Mayor Wilson Launches Search for Seattle’s Next Police Chief
Seattle – Today, Mayor Katie Wilson launched the City of Seattle’s national search for a Chief of Police for the Seattle Police Department (SPD).
“I am looking for a leader who understands that public safety starts with public trust. It is a trust that is earned every single day. Seattle’s next Chief of Police must be visible, accountable, and present in our neighborhoods, listening to residents, workers, and businesses across our city. We need a leader who will also be present and engaged within SPD, with a focus on operational excellence, leadership development, and internal culture, ensuring that SPD is a great place to work and that every employee does their part to build relationships with the communities this department serves,” said Mayor Wilson. “The next Chief will play an integral role in shaping not just the department’s culture, but the future of public safety in Seattle. This is a pivotal moment to design a public safety system that matches our city’s values and priorities, and I intend to get it right.”
The next chief of police will lead the development of SPD goals that align with the mayor’s public safety vision. They will direct community-centered policy development and responsibly manage the department’s budget and staffing. They will also build collaborative relationships with residents, businesses, advocates, City Council, and law enforcement partners for the largest municipal law enforcement agency in Washington State.
Mayor Wilson will establish a Chief of Police Search Advisory Committee to be comprised of law enforcement executive professionals and community leaders with direct experience in public safety and policing matters to evaluate candidates based on community input and recommend candidates for the mayor.
The advisory committee will be co-chaired by Justice Mary Yu (ret.) and Ian Warner. Justice Yu recently retired from the Washington Supreme Court after 25 years of combined judicial service on the Supreme Court and the King County Superior Court. Justice Yu has had an extensive record of service on and off the bench including co-chair of the Supreme Court’s Minority and Justice Commission and co-chair of the Washington Leadership Institute sponsored by the Washington State Bar Association and the state’s three law schools. Mr. Warner is the Public Policy Director at Vulcan Real Estate and previously served as Senior Public Policy Director at Zillow, legal counsel to the Seattle Mayor’s Office, and a member of the Monitoring Team that oversaw the Seattle Police Department’s implementation of the federal consent decree. Additional committee members will be announced in the coming weeks.
“As a Seattle resident, I am honored to serve our city as co-chair and support Mayor Wilson’s vision for a process that seeks extensive participation by all members of our community,” said Justice Mary Yu. “I am committed to ensuring that the search for the next Police Chief reflects the values of openness, transparency, and meaningful community involvement.”
The Advisory Committee will also receive community input from a public survey, neighborhood listening sessions, and other forms of community engagement in the coming months.
“Mayor Wilson understands how consequential this decision is for Seattle, and I appreciate the confidence she has placed in Justice Yu and me to help lead this effort. My experience with previous chief searches and long history working with SPD have shown me the value of strong leadership and meaningful relationships inside and outside the department,” said Ian Warner. “Our goal is to find a chief who earns public trust, supports our officers, and can deliver the public safety results Seattle residents and businesses expect.”
The planned timeline for the chief of police search is:
- August: Job posting and announcement
- September-October: Community outreach and engagement
- October-November: Candidate review with advisory committee
- November-December: Candidate Examination and finalists interviews with the mayor
It is anticipated that Mayor Wilson will announce her selection by the beginning of 2027.
Successful candidates will be visionary leaders with an unwavering commitment to safety for all and a thorough understanding of constitutional policing in a major metropolitan area. They bring expertise from their experience in law enforcement leadership, including significant executive-level experience within a complex policing organization. As the next chief of police, they will build on Seattle’s completed and ongoing reforms, demonstrating their ability to drive positive change and shape culture. The position is open to all candidates who meet the minimum job requirements and demonstrate alignment with the qualifications described above.
The chief of police search process is set by the City Charter. The advisory committee of community leaders and public safety experts will assess candidates based on law enforcement executive qualifications and experience as well as the community input gathered by public survey and listening sessions and to recommend up to five individuals to proceed to a competitive examination.
That process will start with a public survey, open until September 15th, where Seattle community members can share perspectives on the skills, experience, and priorities the next chief of police should have: take the survey.
Next, the Mayor’s Office will partner with the Seattle Neighborhood Group to host public forums throughout Seattle. The first forum will be September 26th at Van Asselt Community Center in south Seattle from 12-2 PM. More details about future forums will be shared in the coming weeks.
Additional updates on the process will be posted to: https://seattle.gov/mayor/vision-and-values/chief-search.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
Seattle City Councilmember Robert Kettle
“As Chair of the Public Safety Committee, selecting the City’s next Chief of Police is of paramount importance to me. While Seattle is benefitting from a downturn in violent crime that is similar to the rest of the country, we continue to experience unacceptable tragedies from youth gun violence, drug dealing that targets vulnerable community members, and public disorder offenses that deny residents, workers, and visitors safe use of our sidewalks and public transportation, and safe enjoyment of our parks, libraries and other public spaces.”
Ilona Lohrey, President and CEO of GSBA
“GSBA looks forward to an open dialogue with the City of Seattle throughout its search for the next Chief of Police. As the largest LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, we are committed to ensuring the LGBTQ+ community’s voice is part of this process, and we stand ready to support the city in finding a leader who will serve and represent all of Seattle’s communities.”
Lonnisha Landry, Founder of Just/Us Love Ones
“As a mother, community advocate, and founder of Just/Us Love Ones, I support Mayor Wilson’s community-driven process to find the next police chief. For families like mine who have been directly impacted by gun violence, this decision is deeply personal. We need leadership that understands our communities, values the voices of families, builds trust, and is committed to both public safety and justice. I believe meaningful change takes intention, and I support Mayor Wilson in taking the time to get this important decision right for the people of Seattle.”
Jon Scholes, President and CEO, Downtown Seattle Association
“The selection of Seattle’s next police chief is critical to the future of our city. I support Mayor Wilson’s commitment to a thoughtful, community-focused process and am grateful to Justice Mary Yu and Ian Warner for co-chairing this important work. A safe and welcoming downtown is essential to Seattle’s economic vitality, and strong, trusted leadership at SPD is central to that success. We need a chief who can build trust, support our officers, and deliver results for Seattle.”
Erin Goodman, Executive Director, SODO Business Improvement Area “Selecting Seattle’s next police chief is one of the most important decisions we can make for the future of public safety in our city. In SODO, we know how important public safety is to the people who work, visit, and do business here. I appreciate Mayor Wilson’s commitment to including community organizations in this process. Our next chief must be someone who can earn trust, strengthen partnerships, support officers, and lead a police department that understands and responds to the different public safety needs of communities across Seattle.”
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