Officer Ian Birk has communicated to me his intent to resign his commission with the Seattle Police Department.

His resignation will take place effectively at 4 p.m. today.

At my direction, the Office of Professional Accountability investigation will continue forward. The completion of this investigation is not contingent on Ian Birk remaining on the force.  Reaching our own administrative conclusion is a necessary step to providing a small degree of closure to the many people affected by this tragedy over the past several months.    

If the Office of Professional Accountability presents me with a recommendation for discipline, it will be kept on file per department protocol and presented to the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission.