Read a year of Seattle police officers' exit interviews (unredacted)
Officers leaving the Seattle Police Department over the past year complained they were being undercut by a “hyper-aggressive oversight” system and a lack of support from city leaders.
Their comments are contained in exit interviews that KUOW obtained through a public records request. Some officers were leaving for retirement, and others left to join other law enforcement agencies.
While many of the comments criticized the City Council, the media and even the public, others were more positive.
Many officers praised their leadership and the training, opportunities and relationships they formed within the department.
“I take great pride in our department’s diversity and level of professionalism and respect we show to all members of the community,” detective Michele Hackett wrote.
But, she said, “It is extremely frustrating to hear nothing but attacks and second-guessing from City Council members.”
You can read all of the exit interviews below or by clicking here.
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Gil Aegerter
Gil edits feature pieces and helps guide staff reporters through their stories. He previously served as interim digital director and online managing editor at KUOW. Before that he spent seven years with NBCNews.com, where he was variously a senior editor, editor-producer and features editor. He also worked 25 years as a newspaper editor in Anchorage, Alaska, San Diego, Wilmington, N.C., and Seattle. He also was a freelance researcher for NBC Olympics for the Games in Atlanta; Sydney, Australia; Salt Lake City; Athens; and Torino, Italy. He is a graduate of the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, with a degree in photojournalism.
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Amy Radil
Reporter
Amy Radil is a reporter at KUOW covering politics, government and law enforcement, along with the occasional arts story.
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