Washington state dead last in U.S. police staffing
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Washington state ranks last in law enforcement staffing for the 15th year in a row, according to FBI data analyzed by the Washington Association of Sheriffs & Police Chiefs (WASPC).
Why it matters: Low staffing levels stretch departments thin, impact officer safety, slow response times and, according to law enforcement leaders, create a cycle that pushes more officers out of the profession.
- "Tired officers, running from call to call by themselves, are the worst possible outcome — for wellness, for victims, and for de-escalation," Steve Strachan, executive director of WASPC, tells Axios.
Driving the news: WASPC released its annual Crime in Washington report on July 28, offering a state snapshot of crime and policing in 2024.
By the numbers: Washington added 292 officers statewide last year and the number of officers per capita rose slightly from 1.34 in 2023 to 1.36, according to FBI data.
- But Washington is still in 51st place, behind all 50 states and D.C., according to WASPC's analysis.
Zoom in: After losing 355 officers through resignations, retirements and other exits, the Seattle Police Department's force is growing for the first time in years.
- The city has hired more than 100 new recruits this year, with a goal of 150 by December — part of a push to rebuild toward around 1,300 deployable officers, according to the department.
What they're saying: "Public safety is a core function of government, and for too long we have not treated it that way," Strachan says.
- There are always so many competing worthy programs and initiatives for public dollars, he said, and "a lack of understanding that we need both programs for prevention as well as accountability for criminals."
The big picture: WASPC tells Axios it would cost more than $1 billion annually to bring Washington up to the national average for police staffing — based on the state Department of Commerce's $154,704 per-officer estimate.
- To lead the nation? Try 30,589 more officers — and nearly $5 billion a year.
The bottom line: Washington's policing gap has become a systemic crisis — and closing it could cost billions.