Seattle Police Chief

Make sure to read the full description below, and please apply immediately if you are confident you meet all the requirements.

Position Description

The City of Seattle seeks a collaborative forward-thinking police chief dedicated to public service - a leader with an unrelenting commitment to ensuring that everyone in every neighborhood of Seattle is safe and feels safe.

We have a world-class police department, and we need a leader of the same standard to move us forward. Seattle's next police chief must be obsessed with safety and take responsibility for addressing urgent challenges and shaping the long-term vision for the department.

I am looking for an innovative leader who shares my commitment to constitutional policing and my dedication to keeping neighborhoods safe, driving culture change, implementing proven technologies to boost effectiveness, and bringing a holistic approach to public safety.

Together, we need to build public trust as we advance meaningful, effective solutions to crime and disorder, staffing and recruiting, gun violence, and the synthetic opioid crisis.

This is an extraordinary opportunity to help define the future of Seattle's police service as we create a welcoming and safe city for all.

I encourage you to apply."

Mayor Bruce Harrell

Job Responsibilities

The Seattle Police Chief is responsible for managing police services for maximum effectiveness and efficiency, creating an organizational culture of trust and commitment to the highest standards of professionalism, and winning the trust and confidence of the people of Seattle.

In alignment with Mayor Harrell’s vision of One Seattle, the Seattle Police Chief leads the development of Police Department (SPD) goals, policies, and objectives, and directs the delivery of police services.

The chief supervises the Department’s command staff and provides administrative direction and oversight for comprehensive police services, security, and law enforcement programs.

The chief also provides expert counsel on issues related to policing and creates cooperative working relationships with the Mayor and members of the City Council, intergovernmental partners, advocacy groups, and community members.

Reporting to the mayor, this cabinet-level position leads the largest municipal law enforcement agency in Washington State, with 1,200 authorized sworn officers and over 600 civilian employees.

The Seattle Police Chief is accountable for achieving the following outcomes :

Reduce gun violence and other violent crimes with evidence-based solutions and enforcement strategies and prioritize problem-solving in partnership with the people of Seattle.

Respond to 9-1-1 calls effectively and appropriately by hiring more officers and diversifying response options, including non-sworn employees, to events that do not require police.

Recognize the root causes and impacts of violence and embrace a holistic, multidisciplinary response to crime and disorder in partnership with community-based solutions and upstream interventions.

Prioritize a public health and trauma-informed approach to reduce drug overdoses, reduce violence, and better support victims and survivors.

Eliminate inefficiencies in the delivery of police services and improve crime clearance rates. Build and maintain community trust through strong accountability systems and community engagement on policing priorities.

Key Areas of Responsibility

Creating Safety for All Demonstrate unwavering dedication to ensuring safety and security for everyone in every neighborhood.

Prioritize community engagement and collaboration by fostering trust, enhancing communication, and involving community members in decision-making.

Drive Culture Clearly communicate SPD’s policing vision, lead by example, and ensure effective, transparent policies. Regularly train officers on policy updates and best practices, emphasizing de-escalation and openness to innovative alternatives.

Prioritize officer well-being and foster a transparent, accountable workplace aligned with the city’s values.

Prevent and Reduce Gun Violence and Other Violent Crimes Lead the implementation of holistic, evidence-based, community-led solutions to disrupt violence and reduce gun crime.

Collaborate with community partners, other city departments, and partner agencies to enhance safety in heavily impacted neighborhoods.

Actively support the objectives of the One Seattle Gun Violence Prevention Plan.

Recruit, Hire and Retain Officers Encourage and implement innovative outreach and employment approaches to ensure SPD maintains at least 1,400 deployable police officers.

Prioritize officers who reflect Seattle’s values and diverse communities to expand the pool of applicants. Emphasize diversity across all ranks, including succession planning and retention efforts.

Lead the Seattle Police Department Ensure SPD operations, programs, resources, and employees equitably address the city’s public safety needs.

Optimize community policing and crime prevention and reduction strategies, emphasizing accountability and transparency from the command staff to the rank and file.

Align department operations with city objectives, the law, service equity, and regulatory compliance. Promptly identify and resolve organizational issues in collaboration with key stakeholders.

Support Vision Zero Goals Strive to eliminate traffic fatalities and injuries on city streets by 2030. Collaborate across disciplines to enforce traffic laws, educate the public on safe driving practices, and implement evidence-based strategies to address neighborhood-specific challenges.

Embrace the Safe System Approach, emphasizing empathy and fostering a culture of care and dignity for all road users.

Advance the Principles of One Seattle Work to invite dialogue and learning, collaboration and cooperation, innovation, and thoughtful change to drive progress on the city’s most pressing challenges to create a safe, equitable and thriving future.

Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the Seattle Police Chief.

Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Qualifications

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.

As the next chief, they will build upon Seattle’s completed and ongoing reforms, demonstrating their ability to effect positive change and drive culture.

Equity centers their decision-making process; they actively listen and are committed to justice for everyone. They are known as a trusted partner who acts with transparency and compassion.

Active engagement and partnerships with the people of Seattle inform their leadership. They inspire trust, value people, are driven by public service, and their actions consistently reflect integrity, accountability, and collaboration.

The Seattle Police Chief position requires certification, or ability to obtain certification, as a police officer as required by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission : Certification Information.

Application Process

To be considered, submit a resume and cover letter through the city’s application portal (City Application Portal). We encourage you to use your cover letter to discuss why you want to lead the Seattle Police Department and your vision for policing.

Your resume should be comprehensive and summarize the talent, experience, knowledge, and skills you bring to this critical leadership role.

If you have questions, please contact Pam Inch, Senior Executive Recruiter at [email protected]. Confidential inquiries are welcomed.

Qualified applicants will be reviewed by a search committee of community members appointed by the mayor. The search committee will recommend to the mayor candidates to participate in the competitive examination process.

The mayor will administer the competitive examination required by the City Charter. It is anticipated that Mayor Harrell will announce his selection before the end of 2024.

Due to the fiduciary nature of the work, job offers are contingent on the verification of credentials and other information required by the employment process, including the completion of a detailed background check.

The background check will include an extensive criminal history check, which includes conviction and arrest records, a driving history review, and a check of commission records in compliance with State and City background requirements.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

Please contact Pam Inch at [email protected] to request accommodation.

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