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 turned a benchmark by which new leaders are evaluated, and in the present day, I humbly mirror alone 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 neighborhood, 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 neighborhood walks. I targeted on attending to know Seattle, together with sitting down with neighborhood and enterprise leaders and making connections with fellow regional criminal-justice colleagues. These engagements — totaling practically 300 conferences — helped me determine key issues, 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 finding out on the Washington State Felony Justice Coaching Fee — finishing the Primary Legislation Enforcement Equivalency Academy and gaining a brand new pal and dedicated companion in making certain our latest recruits are well-trained, CJTC Govt 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 govt flooring and inspiring individuals to succeed in out on to ask any and all questions. I consider each voice needs to be heard and may be instrumental in serving to us transfer ahead. The onerous 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; neighborhood 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 — decreasing 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 give attention to the foundation causes of crime to higher forestall future incidents. These methods should not simply buzzwords; they’re key focal factors that will likely be embraced by all of our officers.
SeaStat, our SPD bimonthly assembly sequence that brings collectively prison justice companions, authorities leaders, educators, and human providers suppliers to share concepts and focus on 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, similar to gun violence, juvenile crime and how one can assist our most weak residents — these battling homelessness, drug dependancy and psychological sickness. Throughout these conferences, our key focus is tackling urgent points with urgency and collaboration.
By means of these 100 days, and looking out again even additional, there is no such thing as a method we’d be the place we’re with out our devoted officers {and professional} workers. To all of you: Thanks. Your resilience and selfless public service throughout tough instances 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 won’t enable exclusion or mistreatment to fester. I embrace the mayor’s imaginative and prescient for a studying, rising group, and we’re chargeable 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 willpower.
From today on, we’re “Policing Ahead.” Collectively, we’ll turn into essentially 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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