Mayor says new police chief should be effective, efficient

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn offered his first extensive comments Wednesday night on what he wants in a new police chief, saying he is looking for someone who can be effective and efficient during a time of tight budget constraints.

In remarks at City Hall to his search committee, McGinn said he also wants a chief who will work with other city departments to address the "root causes" of lawbreaking and not just "the symptoms of crime."

McGinn said the new chief must have integrity and, in a city of diverse backgrounds, be committed to social justice.

He said the department contains strengths but he also is looking for changes and creativity.

McGinn held off listing his priorities until the 26-member committee had developed its own criteria, which it completed at Wednesday night's meeting, and which now will be used by a national search firm hired to assist the city in finding a new chief.

Among the priorities listed by the search committee are:

• At least 10 years of command-level experience in a large urban police agency;

• The ability to work with all segments of the community and elected leaders;

• A willingness to reach out to minority communities;

• An understanding of the importance of diversity and inclusiveness in and outside the department;

• Strong management and leadership skills;

• Experience working with labor organizations;

• And, in a nod to the Seattle way of doing things, the ability to deal with "ambiguity and process."

The job opened last year when former Chief Gil Kerlikowske left to become President Obama's drug czar.

Ten candidates, who haven't been identified, have applied for the job, and about 30 are expected to put in their names, a representative of the Washington, D.C.-based search firm, Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), told the committee.

Only two candidates have publicly announced their intent to seek the job: Interim Seattle Police Chief John Diaz, who was chosen for that position last March by former Mayor Greg Nickels, and Spokane Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick, who previously served as Federal Way's police chief.

In its search, Seattle is competing against Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, New Orleans and St. Paul — cities also looking for police chiefs. PERF is assisting some of those cities in their searches.

The search committee, chosen by McGinn, began its work in January. In addition to hiring PERF, an organization of police executives from the country's largest law-enforcement agencies, the committee held three public meetings in February to develop its criteria.

PERF will use those criteria as a guideline in evaluating candidates. The search organization, which has helped other cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco, find new police chiefs, has been asked to produce a list of 10 to 15 of the best-qualified candidates by late next month.

The search committee will then narrow the field to six to eight candidates, with a vote in public after private discussion.

After interviews with the candidates, three finalists will be chosen in late May and presented to the City Council's Public Safety and Education Committee in early June.

After that, McGinn will announce his choice, which is subject to confirmation by the full council.

Information from Seattle Times archives is included in this story.

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