‘Seattle has Become a Laughingstock’: Officer of 23 Years Writes Brutal Resignation Letter
A Seattle police officer of 23 years refused to complete the department’s exit form, writing instead, a brutal, “unfiltered, raw, and unapologetic” 15-page resignation letter lambasting the police department and city’s leadership.
Lieutenant Jessica Taylor served Seattle for more than 23 “long and soul-draining” years, but finally left the department on August 1, 2023, unearthing secrets and burning several bridges on her way out. In her own words, “I won’t allow anyone to silence my voice or manipulate the truth . . . [I’m] exposing the reality of my experience without any filters or restrictions.”
Taylor shared the letter on the “Jason Rantz Show on KTTH out of fear the department would make it disappear.”
The letter begins by describing the initial excitement Taylor felt after joining the police department, but stated that “the organization I once respected has completely lost its way.”
“Behind the scenes was a breeding ground of lies, deceit, favoritism, and rampant corruption. The department I once trusted turned out to be nothing more than a circus, with boisterous clowns running amok,” she wrote.
Taylor first directed her grievances at Seattle Police Chief Diaz. She called the state of the SPD a “disgrace” and said that the “problems were already brewing” before Chief Diaz held the position, “but since [his] arrival, it’s been a free fall into anarchy.”
After addressing her concerns with his leadership, Taylor directed her attention toward the Seattle City Council, whom she called “utterly unconcerned with the devastating consequences of their actions.” She said that the council’s “priority is playing politics and pandering to radical ideologies rather than genuinely serving the city’s and its residents’ best interests. Their absurd policies have turned Seattle into a playground for anarchists and criminals.”
Throughout much of her letter, Taylor lamented Seattle’s “downfall” from a once great city that is now a “hotbed for crime.”
‘Seattle Deserves Better’ Taylor Wrote in her Resignation
“The people of this city deserve leaders who will stand up for what’s right, enforce law and order, prosecute those who break it, and prioritize the safety and well-being of its residents above all else.” Taylor wrote.
She pointed out several key issues in her letter: severe understaffing at the police department, “ruthlessly” long hours, unsafe conditions, and a complete lack of support for officers from leadership. Seattle was one of several Black Lives Matter riot epicenters in 2020, after constituents demanded, “defund the police,” city leadership did just that.
Last year, Seattle’s City Council eliminated 80 of the 200 officer positions that the city previously committed to hiring, and from 2020 to 2021, funding was cut by $35 million, with an additional cut of $6 million in 2022.
Washington State set a new record for the highest number of homicides in a year in 2022. Seattle alone had a 24% increase in homicides from 2021 to 2022 and a steady increase in other violent crimes as well as property crimes.
Taylor expressed her outrage toward the Police Chief for sending “a certified letter about getting vaccinated before I could return [to work].” Despite her “medical condition of Trigeminal Neuralgia” and history of migraines that are “well documented.”
“But that didn’t matter,” Taylor wrote. She felt that the potential negative effects of the vaccine could be exacerbated because of her health condition and that her concerns were not addressed or supported accordingly. Taylor said that Chief Diaz “left [her] alone in this black hole of no pay and no benefits—On the ‘unavailable’ list,” for two years, instead of approving her medical accommodation request.
“The language used to promote the [vaccine] mandate felt like a dangerous ethical line was being crossed,” she explained. “I wonder how many fake vaccine cards are on file.”
Taylor wrote that several consultants and “officers” are on the Chief’s payroll, but are “hidden so deep in this department that you couldn’t find them if you wanted to. They’re collecting a check, but where are they? Who do they report to? What is it that they do exactly? Where is their desk? Inquiring minds want to know.”
She then accused him of unethically investigating officers, writing, “In America, we don’t investigate people in search of crimes. We investigate crimes in search of people.”
Concluding her lengthy, fiery statement, Taylor said, “You offered me an opportunity for an honest exit interview, and here it is.” She signed her letter, “RETIRED LT Jessica Taylor,” but post scrip she wrote, “[By the way] did you seriously badge your way into the Taylor Swift concert . . . please review SPD Manual Section 5.001 (12) & 5.020 and report yourself to OPA immediately.”
Neither Seattle’s Mayor Bruce Harrell, nor the City Council have made any public comments regarding the former police officer’s statements. An SPD spokesperson responded to the letter’s virality by stating, “While we don’t address personnel issues, the Seattle Police Department is working alongside our city partners to restore the department to over 1,400 officers . . . We want our officers to feel valued and respected for their hard work every single day. We are committed to highlighting that work on a routine basis.”
Click Here to view Jessica Taylor’s full resignation letter.
