Seattle Approves Police Pay Raises Expands Unarmed CARE Crisis Response

Seattle has finalized a new four-year collective bargaining agreement with the Seattle Police Officers Guild, introducing significant pay raises and enhanced incentives for education and bilingual skills. The contract includes retroactive raises of 6% for 2024 and 4.1% for 2025, with further increases planned through 2027 that are tied to the Consumer Price Index. Alongside the pay adjustments, the agreement incorporates stronger police accountability measures by allowing civilian investigators to handle potential termination cases and streamlining disciplinary processes. A major component of the deal is the elevation and expansion of the Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) team, which now operates as a permanent, standalone public safety entity able to respond solo to certain 911 calls involving behavioral health crises, substance abuse, and homelessness. This shift reflects Seattle's broader strategy to blend traditional policing with specialized, unarmed crisis response to better serve community needs while maintaining public safety. City leaders and stakeholders have hailed the contract as a balanced approach fostering safer neighborhoods through both improved police support and innovative crisis intervention.