Seattle Police Search for New Recruits in the Triangle

Police recruiters are traveling across the country hoping to take home some of North Carolina's finest.

Members of theSeattle Police Departmentare setting up camp at the State Highway Patrol training center. So far, about 40 citizens and police officers have shown up to take the Seattle Police exam.

"Our mission is to find qualified police officer applicants who want to face a new challenge and come to a new area," said Jim Ritter, Seattle police recruiter.

Ritter is traveling North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia searching for those soon-to-be Seattle's finest.

"We've heard the training is fairly good here, and we can offer the officers benefits that they may not get in this region," said Ritter.

Ritter says those benefits from the Seattle Police Department are a strong police union, a high quality of life and a starting salary of $38,000 a year.

Raleigh Police leaders said they got a call from the Seattle Police Department a couple of days ago.

"It's not a threat to us. It doesn't create any ill will or ill feelings. They are doing what they need to do to recruit, and the way they choose to do it is their business," said Maj. John Knox.

Recruiting is a tough business for Raleigh police. The 600-officer department is operating 83 officers short.

The starting salary offered by the Seattle Police Department is at least $10,000 more than the starting salary in Raleigh.

Seattle recruiters will continue open testing Tuesday in Garner.