Interim Chief of Police Harry Bailey made the following announcement to all Seattle Police Department employees this afternoon: I would like to announce the newest promotions in the Seattle Police Department and Command Staff changes. Effective immediately, the following Captains have been promoted to the rank of Assistant Chief: Robin Clark… [ Keep reading ]
I would like to congratulate Assistant Chief Mike Sanford on his retirement from the Seattle Police Department. Chief Sanford has been a valuable asset to the Seattle Police Department during his 29 years of service with SPD. He has made his notification that his retirement will be effective as of… [ Keep reading ]
Today, the Seattle Police Department took another step forward in our efforts to provide effective, humane and constitutional policing to our city. Federal Judge James Robart has approved an extensive overhaul of how our officers are trained to use force, making clear our department’s commitment to tactics like de-escalation and confrontation avoidance… [ Keep reading ]
Fresh off his recent appearance on a Harvard panel on criminal justice reform, Seattle Police Department Chief Jim Pugel appeared at the United Nations earlier this week to talk about Seattle’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program. The LEAD program is a harm reduction effort currently being piloted in the Belltown area, which… [ Keep reading ]
This morning, I received questions from the City Council about staffing levels in our department’s Domestic Violence Unit. After a thorough review, showing our department has increased the number of investigators in our nationally-recognized DV Unit to 15, I have sent this letter to Councilmember Tim Burgess, providing a detailed accounting… [ Keep reading ]
Captain Carmen Best began her career with the Seattle Police Department in 1992. Captain Best has worked uniformed patrol, School Safety, Media Relations, Patrol Supervisor, Media Relations Supervisor, Watch Commander, Operations Lieutenant, Narcotics Proactive Lieutenant, Robbery/Gangs/Fugitive Lieutenant, and Community Outreach Lieutenant. Her most recent assignment was as the Community Outreach… [ Keep reading ]
Chief Jim Pugel to Join Executive Session on Community Corrections at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government Seattle, WA – Chief Jim Pugel will be a member of the new Executive Session on Community Corrections convening over the next three years at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy… [ Keep reading ]
Today US Attorney General Holder announced that the federal government would not interfere with the implementation of I-502. Here is Interim Chief Jim Pugel’s statement on the decision: “I am pleased Attorney General Eric Holder has provided clarity about the future of Initiative 502 in Washington state. Our department will… [ Keep reading ]
I am aware of the article by Mr. Holden in the Stranger Slog documenting the allegation of rudeness by one of my police officers. Once we learned of the incident the department immediately referred the complaint to the Office of Professional Accountability. I have discussed it with OPA Director Pierce… [ Keep reading ]
Seattle- the Mayor continues his series of summer police precinct visits by meeting with East Precinct commander, Captain Ron Wilson. The East Precinct covers eight square miles, between central Seattle between Lake Union and Lake Washington, and the Ship Canal and I-90 and employs 126 sworn and civilian personnel. To… [ Keep reading ]
