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 ]
With the exception of a few minor scuffles between clowns and our local superheroes, the 13th Annual May Day March for Worker and Immigrant Rights was a complete success and went off without a hitch. But two hours after that march ended, at about 6 pm, another group of… [ Keep reading ]
This post has been updated since it was posted at 5:36 pm on 4/30 Tomorrow is May Day, which means you’ll see a large crowd winding its way through the Central District and downtown Seattle during the afternoon and evening as part of the 13th Annual May Day March for… [ Keep reading ]
After a 36-year career in law enforcement, Seattle police Chief John Diaz is retiring. “It was time,” Chief Diaz said at a press conference Monday morning, flanked by his successor, Assistant Chief Jim Pugel, and Mayor Mike McGinn. Since taking the helm at SPD in 2009, Chief Diaz has overseen,… [ Keep reading ]
