Seattle Police Chief Search

Finding Seattle's next police chief

A 26-member Seattle Police Chief Search Committee, a citizen panel appointed by Mayor Mike McGinn, helped the mayor find a successor to former Chief Gil Kerlikowske.

It was a national search that began with no front-runners, inside-track candidates or preference for or against candidates of any race, gender, ethnicity or place of origin.

The Search Committee, co-chaired by Kate Joncas and Charles Rolland, included people from many facets of Seattle life, including neighborhood groups, minority communities, business and civic leaders, and police and justice-system representatives. Search Committee members began meeting Jan. 13, 2010, and selected three finalists on May 11, 2010.

When Kerlikowske was appointed by President Obama last year to be the nation's Drug Control Policy Director after eight years as Seattle police chief, then-Mayor Greg Nickels named a search committee to begin the process of finding Kerlikowske's successor. Mayor McGinn retained most members of Mayor Nickels’ search committee, which never met.

Following the Search Committee’s recommendation, the City of Seattle contracted with Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), a Washington, D.C.-based search firm, to advertise the position nationally and conduct an initial screening of candidates.

The three finalists convened in Seattle for meetings from June 2nd to June 4th, including interviews with the City Council's Public Safety and Education Committee, the mayor, Councilmembers, SPD administration, operations, Seattle Police Management Association, Seattle Police Officers' Guild, Office of Professional Accountability and a precinct tour.  They participated in a community forum at Seattle Center.

One finalist withdrew from consideration.  On June 24, 2010 the mayor nominated John Diaz as Seattle Chief of Police.  John Diaz is currently Seattle’s Interim Police Chief. The mayor’s nomination is subject to confirmation by the City Council.