U.S.

Politics World Opinion Media Entertainment Sports Lifestyle Video AI More Login Watch TV

TRENDING HOSTAGE DEAL TENNIS TIFF DEMOCRACY '24 AI

.com

Seattle Published August 10, 2023 8:20am EDT

Retired Seattle cop unloads on

'spineless mayor' and 'extremist' city
council in brutal resignation letter
Retired Lt Jessica Taylor unloaded on Seattle leaders in an 'unfiltered, raw, and unapologetic' resignation letter

By Chris Pandolfo | Fox News

More from Politics
25 mins ago
Texas nabs MS-13
gang member and
registered sex
offender at southern
border

39 mins ago
Trump confronted
on golf course about
no-showing Florida
court appearance

55 mins ago
Dems across the
country defecting to
GOP: 'Democratic
Party has become
unrecognizable'

2 hours ago
Republicans torch
Biden paying Iran $6
billion for American
hostages: 'a terrible
deal'

Former Seattle cop writes scathing resignation letter: 'Criminals running the city'
Jessica Taylor explains why she left her job as a Seattle police lieutenant after 23 years.

A now-retired Seattle police officer unleashed 23 years of pent-up frustration with police
and city leaders in an "unfiltered, raw, and unapologetic" resignation letter.

Lt. Jessica Taylor, formerly of the Seattle Police Department, retired on Aug. 1. However,
instead of filling out the standard exit interview form, she wrote a scathing letter in which
she lambasted Police Chief Adrian Diaz, Mayor Bruce Harrell and the Seattle City Council
for allowing the city to descend into "anarchy & chaos."

Taylor, who went public with her 15-page tirade Tuesday on "The Jason Rantz Show" on
KTTH accused the police department of being "a breeding ground of lies, deceit,
,

favoritism, and rampant corruption."

"Chief Diaz, let me tell you, the state of the Seattle Police Department and this city is a
disgrace," she wrote. "The toxic mix of 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 & chaos."

WHITE NATIONALISTS SUE WASHINGTON MAN ACCUSED OF INFILTRATING HATE

GROUP, LEAKING IDENTITIES ONLINE

Retired Seattle Police Lt. Jessica Taylor left the department on Aug. 1 with a scathing resignation letter accusing police
and city leaders of failing Seattle. (Jessica Taylor via "The Jason Rantz Show" on KTTH)

She accused policymakers of caring more for politics than the well-being of Seattle
residents, with the result being that " criminals are running this city ."

"The Seattle City Council has lost touch with reality and is making decisions that defy
common sense and basic logic," Taylor charged. "Their 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, and they seem utterly unconcerned with the devastating consequences of
their actions."

Turning on Harrell, a Democrat, Taylor wrote the mayor has prioritized political correctness
over safety and "disregards the rampant lawlessness on our streets." Refusing to spare
Diaz, Taylor said the police chief plays "political games" and manipulates the truth.

"Know that this city's officers and citizens are suffering under your failed leadership and
the incompetence of those in power," Taylor wrote. "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. It's time for a reckoning,
and the citizens of Seattle deserve competent leadership."

SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL STABBING SEEN ON VIDEO AS PASSENGERS CONFRONT

ATTACKER

Retired Seattle Police Lt. Jessica Taylor said "criminals are running this city" due to policies she argues have made Seattle
less safe. (Seattle Police Department)

Seattle has struggled in recent years with riotous protests — including the deadly Capitol
Hill Occupied Protest — homelessness and rising crime, which reached a 14-year-high in
2022. The police department is understaffed, causing longer response times to 911 calls
from people who may be in danger and need help, KOMO News reported.

In an interview with KTTH host Jason Rantz, Taylor said her job took a toll on her. She
suffers from a chronic medical condition called Trigeminal Neuralgia, which causes severe
facial pain. When the city implemented a COVID-19 vaccine mandate, she sought an
exemption for fear that unknown side effects from the vaccine would have an adverse
effect on her condition. Her letter explained that she was sidelined without pay instead of
being granted an exemption.

READ LT. TAYLOR'S RESIGNATION LETTER

BELOW. APP USERS: CLICK HERE

While she was not allowed to work in 2020, the department was assailed by the "Defund
the Police" movement, which Taylor claims had a devastating effect on morale. In the
years since, nearly 600 officers have left the department.

"SPD is dangerously understaffed, and the officers and their families are suffering," Taylor
wrote. "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 been working for years without a contract — Also unacceptable."

SEATTLE MAYOR'S OFFICE DEMANDED FEWER WHITE MEN, MILITARY IN POLICE

RECRUITMENT: MEMO

(Retired Seattle Police Lt. Jessica Taylor accused Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, right, of failing to stand up to the "extreme"
city council against attacks on police.)

Taylor told Rantz that leaving was bittersweet despite her problems with the department.
She loves Seattle and is 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.

However, she felt she could not remain silent while her colleagues continued working in
the status quo.

"I wanted to go out with the truth," Taylor told KTTH.

Listen to Taylor's interview on "The Jason

Rantz Show" on KTTH:

The mayor's office and city council did not respond to requests for comment.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the police department did not directly address Taylor's
criticisms:

"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."

Fox News' Brie Stimson contributed to this report.

Chris Pandolfo is a writer for Fox News Digital. Send tips to chris.pandolfo@fox.com and follow him
on Twitter @ChrisCPandolfo.

U.S. World Politics Entertainment Business Lifestyle

Crime U.N. Executive Celebrity News Personal Finance Food + Drink
Military Conflicts Senate Movies Economy Cars + Trucks
Education Terrorism House TV News Markets Travel + Outdoors
Terror Disasters Judiciary Music News Watchlist House + Home
Immigration Global Economy Foreign Policy Style News Lifestyle Fitness + Well-being
Economy Environment Polls Entertainment Video Real Estate Style + Beauty
Personal Freedoms Religion Elections Tech Family
Fox News Investigates Scandals Faith

Science Tech Health TV About Other

Archaeology Security Coronavirus Shows Contact Us Fox Business
Air & Space Innovation Healthy Living Personalities Careers Fox Weather
Planet Earth Drones Medical Research Watch Live Fox Around the World Fox Nation
Wild Nature Computers Mental Health Full Episodes Advertise With Us Women's World Cup 2023
Natural Science Video Games Cancer Show Clips Media Relations Fox News Shop
Dinosaurs Military Tech Heart Health News Clips Corporate Information Fox News Go
Children's Health Compliance Fox News Radio
Outkick
Newsletters
Podcasts
Apps & Products

New Terms of Use New Privacy Policy Your Privacy Choices Closed Captioning Policy Help Contact Us Accessibility Statement

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2023 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or
delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset . Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions . Legal Statement . Mutual Fund and ETF
data provided by Refinitiv Lipper .