As Seattle City Hall and Mayor Bruce Harrell await a study on incentive pay and whether bonuses are the right way to fill city jobs and meet police officer hiring goals, it will pay a final $220,000 burst of bonus activity.

Tuesday, the Seattle City Council approved paying out bonuses it says were improperly given out in January to new hires in the police and dispatch departments despite the end of former Mayor Jenny Durkan’s unsuccessful order attempting to boost SPD’s ranks as she left office.

The Harrell administration said it was not aware the bonus order had expired and Harrell said he told the departments to stop doling them out in February.

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The council’s vote Tuesday authorized funding for the un-budgeted outlay for bonuses for 14 dispatchers and five SPD officers but it will leave larger decisions about SPD hiring and city bonuses to future debates stemming from an expected study of the hiring incentives.

Last month, CHS reported on 2021 crime statistics and the likelihood SPD will fall about ten officers short of 2022 hiring goals as officials and officer union leadership say violent crime totals will continue to rise without more cops.

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