Is the Seattle Police Department going to get an influx of money in 2026? Quite possibly, yes. This is so because Bruce Harrell, Seattle’s Mayor, has proposed a budget that includes more than $40 million of additional spending for the Seattle Police Department in 2026. The proposed funding increase comes as other departments citywide have been asked to do more with less.
The Police Department, with Harrell’s proposal, will see the largest general fund budget increase of any department in the entire City of Seattle. The department is now on track to hire 175 more officers than it lost between 2025 and 2026. The department’s budget for hiring new officers was increased by $13 million in 2025 and will be increased by $26 million in 2026. Does this mean more boots on the street soon? Not necessarily, as some portion of cadets will not make it all the way through their training and probationary periods. In all, however, it is expected that more Seattle officers will be ‘fighting crime’ in 2026. Will this increase arrests and the court's case load in Seattle? Time will tell, we shall see.
If you or a loved one is in a bind as a result of criminal allegations, immediately contact a Seattle Criminal Attorney. A Criminal lawyer is not going to judge you and understands that everyone makes mistakes. Hiring a Seattle Criminal Lawyer to help can – at a minimum – reduce penalties and can help direct people on how to best deal with their criminal charge, and many times even get them dismissed. So, it should go without saying that someone cited for a misdemeanor or felony should hire a qualified Seattle Criminal Lawyer as soon as possible. Criminal charges can cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone charged with a crime in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a seasoned Seattle Criminal Lawyer. SQ Attorneys can be reached at (425) 359-3791 and/or (206) 441-0900.