Tacoma lands $4.6M grant to hire 12 new police officers, with a catch

Tacoma is set to hire a dozen new police officers after landing a $4.6 million state grant.

First reported by The Tacoma News Tribune, the city council accepted the grant earlier this week. In addition to gaining new police officers, the funds will also pay for three support staff and a contract psychologist for the Tacoma Police Department.

The city is kicking in about $500,000 from its public safety sales tax, plus another $1.6 million for vehicles and equipment.

But here’s the catch. The grant only covers costs through next June, with the possibility of one more year after that. After that, Tacoma’s on the hook for all of it.

The City of Tacoma is already staring down a $40 million budget deficit — one it’s been dealing with since at least 2009.

Tacoma Police Chief Patti Jackson said she’s confident the department will still be able to cover the costs of the increased staff even when state funding runs out.

“If we weren’t able to secure additional funding, I don’t foresee a need that we would lay people off — I would see that through attrition, those 12 entry-level officers would maintain employment for the police department,” Jackson said at an Aug. 18 council meeting, according to The Tacoma News Tribune.

Hiring freeze hits Tacoma as city eyes $15M budget shortfall

The City of Tacoma implemented a hiring freeze in April that will remain in effect through the end of the year to save money.

The hiring freeze affects both hiring and promotions within the general city government. Tacoma has projected a potential $15 million deficit for its 2027 budget.

“This temporary freeze on hiring and promotions provides the city with the opportunity to carefully evaluate its organizational needs and align its staffing with community priorities, long-term strategic goals, and current financial realities,” City Manager Hyun Kim said. “The city remains deeply committed to its workforce and to serving the Tacoma community efficiently during this period of deliberate fiscal evaluation.”

Tacoma underwent a similar hiring freeze in 2024, saving the city approximately $4.8 million.

The City of Tacoma additionally announced that a critical hire review committee will be created to evaluate each vacancy on a case-by-case basis to ensure “critical operations remain fully resourced, community service levels are maintained, and all operational savings are accurately tracked.”

Anders Ibsen takes over as mayor of Tacoma

Anders Ibsen won the 2025 general election over John Hines to become the city’s newest mayor, replacing Victoria Woodards, who served as mayor since 2018. Ibsen received 57.1% of the vote, while Hines had 42.9%.

Ibsen, 39, served on the Tacoma City Council for eight years, from 2012 to 2019, in addition to being a broker at a real estate firm in Tacoma. He previously faced off against Hines for a council seat in 2015, winning that election a decade ago.

Contributing: Frank Sumrall, MyNorthwest

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