Seattle Mayor proposes $20 million cut to police budget

SEATTLE, Wash. – Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan will propose $20 million in cuts to the police budget for the remainder of 2020.

The mayor proposes slashing about 5% of the Seattle Police budget this year with an officer hiring freeze next year until a plan is developed “reflecting community priorities for public safety.”

Many of the protests that have dominated Seattle for weeks have demanded a 50% cut to the police department’s budget.

Mayor Durkan has also asked the department to prepare models for what a 20%, 30% and 50% budget cut would look like.