Interim Chief John Diaz

“I look forward to leading the department in this time of transition. The men and women of the Seattle Police Department are the best in the nation, and we will build on our traditions of professionalism, innovation and compassion.” - Interim Chief John Diaz

The Interim Chief of Police for the Seattle Police Department is Deputy Chief John Diaz, effective May 8, 2009.

Interim Chief Diaz began his career with the Seattle Police Department in 1980. Diaz has served as deputy chief since 2001 overseeing the Operations Bureau, one of the department’s two main bureaus, which consists of the Special Operations, Patrol Operations that includes crime analysis and five precincts, and Criminal Investigations that includes violent crimes, special victim crimes, narcotics, Internet crimes against children, and human trafficking. Also as deputy chief, Diaz led the Administration Bureau and managed a budget of over $187 million for five years.

Prior to his promotion to deputy chief and the department reorganization in 2000, Diaz served as assistant chief commanding the Special Operations Bureau. He worked in the East Precinct as a sergeant, lieutenant and captain, and from 1995 to 2000, Diaz served as the precinct captain. Other command assignments have included the internal investigation, gang and violent crimes sections. Diaz also spent five years working as patrol officer in the South Precinct before being promoted to sergeant.

Diaz served the United States Army from 1977 to 1980 as a criminal investigator.

Diaz is a syndicate director for the Leadership in Counter Terrorism (LinCT), which is a joint leadership program between the FBI, the Australian Institute Police Management and the Police Services of Northern Ireland. He also serves as a Boys Scouts of America – Scoutreach Foundation Trustee.

A San Francisco native, Diaz is a 2001 “Unsung Hero” award recipient by the Youth Law Center, a public interest law center located in San Francisco, for his leadership in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems and extraordinary work in serving abused and at-risk children who live apart from their families.

Diaz attended the University of Washington studying Society & Justice. He received his Associate in Law Enforcement from Skyline College, San Francisco. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Senior Management Institute for Police at Boston University.

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