The Seattle City Council unanimously voted Monday to move the 911 dispatch call center from the Seattle Police Department’s jurisdiction.
In the move, 911 dispatching would no longer be funded by the police department.
Instead, 911 dispatching will be moved to a newly established civilian-led Community Safety and Communications Center.
Despite the vote, a spokesperson for SPD told KOMO News the call center will remain at the West Precinct until this new center is built, said Sgt. Randy Huserik.
Until that time, Huserik said it will remain on SPD’s budget.
He said there is no timetable on when that move may physically happen.
Councilmember Kshama Sawant, after voting in favor of the move, remained critical, stressing the move was symbolic in nature.
“These accounting changes alter nothing about the number of police officers in Seattle and the amount of policing in Seattle," Sawant said. "The only change is in the name of the department signing the paychecks."