Seattle police chief finalists to hold mid-September public forum

Mayor Bruce Harrell will make a decision on the city’s next chief of police in the coming weeks as the process has entered the final phases of the search, based on qualifications prioritized by the community.

On Sept. 8, the top three candidates, determined by the competitive examination, will be forwarded to the mayor for his consideration. These finalists will engage in a series of stakeholder interviews, culminating in a candidate question-and-answer session on the evening of Sept. 15.

“We designed a community-driven search process – and Seattle residents have spoken about what is important to them,” said Harrell. “We’ve heard loud and clear that our neighbors want effective public safety, addressing crime, and responding to emergencies without bias or an overmilitarized approach.”

Seattle residents prioritized community knowledge and policing, while 70% said ethics and integrity were the most important leadership qualities, according to a city-sponsored public survey. More than 1,300 people responded to the survey.

Seattle wants your input on SPD chief search this week

64% of survey takers also said responding to crime and decreasing 911 times was their top goal for the chief, making it the most selected option.

“Seattle residents are seeking a police chief who understands and embraces Seattle’s diverse communities, and who will partner with them while leading an ethical and accountable department,” Harrell said. “In One Seattle, our community has a fundamental right to safety, with the expectation that police services will meet their needs swiftly, justly, and with fairness.”

This session will be televised on the Seattle Channel, where candidates will be asked a series of questions submitted by community members. Questions for the candidates can be submitted here.

An overview of the Chief of Police search process and timeline is available at the Seattle Police Chief Search web page.

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