During a recent government meeting, officials discussed a proposed $50,000 lateral hiring incentive aimed at attracting more police officers to the Seattle area. The conversation centered on the efficacy of this incentive and its potential impact on recruitment efforts.

One official expressed curiosity about the expected outcomes of the proposed incentive, particularly in light of neighboring jurisdictions like Des Moines and Mercer Island, which have raised their incentives to $60,000. The official emphasized the importance of ensuring that any future adjustments to the incentive are based on solid data rather than reactive measures.

Currently, Seattle is receiving an average of one lateral application per day, and the goal is to increase this number to 1.5 or even two applications daily. The discussion highlighted that the challenge of hiring police officers is not unique to Seattle, with some California cities offering incentives nearing $100,000.

The meeting underscored the ongoing efforts to enhance recruitment strategies in response to a competitive job market for law enforcement, as cities across the country grapple with similar challenges.