Seattle Plan Uses Detectives for 911 Calls If Officers Walk Over Vaccine Mandate

The Seattle Police Department (SPD) is making contingency plans amid concerns over staffing shortages and emergency response times caused by the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. 

An emergency stage three mobilization plan is now in effect for SPD. People who call 911 could be met by any on-duty sworn employee. That includes detectives, education and training employees and people with patrol backgrounds, King 5 reports.

Seattle's COVID-19 vaccine deadline is Oct. 18, which is in line with the state's mandate. As of Tuesday, data from SPD shows 84% of officers have submitted their vaccine information.

Less than 100 officers have filed for an exemption, but 214 still have not done either, which is why the stage 3 plan is in place.

The department says it fully expects to see some departures of personnel as a result of the mandate and is considering various options for how to adjust its response model through the transition.