Description
A new tool to keep Seattle police officers in the department centers on retention, mental health and dogs.
The department’s approach to officer well-being involves incorporating canines, Buffalo and Otis.
The dogs are recent additions and serve a serious purpose, according to Sgt. Matt Didier.
"This expectation that the job is not going to wear on you is unrealistic, and we need to do something to help people take care of themselves,” said Didier.
For the department, as of May 2022, the number of trained and deployable police officers dropped to 954, the lowest in more than 30 years.