Interim Seattle PD chief announces major changes to top brass

Shakeups continue at the highest levels of the Seattle Police Department as newly-appointed Interim Police Chief Harry Bailey announced the latest in a series of changes to the command staff on Wednesday.

In an email to the department, Bailey announced the promotions of Robin Clark, Tag Gleason and Joe Kessler to assistant chiefs. Clark had served as an acting assistant chief, while Gleason and Kessler were promoted from the rank of captain.

With the changes, the department’s current command staff will be made up of Assistant Police Chiefs Carmen Best, Robin Clark, Tag Gleason, Joe Kessler, Clark Kimerer, Paul McDonagh, and Mike Washburn.

“I look forward to working with what I consider to be some of the best leaders in the agency,” Bailey said in the email, which was obtained by KIRO Radio.

Absent from the command staff is Assistant Chief Jim Pugel, who was replaced as interim police chief last week. While he will maintain his rank, he has been assigned to a “special project” involving harm reduction techniques, the email stated.

The changes come after the retirement of Assistant Police Chief Mike Sanford, who informed Bailey on Monday that his last day with the department would be March 31.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.