As a former public highschool historical past trainer, I’m reminded that the idea of the “first 100 days” in public workplace carries weight. It was President Franklin D. Roosevelt who, within the depths of the Nice Despair, set a brand new precedent by transferring swiftly with daring reforms. That interval grew to become a benchmark by which new leaders are evaluated, and right this moment, I humbly replicate by myself first 100 days as chief of police for the Seattle Police Division.
I began my tenure on Feb. 1 with a easy, however pressing perception: that collectively, with assist from Mayor Bruce Harrell, the Metropolis Council, accountability companions and our group, we may construct a safer Seattle.
Our mission is obvious: to function compassionate guardians, trusted companions and dedicated problem-solvers. Over these first 100 days, I launched into a foundation-building journey grounded in listening, evaluation, strategic planning and implementation.
From the outset, I prioritized connection. I met with officers throughout roll calls and ride-alongs, and joined precinct and neighborhood conferences, enterprise boards and group walks. I centered on attending to know Seattle, together with sitting down with group and enterprise leaders and making connections with fellow regional criminal-justice colleagues. These engagements — totaling almost 300 conferences — helped me establish key considerations, form priorities and reaffirm our dedication to transparency and belief.
My first 30 days might be summarized by the phrase “a way of urgency,” with 14-hour days attending lessons and learning on the Washington State Prison Justice Coaching Fee — finishing the Fundamental Regulation Enforcement Equivalency Academy and gaining a brand new pal and dedicated accomplice in making certain our latest recruits are well-trained, CJTC Government Director Monica Alexander.
My earliest efforts led with transparency and accountability to the general public and to our officers — creating an open-door coverage with SPD workers, eradicating entry restrictions to our government ground and inspiring individuals to achieve out on to ask any and all questions. I consider each voice needs to be heard and might be instrumental in serving to us transfer ahead. The arduous fact is that SPD has weathered a difficult five years, marked by management modifications, staffing losses and shifting public belief. However we’re charting a brand new course.
Our new guiding philosophy is named “Seattle-Centric Policing”— a departmentwide technique based mostly on three pillars: evidence-based, police-led crime prevention; group and government-led initiatives; and providers and support-led efforts.
Seattle-Centric Policing aligns with the important thing public security methods addressed in Mayor Harrell’s One Seattle Restoration Framework — lowering gun violence, stopping high-impact crime, responding to 911 calls, addressing the drug disaster, connecting with our Seattle neighborhoods and taking particular care to put a deal with the basis causes of crime to higher stop future incidents. These methods will not be simply buzzwords; they’re key focal factors that shall be embraced by all of our officers.
SeaStat, our SPD bimonthly assembly collection that brings collectively prison justice companions, authorities leaders, educators, and human providers suppliers to share concepts and talk about urgent points, has been re-imagined beneath the Seattle-Centric Policing framework. These accountability conferences now focus much less on information presentation and extra on motion, follow-through and shared possession of outcomes. We’re addressing urgent challenges, comparable to gun violence, juvenile crime and methods to assist our most susceptible residents — these battling homelessness, drug dependancy and psychological sickness. Throughout these conferences, our key focus is tackling urgent points with urgency and collaboration.
By way of these 100 days, and searching again even additional, there isn’t any manner we’d be the place we’re with out our devoted officers {and professional} employees. To all of you: Thanks. Your resilience and selfless public service throughout troublesome occasions haven’t gone unnoticed. I’m dedicated to constructing a departmental tradition that helps your wellness, prioritizes fairness and inclusion, and rejects battle and inequity. We is not going to permit exclusion or mistreatment to fester. I embrace the mayor’s imaginative and prescient for a studying, rising group, and we’re liable for making a office the place all workers really feel secure, supported and accountable.
I perceive the street forward is lengthy, and management doesn’t come with out criticism. However criticism is the value of getting the privilege to guide. I settle for it with humility and dedication.
From this present day on, we’re “Policing Ahead.” Collectively, we’ll change into probably the most revolutionary, responsive, and community-centered police division within the nation.
That is our promise. That is Seattle-Centric Policing.
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