Seattle City Council adopts resolution backing first responders, formally repudiates 2020 "defund" pledges

Seattle City Council on April 1 adopted Resolution 32,167 by a 6-0 vote, affirming the council's support for first responders and formally reversing prior city-level pledges to "defund" the Seattle Police Department. The resolution, introduced as agenda item 1, was approved by Councilmembers Kettle, Rivera, Saka, Solomon, Hollingsworth and Council President Sarah Nelson; Councilmember Rink was excused.

The resolution recognizes and affirms the roles of the Seattle Police Department, Seattle Fire Department and the Community Assisted Response and Engagement (Care) Department; supports continued reforms under the federal consent decree overseeing SPD; and commits the city to a diversified public safety response that includes social workers and behavioral-health crisis teams. Councilmember Saka, the resolution sponsor and vice chair of the public-safety committee, told colleagues the measure is intended to "support our public safety professionals" while advancing reforms and accountability and to "help shape a future of public safety in our city that we can all be proud of."

Why it matters: the measure signals a policy pivot from the language and political posture adopted in 2020 by some elected officials and community advocates. Councilmembers cited the need to both resource traditional emergency services and expand alternative response options. Saka said the resolution also aims to move the city toward resolving remaining issues in the federal consent decree that governs SPD practices; U.S. District Judge James Robart was referenced in council remarks on the consent decree process.

Council discussion emphasized three linked goals: resourcing and training first responders; strengthening independent accountability; and building alternative, non-police crisis responses. Councilmember Rivera said, "We need our first responders, all of them including police, and then we need to work to make sure that we hold police accountable," and described building relationships between police and communities as a path to better outcomes. Committee chair Kettle described the vote as a "resetting of tone" and a way to "turn a page" on the political rhetoric of 2020.

The resolution text, introduced in the public-safety committee, lists provisions to acknowledge first responders' service, support training and equipment, affirm progress made under the consent decree, commit to resolving outstanding consent-decree issues, and endorse a diversified public-safety model. The mayor's office concurred with the resolution before the full-council vote.

Public comment during the meeting included multiple speakers both supporting the measure and urging broader accountability. Tia Petrovich, chair of the Pioneer Square Residents Council, said she supported the consent-decree legislation and the expansion of mental-health and social-worker response teams. Other public commenters addressed separate concerns, including a request that the council call on the city attorney to retract alleged false statements in a press release; that request was raised during public comment but did not generate separate council action during the meeting.

The council also adopted the introduction and referral calendar and the consent calendar by unanimous roll call earlier in the meeting. The consent calendar included the minutes for March 18 and March 25, 2025, Council Bill 120,961, payment of bills, and several committee appointments; no items were removed for separate consideration.

Resolution 32,167 passed by roll call: Kettle — Aye; Rivera — Aye; Saka — Aye; Solomon — Aye; Hollingsworth — Yes; Nelson — Aye. The chair signed the legislation and asked the clerk to affix the council president's signature on the adopted documents. The council adjourned at 3:08 p.m.; the next regular meeting is scheduled for April 8 at 2 p.m.

Votes at a glance: Resolution 32,167 — Adopted 6-0 (Rink excused); Consent calendar (minutes, Council Bill 120,961, payment of bills, committee appointments) — Adopted 6-0 (Rink excused).