Police in Seattle, Washington, have begun recruiting recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status to join the police force. This move, enabled by Senate Bill 6157, allows DACA recipients to apply for various civil service jobs across Washington, including positions within police and fire departments.
According to 770 KTTH, the bipartisan legislation went into effect on June 6, sparking renewed scrutiny after a LinkedIn job post from the Seattle Police Department (SPD) began gaining attention. The post declared, “SPD is now accepting applications from DACA recipients! Apply Now!” This initiative follows a similar move by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) earlier in the year, which also altered its firearms policy to permit DACA officers to carry firearms while off-duty.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) issued new guidance allowing DACA recipients to carry firearms and ammunition if it’s part of their official law enforcement duties. Consequently, any local agency hiring DACA recipients must update their gun policies to clarify that DACA employees are authorized to carry firearms.
To qualify under the DACA program, recipients must have arrived in the United States before their 16th birthday and lack legal authorization to reside here. The Seattle Police Department’s job qualifications page now states, “An applicant must hold United States citizenship, OR have legal permanent residency in the U.S., OR be a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient.”
770 KTTH highlighted an “alarming staffing crisis” within the Seattle Police Department, which is reportedly in dire need of qualified applicants. Currently, there are only 424 patrol officers, with 280 officers eligible for retirement this year across all positions. This shortage is a pressing issue that the department aims to address through new recruitment strategies.
Additionally, the mayor’s office has reportedly prioritized “diversity hires” over more traditionally qualified applicants. Ben Dalgetty, a strategy lead for Mayor Bruce Harrell (D), sent a memo to SPD human resources requesting fewer images and videos of “officers who are white, male,” and “officers with military bearing.” Instead, Dalgetty advocated for more “officers of color,” “officers of different genders,” and “officers who are younger,” reflecting a push for diversity over qualifications.
This approach raises concerns about the prioritization of diversity over merit and the potential impact on public safety and law enforcement effectiveness in Seattle.
