Seattle (Dec 22) – A press released Runta received from Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkan’s office announced the members of her Police Search committee who will assist in a national search process to find the best candidates for Seattle’s next police chief. Led by four co-chairs, this diverse Search Committee will work with a national search firm to gather and screen applications following a series of community meetings to collect community input and create the Chief’s job description.
“The next police chief must be a leader with unquestioned integrity and someone who can both ensure public safety and hold the respect and confidence of rank-and-file police officers and our communities. As our Search Committee begins their work, they will be focused on finding a leader who embraces meaningful and lasting reforms and has a vision that reflects the fact that reform and improvement is a continual process. Before making any recommendations, our Police Search Committee will be listening to our residents, including those communities that have the greatest distrust of police and the criminal justice system and who face the bias and institutional racism of our current system,” said Durkan.
The 25 member Police Search Committee is comprised of a broad range of community leaders, including many with extensive and unique experience in criminal justice reform and policing. Members include:
Co-Chair Tim Burgess, former Mayor of Seattle, former President of the Seattle City Council, and former Seattle police detective
Co-Chair Colleen Echohawk, Executive Director of the Chief Seattle Club
Co-Chair Sue Rahr, Director of Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission and former King County Sheriff
Co-Chair Jeffery Robinson, deputy legal director at the ALCU and the director of the ACLU Trone Center for Justice and Equality (serving in his personal capacity)
Jorge L. Barón, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
Scott Bachler, Seattle Police Management Association
Solomon Bisrat, Coalition of Immigrants Refugees and Communities of Color (CIRCC)
Louise Chernin, Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA)
Ben Danielson, Seattle Children’s Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic
Gregory Davis, Rainier Beach Action Coalition
Erin Goodman, SODO Business Improvement Area
M. Lorena González, Seattle City Councilmember
Enrique Gonzalez, Community Police Commission
Jimmy Hung, King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
Roxana Norouzi, One America
Asha Mohammed, Women’s Advocacy Center
Sonny Nguyen, Chinatown International District Public Safety
Becky Roe, Schroeter Goldmark & Bender
Jon Scholes, Downtown Seattle Association
Mike Stewart, Ballard Alliance
Mary Ellen Stone, King County Sexual Assault Resource Center
Marcus Stubblefield, King County Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget
Kevin Stuckey, Seattle Police Officer’s Guild
Pastor Lawrence Ricky Willis, United Black Christian Clergy
Rev. Aaron Williams, Community Police Commission
The Search Committee will hold its first meeting in early January. The search for a new Chief will include an extensive community outreach process during early 2018 and will seek to identify a leader who will successfully continue police reforms and garner public confidence. After conducting interviews with applicants, the Search Committee will submit their recommendations to Mayor Durkan.
