Seattle Police Chief search committee announces 3 finalists

May 11, 2010 10:10 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Seattle Interim Police Chief John Diaz is the only local candidate among the 3 finalists for the permanent job, as chosen tonight by the search committee (whose members include Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Joe Kessler). In addition to Chief Diaz, the police chiefs of Sacramento and East Palo Alto are on the short list. Read on for the announcement from the mayor’s office:

Mayor Mike McGinn’s Police Chief Search Committee tonight selected Police Chiefs Rick Braziel of Sacramento, Ronald Davis of East Palo Alto, Calif., and John Diaz of Seattle as finalists to succeed Gil Kerlikowske as Seattle Police Chief.

Diaz is Seattle’s interim police chief.

As stipulated by City Charter, Mayor McGinn will choose from among the committee’s three finalists, with his selection subject to City Council confirmation. The mayor expects to interview the candidates in early June and to make his selection sometime in June.

Mayor McGinn thanked the 26-member committee, co-chaired by Kate Joncas and Charles Rolland, for its work.

“I’m grateful for the hard work and commitment shown by Search Committee members during this important process,” McGinn said. “I’m looking forward now to spending time with the finalists, allowing the public to get to know them, and choosing a chief for all of Seattle. I’ll be looking for a chief who shares my values of public safety, fairness, and a commitment to racial and social justice.”

Tonight’s vote by the Search Committee followed a full day interviewing nine semifinalists on Saturday, and is the culmination of the group’s four months of work.

The finalists are tentatively scheduled to appear before the City Council’s Public Safety and Education Committee at 9:30 a.m. on June 2.

ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: Reaction from the Seattle Police Guild:

The Seattle Police Guild Officers Guild and President Rich O’Neill would like to thank Mayor McGinn for the opportunity to serve on the Mayor’s Chief Selection Committee. Sergeant O’Neill said, “It was extremely gratifying to hear all of the nine candidates, during their interviews, describe the Seattle Police Department as a progressive organization with an excellent reputation.” Sergeant O’Neill went on to add, “While I had hoped that more internal candidates could be forwarded to the Mayor for consideration, I respect the committee rules and I offer to work with the Mayor so that the best candidate for the City of Seattle is chosen.”

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