Sources: Kerlikowske leaving for Obama administration

After more than eight years as Seattle police chief, Gil Kerlikowske has told the department's top commanders that he expects to leave to take a federal law-enforcement position in the Obama administration, according to multiple sources familiar with the chief's plans.

One source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Seattle office of the FBI had received a "special presidential inquiry" ordering a comprehensive background check on the chief in anticipation of his taking a position in the administration.

Kerlikowske, 59, declined to comment today.

FBI spokeswoman Robbie Burroughs said the agency doesn't discuss background checks.

It is unclear what role Kerlikowske would fill in the Obama administration, but one possibility is as head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, a cabinet-level position otherwise known as the drug czar, a source said. The office, established in 1988, directs drug-control policy in the U.S.

Kerlikowske had also expressed an interest in the top job at the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, but apparently has not been tapped for that post, one source said.

Kerlikowske has told his command staff that he likely will leave by this summer and possibly much earlier, sources said.

Kerlikowske, who was appointed chief in 2000 by then-mayor Paul Schell, had worked the previous two years as deputy director of the Justice Department's community-oriented policing division during the Clinton administration.

Sources said Kerlikowske has a strong relationship with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who served as deputy attorney general during the Clinton years.

Kerlikowske's tenure as chief has been rocky at times, marked by controversy over allegations that he been too soft on internal disciplinary matters. New rules recommended by a mayoral panel were put into place last year to make the chief more accountable.

Kerlikowske won credit for stabilizing the department after the stormy departure of Norm Stamper as chief in the wake of the 1999 World Trade Organization riots in Seattle and reaching out to citizens. Crimes rates dipped during his time as chief, reaching historic lows in recent years.

Kerlikowske began his career as a street cop in St. Petersburg, Fla., in 1972 and went on to serve as chief in two Flordia cities, Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie. He became the first department outsider to lead the Buffalo, N.Y., department in the 1990s, and left there for the deputy director position in the Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, a post he was appointed to by then President Clinton, according to his biography on the department's Web site.

Kerlikowske lists one of his accomplishments as the development of less-than-lethal force options for officers, equipping dozens of officers with Tazers. He also oversaw the installation of cameras in the department's patrol cars.

Currently, he serves as president of the Major Cities Chief's Association, which consists of police leaders from the country's 56 largest metropolitan areas.

He has been an advocate of gun control and fought to pass the assault-weapons ban and has championed closing the background-check loophole at gun shows.

If Kerlikowske leaves Seattle, an interim chief is likely to be appointed.

Kerlikowske is the region's second prominent official apparently headed to the Obama administration. Last week, King County Executive Ron Sims announced that Obama was nominating him to be deputy secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Sims, who had been campaigning for a fourth term as county executive, awaits Senate confirmation for the HUD job.

Steve Miletich: 206-464-3302 or smiletich@seattletimes.com

Mike Carter: 206-464-3706 or mcarter@seattletimes.com

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com