I am pleased to announce that Mark Baird will serve as SPD’s Chief Operating Officer. Mark has been with the Department for nearly four years, and has been an integral part of our Command Staff. He will oversee Professional Standards, Administrative Services, Budget and Finance, the 911 Communication Center, and Information Technology. Mark recently served as interim Chief Operating Officer, and before that, our Executive Director of Budget and Finance. He previously worked as a Seattle City Council policy analyst for public safety.
Mark began his career in law enforcement as a Deputy Sheriff for Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and has held positions in crime analysis with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office (Naples, FL) and the Portland Police Bureau (Oregon). He was later appointed the Chief of Administration for the Snohomish County Department of Corrections, and went on to serve as the Corrections Bureau Chief for the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office. Mark was also an adjunct professor at Clackamas Community College and Portland State University, where he taught crime and intelligence analysis, crime mapping using geographic information systems, statistics, and research methods.
Mark received his Master’s degree in Public Administration from Florida Gulf Coast University, and a Doctorate in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from Nova Southeastern University.
Mark has demonstrated leadership, professionalism, and pride in his work. He is committed to business efficiency throughout our organization, and devising strategies to better utilize our resources, effectively manage our budget and streamline our practices.