FOLLOWUP: Here are the three finalists for Seattle Police Chief

Above are city-provided photos of the three finalists for Seattle Police Chief, announced about an hour ago – from left, interim SPD Chief Adrian Diaz, SPD Assistant Chief Eric Greening, and Tucson Police Assistant Chief Kevin Hall. The city’s announcement says 15 people applied for the job, and were interviewed by the search committee, which narrowed the list down to an unspecified “select number” who took a city-charter-mandated test over the past two days. Next step is an interviewing process that will include a forum to be shown on Seattle Channel one week from tonight; written questions are still being accepted here. You can read about the finalists’ background in today’s full announcement.

Darius September 8, 2022 (6:29 pm)

I struggle to identify anything positive about the reign of the interim chief. I’m hopeful that one of the other candidates can bring a new perspective.

We Need Change September 8, 2022 (7:04 pm)

Did one of the questions on the city-mandated test ask “do you love having your hands tied while the city council spits on everything you are trying to accomplish?” Because that’s exactly why the last chief bailed.

Adam September 9, 2022 (5:02 am)

Well, I’d like to know what was in all those texts erased by Best, Durkan, etc. before defending her. It felt like she just looked the best during a time when all leadership looked terrible. Not certain she was great at the job. Hard to say though without all of the facts, which I’m guessing is why those texts are missing

Rhonda September 8, 2022 (8:40 pm)

ANYONE but Diaz.

Peter S. September 9, 2022 (8:26 am)

@Rhonda – serious question: Why not Diaz? As others have accurately noted, he’s only one piece in a complicated and messy puzzle, albeit a very visible piece. From where I sit, I think he’s done a pretty decent job under very difficult circumstances.

WSEARES September 8, 2022 (8:50 pm)

I think many citizens in Seattle and other areas fail to understand the justice system as a whole. The police chief is only one very small part of the overall justice system and yes very visible on TV at times when big incidents occur or at press briefings. But the department as a whole is unionized so that restricts the power of police chief and ties their hands to what they can and can’t do. Also police can make lawful arrests all they want but if prosecutors aren’t prosecuting the crimes or judges aren’t locking up criminals and keeping them locked up it does no good and the city becomes a revolving door of crime which it is currently. Many like the blame SPD and it’s officers or even the Chief of police. But maybe it’s time to look in the mirror and blame yourselves (the voters) for voting in prosecutors who don’t prosecute crimes and/or voting in judges who refuse to keep criminals (even repeat violent offenders) in jail. The KC prosecutor position is up for re-election in 2023, be very wise with who you vote in and be looking out for when the KC district & Superior Court judges are up for re-election as well. It’s been very publicized as of recent the names of judges who continually allow violent dangerous felons out with a slap on the wrist to terrorize our city and victimized innocent tax payers who pay the salary of said judges in the first place. Let’s look at the big picture, I’d be more upset with the city councils & judges now more than ever and more than any single SPD officer or police chief the mayor hires…. We need to take our city back from the criminals who are terrorizing it and that starts with us and voting in judges who will actually place criminals in jail for extended periods of time and a country prosecutor who will prosecute every major crime to the fullest extent of the law especially violent crimes!

Bill September 8, 2022 (10:55 pm)

You left out the city council and the fact that almost all judge races are unopposed.
- WSEARES September 9, 2022 (12:16 am)
  
  I actually did mention the city council at the end of my post as who we should be focused on and outraged with. Judges who let criminals off with no punishment even after repeated offenses and letting violent criminals roam free and city council who enables it as well. Voters need to finally vote them out and quit thinking these experiments such as being soft on crime, seeing criminals as “victims of poverty” and defunding or not supporting the police department is effective and going to lead to a safer & more prosperous Seattle! It’s failing and we need police, but we need good police who care about the city and that starts with the support of council and making sure police morale isn’t beat down time and time again by failing politics and failing politicians.
Ice September 8, 2022 (11:16 pm)

You also left out the reality of recidivism. If someone goes to jail, they are far more likely to reoffend than someone who gets off without going to jail.
- WSEARES September 9, 2022 (12:24 am)
  
  @Ice. Your answer is completely illogical and ridiculous. We must hold criminals accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Letting them roam the streets and reoffend time and time again isn’t working! Citizens of Seattle who have their heads out of the sand and are tired of the rise in crime (many times by repeat offenders) realize that your logic in this response is lacking and clueless. The failed experiments like defunding or cutting police budgets, not supporting the police department as a whole have gotten the city and county in the mess we are in today, crime rising and a revolving door of catch and release by SPD officers. Police need to arrest, prosecutors need to fully prosecute and judges need to lock them up and throw the key away, no more slap on the wrist by our local “justice” system. SMH. Criminals need to be held accountable and that means jail so the tax paying hard working law abiding citizens quit getting victimized by these lawless selfish criminals! Otherwise Seattle will fall further and further into despair and to the point beyond ever fully recovering.
  - Lauren September 9, 2022 (3:55 am)
    
    Ice’s comments is actually a very well researched fact.
    - WSEARES September 10, 2022 (12:29 pm)
      
      Well researched or not. The current experiment of being soft of crime and not holding criminals accountable isn’t working and isn’t sustainable for a safe city for its residents & visitors alike. Criminals shouldn’t have more freedom than those they victimize and commit crimes against. Jail is a great solution to keeping the city safe in the mean time and maybe while in jail other experimental approaches can occur consecutively. Letting criminals off with a slap on the wrist and/or alternative punishments to incarceration for violent criminals that allow them to roam the streets again and reoffend isn’t working. Just ask the family of the victim of the Tacoma pot shop robbery turned murder among many other innocent victims of violent crime from repeat offenders in our state/county/city of not locking criminals up only for them to do more harm to others sometimes up to and including murder unfortunately…. Let’s all fight for safer city again!
- Kate September 20, 2022 (6:07 pm)
  
  @Ice, Do you suggest they roam free to put everyone else in danger? Or maybe that they’re actually secretly sane enough to get help? Asking for a friend. @WSeares, you’re 100%. Amazing how many like to complain about the issues happening – yet vote the same. Every. Single. Time.
Mel September 9, 2022 (11:37 am)

Hear hear!

star 55 September 8, 2022 (9:47 pm)

Diaz has stepped in, help during these challenging times, knowing there would be a search. I find comfort in knowing he knows our city, knows our struggles no yet showed up everyday.

Me Too September 8, 2022 (9:57 pm)

We Need Change…….You are spot on!! LOVE your comment!!

Westside Dad September 9, 2022 (6:34 am)

Chief Diaz knows our community well and is doing the best job he can with the challengingly circumstances! He should be selected.

Anne September 9, 2022 (6:59 am)

Whoever is appointed Chief of Police -or King County Sheriff for that matter -takes the job knowing they serve at the pleasure of the Mayor (& City Council) or the County Executive (& County Council) .They don’t serve at the pleasure of you or I. Personally I don’t like politicians appointing those positions -I would prefer to vote for that position -then the Chief/Sheriff serves at pleasure of us -the voters & can be voted out of that office by us. From term to term we may have changing Mayors & County Executives & they can change who serves in those jobs . I want them remembering who “hired’ them & work for them-I want that to be us-not a politician.

MooSang123 September 9, 2022 (8:21 am)

So this was a nationwide search that occurred over months, and the finalists are the fill-in guy, his #2, and a guy from Tucson? Really, that’s where we landed? This city needs help!!

WSEARES September 9, 2022 (4:20 pm)

It should say something when they only had 15 total applicants to begin with! For a city our size and a salary as big as the Seattle police chief’s to only get 15 total applicants speaks volumes!! Makes you wonder how much of the defund movement, toxic political climate especially towards law enforcement and the lack of support for them in our city played a part in the lack of interest for this job. I’d be curious to know who the longest serving Seattle police chief was and why they eventually departed the position? The job of Seattle PD chief seems to of been a revolving door as of recent history plaqued by controversies from what I can remember…

Sorry, comment time is over.