Mayor Wilson expects to select Seattle’s next police chief in coming months

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson released an update on the search for a new police chief on Friday, stating that the search is “on track” for her selection to be made in the coming months.

Wilson noted that she reviewed more than 40 applications from qualified internal and external candidates.

“When I look at the biggest challenges facing Seattle, our next police chief will play an indispensable role in making Seattle a great place to live,” Wilson said. “Seattle deserves a chief who is ready to help build a public safety system that matches our city’s values and priorities, who is present in our community and in this department, and who cares deeply about both.

“I want to thank everyone who shared their feedback during this search process for helping to define the parameters for our search, everyone who applied, and our advisory committee for their outstanding work so far,” she continued. “Staff who have been involved in multiple searches described this as the strongest candidate pool in years, and I am confident that we will arrive at a great selection at the end of this process.”

Seattle residents weigh in on qualities they want in next chief

Since the search was launched in August, Wilson and her staff have conducted extensive outreach and consultation to select the next permanent police chief. This included a public survey of more than 1,300 respondents, public listening sessions overseen by Seattle Neighborhood Group, and small community roundtables. Wilson noted that more than 400 Seattle residents participated in the listening sessions and roundtables.

“We went to the people. Together, we built a safe environment for neighbors and community partners to focus on constructive feedback,” Aaron Yoon, executive director of Seattle Neighborhood Group, said. “Different cultures and diverse communities came out and broke bread as one. When people feel safe and heard, new belief in one another becomes possible.”

Wilson found a few recurring themes that stood out during the public engagements, including what residents looked for in a chief regarding qualities and qualifications:

What stood out to Wilson:

• A candidate who is deeply rooted in Seattle.
• Someone interested in developing proactive relationships and engaging in the city’s diverse communities.
• A chief who prioritizes accountability, transparency, and rebuilding community trust.
• A candidate who is ready to improve operational performance, including 911 response times, visible patrols, coordination across departments, and measurable safety outcomes.
• A chief ready to implement a balanced approach to public safety and pair enforcement with prevention and diversified responses.
• Someone who can lead with cultural competence, emotional intelligence, humility, and an ability to build strong relationships with the community.
• A candidate who is collaborative, data-driven, and ready to work with businesses, partners, and the community to address crime, disorder, and everyday safety.

Wilson met with Seattle Police Department employees this month to launch an internal survey about the qualities they want in the next chief. The survey was launched with the goal of hearing directly from employees on what matters most to officers in their selection of the next chief.

“I am so pleased that we received so many qualified internal and external candidates. Each of the applicants seems so earnest in their interest in Seattle and in serving our community,” said Advisory Committee co-chair Justice Mary Yu (ret.). “I also appreciate and value the range of public input we received. The concerns of our community and the attributes they want to see in a Police Chief will guide our decision-making and recommendations to the mayor.”

Advisory committee works to narrow field to 5 candidates

The Police Chief Search Advisory Committee is reviewing applications using feedback from the public. Its community leaders and public safety experts will evaluate candidates’ qualifications and experience and recommend up to five finalists.

“The applicant pool demonstrates that being Seattle’s Police Chief is one of the top public safety roles in the country,” Ian Warner, Public Policy Director at Vulcan Real Estate, said. “While there are tough choices ahead, this selection process is well-positioned.”

The mayor’s office noted that the advisory committee will advance the top candidates for a competitive examination later in November. Final interviews with Wilson will take place in December, with a selection being made in the next few months.

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