The final three candidates up for Seattle Police Chief were grilled by the Seattle City Council and the public at a community forum at Seattle Center Wednesday, June 2 as one of a number of public appearances they’ll be making around town this week.
Former Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske left his post last year when he was appointed by President Obama as the nation’s Drug Control Policy Director. Mayor McGinn, who has been actively looking for a replacement since January, is expected to make a final decision later this month, subject to City Council confirmation.
The three finalists (left to right) Rick Braziel, Ron Davis and John Diaz. (Photo credit: John Lok, courtesy of The Seattle Times).
Last month McGinn narrowed down the list, provided by a 26-member Police Chief Search Committee, from nine to three: Current interim Seattle Police Chief John Diaz (.pdf); Rick Braziel (.pdf), the current chief of police in Sacramento; and Ron Davis (.pdf), the chief of police in East Palo Alto, California.
Our news partner The Seattle Times covered the public forum last night, and wrote up an overview of each candidates’ platform. From the Times:
Braziel, 50, mixing an inspirational tone with academic touches, told the council he would be “like a big sponge” accepting feedback from all corners.
Davis, 46, displaying an outgoing personality, said he has engaged youths in his city by seeking out their opinions and recognizing what they “bring to the table.”
Diaz, 52, exhibiting the introspective and thoughtful approach that has marked his 15-month tenure as interim chief, said he would put Seattle communities in the “driver’s seat,” using neighborhood surveys to change the cultural assumption that police know best.
At the forum all three candidates emphasized the need to be directly rooted in Seattle and its many communities in order to better serve the city at large. Braziel, Davis and Diaz each offered the community an explanation of their experience, strengths and plans for Seattle. Read more in the full Times piece.
All three finalists will be appearing on Seattle Channel’s “City Inside/Out” telecast with C.R. Douglas this week, which airs at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 4. According to Seattle Channel, this will be the only event at which all three will appear and participate in a discourse together (at Wednesday’s forum each candidate spoke and took questions from the public separately). After the show airs Friday, the video will be available to view online at the Seattle Channel website.