Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has launched a national search for the city’s next police chief, beginning a months-long process that will include community surveys, neighborhood forums and an advisory committee charged with evaluating candidates to lead the Seattle Police Department.
Wilson said she is seeking a chief who can build public trust while strengthening leadership, accountability and culture within SPD, the largest municipal law enforcement agency in Washington state. The city expects the mayor to announce her selection by early 2027.
“I am looking for a leader who understands that public safety starts with public trust. It is a trust that is earned every single day. Seattle’s next Chief of Police must be visible, accountable, and present in our neighborhoods, listening to residents, workers, and businesses across our city. We need a leader who will also be present and engaged within SPD, with a focus on operational excellence, leadership development, and internal culture, ensuring that SPD is a great place to work and that every employee does their part to build relationships with the communities this department serves,” Wilson said. “The next Chief will play an integral role in shaping not just the department’s culture, but the future of public safety in Seattle. This is a pivotal moment to design a public safety system that matches our city’s values and priorities, and I intend to get it right.”
The next chief will be responsible for developing department goals that align with the mayor’s public safety priorities, overseeing SPD’s budget and staffing, and directing community-centered policy development. The chief will also be expected to build relationships with residents, businesses, advocates, the Seattle City Council and law enforcement partners.
Seattle City Councilmember Robert Kettle, chair of the council’s Public Safety Committee, said the selection comes at an important point for the city. While violent crime has declined, he said Seattle continues to face challenges involving youth gun violence, drug activity and public disorder.
“As Chair of the Public Safety Committee, selecting the City’s next Chief of Police is of paramount importance to me. While Seattle is benefitting from a downturn in violent crime that is similar to the rest of the country, we continue to experience unacceptable tragedies from youth gun violence, drug dealing that targets vulnerable community members, and public disorder offenses that deny residents, workers, and visitors safe use of our sidewalks and public transportation, and safe enjoyment of our parks, libraries and other public spaces.”
As part of the search, Wilson will establish a Chief of Police Search Advisory Committee made up of community leaders and law enforcement professionals with experience in policing and public safety. The committee will consider community input as it evaluates candidates and makes recommendations to the mayor.
Retired Washington Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu and Ian Warner, public policy director at Vulcan Real Estate, will co-chair the committee. Additional members are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Yu recently retired from the Washington Supreme Court after 25 years of combined judicial service on the state Supreme Court and King County Superior Court. Her public service has included serving as co-chair of the Supreme Court’s Minority and Justice Commission and co-chair of the Washington Leadership Institute, sponsored by the Washington State Bar Association and the state’s three law schools.
“As a Seattle resident, I am honored to serve our city as co-chair and support Mayor Wilson’s vision for a process that seeks extensive participation by all members of our community,” Yu said. “I am committed to ensuring that the search for the next Police Chief reflects the values of openness, transparency, and meaningful community involvement.”
Warner previously served as senior public policy director at Zillow and as legal counsel to the Seattle Mayor’s Office. He also served as a member of the monitoring team that oversaw SPD’s implementation of the federal consent decree.
“Mayor Wilson understands how consequential this decision is for Seattle, and I appreciate the confidence she has placed in Justice Yu and me to help lead this effort. My experience with previous chief searches and long history working with SPD have shown me the value of strong leadership and meaningful relationships inside and outside the department,” Warner said. “Our goal is to find a chief who earns public trust, supports our officers, and can deliver the public safety results Seattle residents and businesses expect.”
Community participation will begin with a public survey asking Seattle residents to identify the skills, experience and priorities they believe the next police chief should have. The survey will remain open through Sept. 15.
The Mayor’s Office also plans to work with Seattle Neighborhood Group to conduct public forums across the city. The first is scheduled for Sept. 26 from noon to 2 p.m. at Van Asselt Community Center in South Seattle. Additional forums will be announced in the coming weeks.
Under the city’s planned timeline, community outreach and engagement will take place in September and October. The advisory committee is expected to review candidates in October and November, followed by a competitive examination and interviews with finalists by the mayor in November and December.
Seattle’s City Charter establishes the process for selecting a police chief. According to the city, the advisory committee will assess applicants based on their executive law enforcement qualifications and experience, along with feedback gathered through the public survey and community listening sessions. The committee will recommend up to five candidates to advance to the competitive examination.
The selection is also being closely watched by Seattle’s business community. Jon Scholes, president and CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association, said leadership at SPD will have implications for downtown as well as the broader city.
“The selection of Seattle’s next police chief is critical to the future of our city. I support Mayor Wilson’s commitment to a thoughtful, community-focused process and am grateful to Justice Mary Yu and Ian Warner for co-chairing this important work. A safe and welcoming downtown is essential to Seattle’s economic vitality, and strong, trusted leadership at SPD is central to that success. We need a chief who can build trust, support our officers, and deliver results for Seattle.”
The city said it is looking for candidates with significant executive-level experience in a complex law enforcement organization, an understanding of constitutional policing in a major metropolitan area and a commitment to public safety. The next chief will also be expected to build on SPD’s completed and ongoing reforms while demonstrating an ability to improve organizational culture.
Seattle residents will have several opportunities to influence the selection before the advisory committee begins narrowing the field. The public survey will remain open through Sept. 15, allowing residents to identify the experience, leadership qualities and public safety priorities they want to see in the next chief.
The first community forum will be held Sept. 26 from noon to 2 p.m. at Van Asselt Community Center in South Seattle, with additional forums expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Wilson expects to announce Seattle’s next police chief by the beginning of 2027.
Residents can participate in the city’s police chief survey through Sept. 15.
