calls for more than 200,000 hours in overtime, which is the equivalent of hiring another 101 to 107 more officers.

The president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild, Ron Smith, told KIRO 7, "What that says, in addition to these new officers, [is] they would have to double the budget for the overtime it would take ... so why not hire above and beyond?"

Money is clearly the big and unresolved issue.

Murray said doubling his goal to 200 officers would cost about $15 million more a year. It's unclear how much the suggested overtime, with officers paid at time and a half, would cost. It is also unclear whether that $15 million would be enough to cover it.

Murray released a statement that said in part, "I have directed Chief Kathleen O'Toole to recommend the right mix of overtime hours versus the hiring of new officers needed to implement her community policing plans."

The mayor is expected roll out his police funding plan, which will include some kind of tax increase, soon.

Cox Media Group