Everett Police Union President says city council is blocking federal funds for more officers

The Everett police union president says the city council is blocking the city from federal funds that would result in more police officers.

Everett Police Officers Association President James Collier explained to KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson that on Wednesday night, the city council denied a motion to move forward with a federal grant offered to the city for more police officers. Mayor Cassie Franklin lobbied for the $6 million grant, claiming the city is in need and public safety is at risk.

“When it came up on the agenda item to make a motion and have a second for it to move forward for discussion, which then allows our chief to speak specifically to all the things that we can do with this grant, it didn’t receive a second to move forward,” Collier said. “The chief was not able to say what he needed to say, what the public needs to hear on why we pursued this grant.”

Collier said there will likely be a Hail Mary attempt to secure the grant at next week’s city council meeting, but that would be the last chance.

“I think it was a pretty clear message to us — the taxpayers, the public — that they didn’t want this grant,” he said.

Collier said he hopes that the Everett City Council isn’t caught up in the wave of defunding the police. He said they were surprised by the council’s move.

“Mayor Franklin has been the only mayor that I’ve seen recently, publicly willing to stand up and say I support public safety,” Collier said.

Posted on the Everett Police Officers Association Facebook page:

The Everett Police Officers Association would like to thank Mayor Cassie Franklin for her hard work and efforts to ensure PUBLIC SAFETY in the City of Everett. Mayor Cassie Franklin worked extremely hard personally in Washington DC lobbying for grants for the City of Everett.

Everett was a awarded a COPS grant that would fund more police officers for the City of Everett.

Everett was one of only 12 Cities in Washington State to receive the grant. The City of Everett was awarded $6,054,160 (over 6 MILLION) to help pay for an additional 16 police officers. During our current budget crisis; this is a HUGE benefit to our city.

Unfortunately, at the city council meeting on 8/26/2020 the agenda item to adopt and accept the grant did not receive a 2nd motion to move forward for discussion and a vote. Therefore it is highly likely the city will not see this money for public safety.

City Council we hear you loud and clear.

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