Blue City Makes Major U-Turn on ‘Defund The Police’

Seattle’s city council just voted to formally end its past support for defunding the police. After years of rising crime and public pushback, city leaders are now taking a new direction on public safety.

Key Facts:

  • On Tuesday, Seattle’s city council unanimously passed Resolution 32167, ending all prior pledges to defund or abolish the police.
  • Councilmember Rob Saka introduced the resolution, calling it a necessary step to improve public safety and heal divisions.
  • Saka emphasized that many officers left the force citing the city’s anti-police stance.
  • The resolution will allow Seattle Police Department (SPD) policies to move forward for federal review.
  • Saka, Seattle’s only Black councilmember, criticized the 2020 council for speaking on behalf of Black communities without Black representation.

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The Rest of The Story:

After the death of George Floyd in 2020, many progressive cities embraced the “Defund the Police” movement.

Seattle was among the most vocal, pledging to cut police funding and shift resources elsewhere.

But crime has climbed in the years since, leading to growing concern among residents and a major staffing crisis within the police department.

Councilmember Rob Saka introduced Resolution 32167 to turn the page.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Saka said plainly, “’Defund’ is dead if this passes, that’s the headline.”

The resolution aims to formally reverse past statements and re-center the city’s commitment to public safety through a diversified response model.

Saka also took the opportunity to call out what he described as a patronizing attitude from previous councilmembers who, despite being mostly white, claimed to speak for Black communities.

“As a Black man,” Saka said, “we don’t need White saviors.”

Commentary:

Seattle’s vote is long overdue.

The “Defund the Police” movement was a political experiment that failed — and communities paid the price.

Residents saw violent crime rise, while officers left in droves, demoralized by the city’s message that they were unwelcome.

City leaders who supported this movement ignored basic reality: law enforcement is not the enemy.

The job is difficult and dangerous.

When politicians attack police and gut their budgets, public safety collapses.

That’s exactly what happened in Seattle.

The 2020 council’s decision was especially reckless.

They embraced a slogan without a plan, with no meaningful input from the communities they claimed to represent.

As Saka pointed out, the council had zero Black members when it made sweeping commitments on behalf of Black people.

Saka’s statement cuts through the noise: Black and Brown communities don’t need performative gestures.

They need real safety and the resources to protect their families and neighborhoods.

Pretending otherwise has caused more harm than help.

This resolution won’t fix everything, but it’s a crucial first step.

Seattle needs to rebuild its police force, regain community trust, and stop letting activist slogans dictate public policy.

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The Bottom Line:

Seattle has officially reversed its past commitment to defund the police.

The unanimous vote reflects growing recognition that public safety must come first.

Councilmember Rob Saka’s bold leadership signals a shift away from ideology and back toward accountability and real solutions.

The city now has a chance to correct course — and lead by example.

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