SEATTLE, WA – A city that has been plagued with crime for years received an unfiltered letter from a veteran police officer, slamming city leaders for letting criminals “run the city."
After 23-years of dedicated service to the city and its residents, Lieutenant Jessica Taylor officially retired effective August 1.
And, according to Fox News, instead of filling out the standard exit interview form, used by several departments and organizations across the country in which they ask questions like why the officer is leaving and what the officer liked most or least about working in the department, she wrote a brutally honest letter.
She blasted Police Chief Adrian Diaz, Mayor Bruce Harrell and the Seattle City Council in a letter that was “unfiltered, raw and unapologetic."
The letter, which was 15 pages long, accused the police department of being “a breeding ground of lies, deceit, favoritism and rampant corruption." Taylor went public with the letter on “The Jason Rantz Show” on KTTH, stating that Diaz, Harrell and the City Council allowed the city to “descend into anarchy and chaos."
She wrote, in part, “The state of the Seattle Police Department and this city is a disgrace. The toxic mix of the Seattle City Council’s absurdity, the spinelessness of the Mayor, the leniency of the prosecutor’s office, and your [Diaz] failed leadership has accelerated this city’s downhill slide straight to rock bottom.
“The Seattle City Council has lost touch with reality and is making decisions that defy common sense and basic logic. Their priority is playing politics and pandering to radical ideologies rather than genuinely serving the city and its residents best interests. Their absurd policies have turned Seattle into a playground for anarchists and criminals, and they seem utterly unconcerned with the devastating consequences of their actions. If you haven’t noticed, the criminals are running this city."
In the letter, Taylor claimed that Harrell (D-Seattle), has prioritized political correctness over safety and “disregards the rampant lawlessness” taking place on the streets of the city.
“This perfect combination of failed leadership has created a perfect storm of incompetence and chaos," she said. "It’s no wonder Seattle has become a laughingstock of the nation and the globe. They are laughing about us on the international news. Aren’t you embarrassed? I am. It’s mortifying."
Blasting Diaz without any filter, Taylor said that he plays “political games” and is a manipulator of the truth, adding, “Know that this city’s officers and citizens are suffering under your failed leadership and the incompetence of those in power. The people of this city deserve leaders who will stand up for what’s right, enforce law and order, prosecute those who break the law and prioritize the safety and well-being of its residents above all else."
Over the last few years, Seattle has struggled with violent riots, homelessness and rising crime. Officers have resigned, retired early or just plain quit, causing the department to become severely understaffed. With less officers to protect the city, residents are in danger are facing longer 911 response times.
Taylor wrote, “SPD is dangerously understaffed, and the offices and their families are suffering. The hours are ruthlessly long and due to the staffing crisis (created by you, the mayor and the council), these unsafe conditions are entirely unacceptable. Completely. They have also being working for years without a contract - also unacceptable."
In her interview with Jason Rantz, Taylor explained how the job took a toll on her. She suffers from a chronic medical condition called Trigeminal Neuralgia, which causes severe facial pain.
When the city forced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate, she sought an exemption for fear that the unknown side effects from the vaccine would have an adverse effect on her condition. In her resignation letter, she explained that instead of being granted the exemption, she was sidelined without pay.
Taylor told Rantz that despite speaking the truth in her letter, leaving was bittersweet. She loves her city and is heavily involved in the community, donating her time to help the homeless and volunteer with the Special Olympics.
In 2019, she was recognized by the National Guard and awarded a Patriot Award, which honors supervisors who demonstrate outstanding support of soldiers in the National Guard.
SPD did not directly address Taylor’s criticisms, and instead released a statement saying, “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."
After 23-years of dedicated service to the city and its residents, Lieutenant Jessica Taylor officially retired effective August 1.
And, according to Fox News, instead of filling out the standard exit interview form, used by several departments and organizations across the country in which they ask questions like why the officer is leaving and what the officer liked most or least about working in the department, she wrote a brutally honest letter.
She blasted Police Chief Adrian Diaz, Mayor Bruce Harrell and the Seattle City Council in a letter that was “unfiltered, raw and unapologetic."
The letter, which was 15 pages long, accused the police department of being “a breeding ground of lies, deceit, favoritism and rampant corruption." Taylor went public with the letter on “The Jason Rantz Show” on KTTH, stating that Diaz, Harrell and the City Council allowed the city to “descend into anarchy and chaos."
She wrote, in part, “The state of the Seattle Police Department and this city is a disgrace. The toxic mix of the Seattle City Council’s absurdity, the spinelessness of the Mayor, the leniency of the prosecutor’s office, and your [Diaz] failed leadership has accelerated this city’s downhill slide straight to rock bottom.
“The Seattle City Council has lost touch with reality and is making decisions that defy common sense and basic logic. Their priority is playing politics and pandering to radical ideologies rather than genuinely serving the city and its residents best interests. Their absurd policies have turned Seattle into a playground for anarchists and criminals, and they seem utterly unconcerned with the devastating consequences of their actions. If you haven’t noticed, the criminals are running this city."
In the letter, Taylor claimed that Harrell (D-Seattle), has prioritized political correctness over safety and “disregards the rampant lawlessness” taking place on the streets of the city.
“This perfect combination of failed leadership has created a perfect storm of incompetence and chaos," she said. "It’s no wonder Seattle has become a laughingstock of the nation and the globe. They are laughing about us on the international news. Aren’t you embarrassed? I am. It’s mortifying."
Blasting Diaz without any filter, Taylor said that he plays “political games” and is a manipulator of the truth, adding, “Know that this city’s officers and citizens are suffering under your failed leadership and the incompetence of those in power. The people of this city deserve leaders who will stand up for what’s right, enforce law and order, prosecute those who break the law and prioritize the safety and well-being of its residents above all else."
Over the last few years, Seattle has struggled with violent riots, homelessness and rising crime. Officers have resigned, retired early or just plain quit, causing the department to become severely understaffed. With less officers to protect the city, residents are in danger are facing longer 911 response times.
Taylor wrote, “SPD is dangerously understaffed, and the offices and their families are suffering. The hours are ruthlessly long and due to the staffing crisis (created by you, the mayor and the council), these unsafe conditions are entirely unacceptable. Completely. They have also being working for years without a contract - also unacceptable."
In her interview with Jason Rantz, Taylor explained how the job took a toll on her. She suffers from a chronic medical condition called Trigeminal Neuralgia, which causes severe facial pain.
When the city forced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate, she sought an exemption for fear that the unknown side effects from the vaccine would have an adverse effect on her condition. In her resignation letter, she explained that instead of being granted the exemption, she was sidelined without pay.
Taylor told Rantz that despite speaking the truth in her letter, leaving was bittersweet. She loves her city and is heavily involved in the community, donating her time to help the homeless and volunteer with the Special Olympics.
In 2019, she was recognized by the National Guard and awarded a Patriot Award, which honors supervisors who demonstrate outstanding support of soldiers in the National Guard.
SPD did not directly address Taylor’s criticisms, and instead released a statement saying, “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."
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