Information from the Seattle Police Department

The Seattle Police Department hears the many voices demanding real and lasting change in policing. As a result, the department has launched a first-of-its-kind new training program that focuses on relationships and wellness before law enforcement tactics.

Before SPD’s new recruits attend the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission for their mandatory 720-hour Basic Law Enforcement Academy training they will first attend Before the Badge (BTB). This training, launched in May 2022, immerses all SPD recruits in introspective experiences that will provide them a community-based foundation upon which to build their careers as Seattle Police Officers. 

During Before the Badge, SPD recruits will gain a more comprehensive understanding of those they will eventually swear to serve and protect – and will first build relationships with the people of Seattle before they receive their badges.For the past three months, SPD’s Video & Photography Unit has been recording BTB training to provide video and images so the public and journalists may get a better understanding of BTB’s mission. Those interviews with BTB participants, trainers, community advisors, and more can be found here.