SEPT 2023. Blues Vol 39 No. 9

AROUND THE COUNTRY yrs.

AROUND THE COUNTRY yrs. SEATTLE, OR. “Criminals are Running This City!” A now-retired Seattle police lieutenant wrote a 15-page resignation letter that promised an “unfiltered, raw and unapologetic” description of why she decided to retire. By Police1 Staff SEATTLE — A now-retired Seattle police lieutenant called it quits at the beginning of August after 23 years on the force, releasing her resignation letter voicing her frustrations with the city and local leaders, KTTH reports. Lieutenant Jessica Taylor told the Jason Rantz Show that she did not fill out the exit form when announcing her resignation, which asks questions like why an officer is leaving, their new employer, and what the officer liked most and least about working in the department. Instead, she wrote Chief Adrian Diaz a 15-page resignation letter that promised an “unfiltered, raw and unapologetic” description of why she decided to retire. In the interview with the Jason Rantz show, Taylor said she “wanted to go out with the truth.” “Chief Diaz, let me tell you, the state of the Seattle Police Department and this city is a disgrace,” she wrote in the letter she shared with the Jason Rantz Show on KTTH. “The toxic mix of 50 The BLUES the Seattle City Council’s absurdity, the spinelessness of the mayor, the leniency of the prosecutor’s office and your failed leadership has accelerated this city’s downhill slide straight to rock bottom. The problems were already brewing before you came on the scene, but since your arrival, it’s been a free fall into anarchy and chaos.” Taylor criticized the Seattle city council members for having “strayed from reality,” as their decisions were characterized by a lack of common sense and fundamental logic. “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,” Taylor said. Although she had reservations, Taylor’s decision to resign brought about mixed emotions. She holds a deep affection for the city, devoting her time to volunteering for the homeless and contributing to the Special Olympics. Her commitment was acknowledged by the National CLICK TO READ LETTER Guard through a Patriot Award, a distinction reserved for supervisors who exhibit exceptional dedication in aiding soldiers within the National Guard. Taylor said she entered the field of policing with the intention of aiding her community, but she reached a point where she believed she could no longer fulfill that objective. She lauds her colleagues as profoundly devoted, courageous and skilled individuals, describing them as “exceptional, exceptional people.” Taylor has transitioned to a role beyond law enforcement. The Seattle Police Department told KTTH in a statement that they want their “officers to feel valued and respected for their hard work every single day. We are committed to highlighting that work on a routine basis.”

The BLUES 51