As SPD drops hiring bonuses, Bellevue PD is still waving $30K at officers looking to leave

The Seattle Police Department (SPD) will no longer offer hiring bonuses as of September 1, citing budget concerns — a major shift even as the department struggles to put enough officers on the street.

Currently, entry-level hires qualify for $7,500 and up to $5,000 in reimbursable moving expenses if moving more than 50 miles. Lateral hires, those moving from another agency, could get up to $50,000 and up to $7,500 in moving expenses.

Ironically, and probably not coincidentally, the Bellevue Police Department (BVPD) posted on X Friday that $30,000 bonuses are still being offered for officers making a lateral move to BVPD.

Budget concerns end SPD’s hiring incentives

Interim Seattle Police Chief Andre Sayles decided to end hiring incentives effective Sept. 1 as a way to help manage the department’s budget.

“A decision has been made to stop the hiring incentives until a time when the budget forecast for the Seattle Police Department is clear,” SPD said in an emailed statement Thursday to KIRO Newsradio. “We have a responsibility to the people of Seattle to provide the best police service while also being fiscally responsible. We will continue to hire some of the highest quality candidates in the country and are dedicated [to] helping keep Seattle a safe and welcoming city.”

Applicants who are already in the hiring process or submit their application by the end of this month will still receive the hiring incentive.

Despite the move, SPD is still understaffed and said the decision to pause incentives does not mean the department will not be able to get officers onto patrol.

Only 929 of SPD’s sworn officers can actually respond to a 911 call

While SPD counts 1,197 sworn personnel when recruits, students in field training, and unavailable officers are included, only 929 are actually deployable, according to “The Jason Rantz Show” on Seattle Red 770 AM.

SPD remains focused on bringing in qualified new officers, moving new hires through training more quickly, and getting officers into patrol assignments faster, according to the department. City leaders said they back the chief’s strategy.

“SPD officer hiring remains strong, while separations have been lower than projected in 2026,” Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s office said in a statement to KIRO Newsradio. “In light of those trends, Interim Chief Sayles determined that ending hiring incentives effective Sept. 1 was an appropriate step to help manage the department’s budget. The administration supports the chief’s efforts to build a well-trained, professional, and accountable police department.”

The pause in incentives shifts the emphasis away from signing bonuses and toward streamlining training and deployment, as SPD works to close its staffing gap and maintain public safety across Seattle.

“We have a responsibility to the people of Seattle to provide the best police service, while also being fiscally responsible,” SPD Detective Shane Weatherford said. “We will continue to hire some of the highest quality candidates in the country, and are dedicated to helping keep Seattle safe.”

Neighboring departments poaching SPD talent

KIRO host Jake Skorheim noted that SPD has made aggressive efforts to recruit, including $50,000 signing bonuses for lateral hires from other agencies, but the numbers aren’t moving.

“When somebody’s sitting on the phone waiting for police to respond to a 911 call, all they care about is how fast can you get here,” Jake said on “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio. “And that number is actually only 929. And that’s not good in a city this size.”

KIRO host Spike O’Neill said nearby departments are poaching SPD talent. He argued that the problem is compounded by surrounding communities offering better working environments, lower costs of living, and leadership stability.

“Other communities around the area, whether it’s Federal Way or Pierce County or wherever else, Bellevue, are also poaching these officers from SPD,” Spike said. “Those are communities that appreciate the police department.”

This story was originally published on Aug. 27, 2026. It has been updated and republished since then.

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Frank Lenzi is the News Director for KIRO Newsradio. Read more of his stories here.