For years, conservatives warned what would happen. We predicted the chaos, the crime surge, and the exodus of dedicated police officers that would follow the “defund the police” movement. One of America’s most progressive cities ignored these warnings and plunged headfirst into the radical experiment—and boy, were we right. Now, after watching their communities deteriorate and citizens suffer, city leaders are taking unprecedented action that speaks volumes about the true impact of their failed policies.

Seattle residents have paid a devastating price for this ideological crusade against law enforcement. What exactly are these Democrat city officials finally admitting? The answer reveals just how catastrophic their anti-police agenda truly was—and confirms everything conservatives have been saying since 2020.

The Crime Wave That Couldn’t Be Ignored

The statistics tell a shocking story of a city in decline. In 2017, before the “defund” movement took hold, Seattle recorded 27 homicides. By 2022, that number had skyrocketed to 54 murders – a 100% increase. Rapes jumped from 255 to 347, and aggravated assaults soared from 2,474 to 3,516. Surprised? We’re not.

Meanwhile, the Seattle Police Department hemorrhaged officers. More than 700 police personnel have separated from the department since 2020, when the city first embraced anti-police initiatives following George Floyd’s death. The force plummeted from 1,400 sworn officers in 2017 to a mere 913 in 2024 – an unprecedented staffing crisis that left neighborhoods vulnerable and response times dangerously long. How many 911 calls went unanswered while Seattle’s leaders were busy virtue signaling?

Radio personality Jason Rantz explained the exodus plainly: “The problem is still stemming from the defund movement. You had a movement that was out there calling cops murderers and racists, and unfortunately you had a city council at the time that embraced and amplified those messages. So, people started to leave in huge numbers.”

As drugs flowed freely through once-safe neighborhoods and violent crime surged, residents began demanding change. Even the most progressive citizens couldn’t ignore the consequences of their city’s radical experiment. Turns out reality has a way of breaking through even the thickest ideological bubbles.

The Shocking Reversal No One Expected

On March 25, Seattle councilmember Robert Saka introduced Resolution 32167, which did something almost unthinkable in one of America’s most liberal cities: it officially acknowledged the failure of the “defund the police” movement and reversed course completely. Yes, you read that right—they actually admitted they were wrong.

From ‘The Blaze’:

“A news release from the city council added that the resolution explicitly ‘reverses any prior commitment or pledge by past Councils to defund or abolish SPD,’ describing such efforts as a ‘failure.'”

The resolution didn’t just quietly walk back previous policies – it explicitly honored and affirmed “the essential services provided by the Police Department” and recognized the vital work done by all first responders. This represents a complete 180-degree turn from the anti-police rhetoric that dominated Seattle politics just a few years ago. Amazing what a crime wave can do to clarify thinking, isn’t it?

Even more telling, the resolution passed with unanimous support from those present. Not a single council member voted against it. The hard reality of their failed experiment had become impossible to deny, even for the most dedicated progressive ideologues.

Liberal Leaders’ Stunning Transformation

Perhaps most remarkable is the personal transformation of Councilmember Saka himself. This is the same official who once wore a “Black Lawyers Matter” T-shirt to a Floyd-related protest and proudly declared his belief “in the principles of BOTH the American Flag and the Black Lives Matter movement.”

Now, Saka acknowledges that the anti-police rhetoric was “very divisive” and harmful to public safety. His evolution mirrors that of many progressives who have been forced to confront the devastating real-world consequences of their ideological crusade against law enforcement. How many victims had to suffer before this realization finally dawned on him?

Councilmember Maritza Rivera admitted that constituents have been voicing concerns about the anti-police measures for some time, with many specifically asking city leaders to “take a stance against the defund rhetoric that we’ve seen in the past in this city.” Translation: The citizens who actually live with the consequences of these policies have been begging for change while their representatives were too busy playing politics.

Even Mayor Bruce Harrell, a Democrat, has embraced the changing tide, celebrating that the city “hired more police officers last year than we lost for the first time in years, and applications are soaring.” Imagine that—when you stop demonizing police, more people actually want to become officers! Who would have thought?

Lieutenant Kenny Stuart, president of the Seattle Fire Fighters Union, summarized the shift perfectly: “This resolution announces that Seattle has moved away from the divisions of the past and we acknowledge the critical role that police and fire fighters have in our community.”

Common Sense Makes a Comeback

Seattle’s painful journey from radical progressive experiment to a return to common sense should serve as a warning to other Democrat-run cities still clinging to anti-police policies. Looking at you, Chicago, Portland, and San Francisco. The lesson couldn’t be clearer: public safety isn’t a political bargaining chip, and communities suffer when ideological agendas take precedence over protecting citizens.

The SPD is now working to rebuild, with interim Chief Shon Barnes prioritizing recruitment and retention. The department aims to reach at least 1,000 officers by 2026 – still below pre-“defund” levels, but a step in the right direction. It will take years to undo the damage of their progressive experiment.

While Seattle officials deserve credit for finally acknowledging reality, we shouldn’t forget the immense suffering their radical experiment caused. Countless citizens became victims of violent crime. Businesses shuttered. Neighborhoods declined. And all because progressive leaders refused to listen to the common-sense warnings that conservatives had been voicing all along.

As other liberal cities continue to face similar crises, Seattle’s reluctant return to reality should serve as a powerful reminder: there’s no substitute for strong, well-funded law enforcement in maintaining safe communities. Sometimes, the hardest lessons are the ones learned through experience – even if conservatives knew the answers all along. Let’s hope other Democrat-run cities don’t need to hit rock bottom before coming to the same realization.

Key Takeaways

• Seattle officially reverses its “defund the police” stance, explicitly labeling previous anti-police initiatives as a “failure” that destroyed public safety
• Crime statistics tell the devastating story: homicides doubled while over 700 officers fled the department following anti-police rhetoric
• Even progressive councilmembers who once supported BLM are now admitting that “defund” rhetoric was “very divisive” and harmful
• Seattle’s painful lesson serves as a warning to other Democrat-run cities still experimenting with dangerous anti-police policies

Sources: www.theblaze.com, Mail Online