CHIEF OF POLICE - John Diaz
John Diaz serves as the Chief of Police of the Seattle Police Department.
Chief Diaz is a 30+ year veteran, beginning his career with the Seattle Police Department in 1980. He became the Interim Chief of Police on May 7, 2009, and was sworn into office as the permanent police chief by Mayor McGinn on August 16, 2010. Before this, Diaz served as Deputy Chief overseeing the Operations Bureau, one of the department’s two main bureaus.
Prior to his promotion to deputy chief, Diaz served as assistant chief commanding the Special Operations Bureau.
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Chief Diaz 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.
Before coming to SPD, Chief Diaz was a United States Army criminal investigator from 1977-1980. 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.
Boards and Committees
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 and served on the University of Washington Advisory Board for P.I. and Forensic Board.
Education
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.
OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY - Director Kathryn Olson
Kathryn Olson is the Director of the Office of Professional Accountability (OPA). The Director is a civilian who oversees the intake, classification, and investigation of complaints, certifies investigative findings, and makes recommendations on disposition and discipline to the Chief of Police.
Kathryn Olson is the second Director of the Office of Professional Accountability, and was appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council May 7, 2007. Ms. Olson is a certified mediator and frequently makes presentations on a variety of substantive and procedural topics related to labor and employment issues associated with a diverse workforce. She also serves as the President of the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE).
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She initially worked as an attorney with the Women's Law Fund in Cleveland, Ohio, and then Assistant Director of the Fair Employment Practices Clinic and Lecturer in Law at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.
Ms. Olson joined the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 1991. She most recently served as a Supervisory Trial Attorney in the Seattle Field Office, where she oversaw attorneys and support staff in enforcing civil rights laws in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, and Montana. Her responsibilities included managing investigations and litigation alleging violation of Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Equal Pay Act, or the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Director Olson is committed to seeing that complaints brought to the OPA are investigated in a timely manner while ensuring fairness and thoroughness for everyone involved in the process.
Education
She obtained her undergraduate degree in Applied Behavioral Sciences from University of California, Davis in 1975, and her Juris Doctorate degree from the Case Western Reserve University Law School in 1982.
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT - Director Barb Graff
Barb Graff is the Director of Seattle Office of Emergency Management
Director Barb Graff's responsibilities include managing the multi-hazard interdepartmental emergency management program for the City of Seattle and coordinating its relation to other emergency response agencies and community groups. The program encompasses all phases of integrated emergency management including preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery.
Ms. Graff has been the Seattle Director since June of 2005.
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A native of Puget Sound, before coming to Seattle, Ms. Graff served in a similar capacity for the City of Bellevue for 21 years. Under her leadership, Bellevue’s emergency management program served as the pilot for the national Emergency Management Accreditation process. Ms. Graff has managed the response to a number of Presidentially declared disasters and has a depth of experience with full-scale and functional exercises.
Boards and Committees
Ms. Graff currently chairs the national Emergency Management Program Review Committee and serves on the Emergency Management Accreditation Commission. Ms Graff serves on the King County Advisory Committee on Emergency Management and Regional Homeland Security Council. She is a member of the Washington State Emergency Management Association and the International Association of Emergency Management. She co-chairs the Board of Directors for the Washington Information Network 2-1-1 (WIN 2-1-1) information referral system.
Education
Ms. Graff holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from the University of Washington.
DEPUTY CHIEF OF ADMINISTRATION - Deputy Chief Clark Kimerer
Deputy Chief Clark Kimerer is the Chief of Staff which oversees the Field Support Bureau, Administrative Section and the Legal Unit.
Deputy Chief Clark Kimerer was hired by the Seattle Police Department in 1983. As a Police Officer, he worked in the East and West Precincts and then as the Training Officer for the SWAT Team. He was promoted to Sergeant in July of 1987 and held assignments in the DWI Unit before being assigned to the Goodwill Games Planning Group. From 1985 to 1992, he was also chief Negotiator for the SPD Hostage Negotiation Team.
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Following his promotion to Lieutenant in late 1989, he continued as Lead Planner for the Goodwill Games through the completion of that event. He was later transferred to the West Precinct, serving as Captain from 1992 to 1996. Also as a Captain, Chief Kimerer commanded the Internal Investigations Section and the Vice & Narcotics Section. After his promotion to Assistant Chief in January, 1999, he served as Chief of Staff until his promotion in October 2001 to Deputy Chief.
Boards and Committees
Chief Kimerer is involved at a national leadership level in various homeland security and disaster management initiatives, including as Chair of the Investigations Committee for the DHS Virtual USA project; as executive board member of the National Alliance for Public Safety GIS; as a founding member of the Major City Chiefs Intelligence Commanders Group; as adjunct faculty member of the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security; and as a member of the Board of Directors of John Jay University – Reganhaard Center for Emergency Management Studies in New York. Chief Kimerer also served as a Syndicate Director for the Leadership In Counterterrorism program in Sydney.
Education
Chief Kimerer attended Northwestern University and graduated with a B.A. in Classics and Philosophy from St. John's College. Chief Kimerer also attended the Graduate Institute for the Liberal Arts at St. John's. He is a graduate of the Harvard Negotiation Program at Harvard University Law School, a graduate of the National Executive Institute Leadership Class XXVI. Chief Kimerer has been a member of the Downtown Emergency Services Center Board of Directors for twelve years, serving for the last nine years as Chair.
DEPUTY CHIEF OF OPERATIONS - Deputy Chief Nick Metz
Deputy Chief Nick Metz is currently serving as the Deputy Chief of Operations, which oversees the Patrol Operations Bureau, Criminal Investigations Bureau, and Special Operations Bureau.
Deputy Chief Nicholas Metz has been with the Seattle Police Department for over 28 years. He spent four years as a patrol officer in the downtown corridor and Rainier Valley before becoming an undercover detective in Narcotics.
He was promoted to Sergeant in 1989 before being assigned to work in Internal Investigations, the East Precinct Anti-Crime and Community Police Teams and the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center (WSCJTC).
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After being promoted to Lieutenant in 1991 he worked again at WSCJTC, then as Watch Commander at the South Precinct. He was then selected to be the Executive Assistant to the Chief of Police. Upon his promotion to Captain in 1995, he was assigned as the Director of Human Resources, Commander of both South and East Precincts and the Internal Investigations Section. Nick was promoted to Assistant Chief in October 2001. Besides his current assignment as Deputy Chief of Operations, as an Assistant Chief he previously commanded both the Operations Bureau, the Employee & Community Support Bureau, and the Investigations Bureau.
Boards and Committees
Chief Metz is on the Board of Directors for the Behind the Badge Foundation as well as the Safe Call Now program. He is also the coach for Magnolia girls Soccer, Fast Pitch and Basketball.
Education
Chief Metz graduated from City University with a Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement Administration. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Senior Management Institute for Police at Boston University. He is also an alumnist of Leadership Tomorrow's Class of 2000, sponsored by the Seattle Chamber of Commerce.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES - CAO Valarie Anderson
Valarie Anderson is the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and oversees the Fiscal, Property and Fleets, Research Grants & Corporate Support, Data Center, and Records & Public Requests Sections.
Valarie Anderson began her career with the Seattle Police Department in September 1990 as the Fiscal Manager where she managed accounts payable, accounts receivable, grants accounting, forfeiture accounting, cash accounting, and departmental purchasing. In May 2001, she was promoted to Director of Fiscal Property & Fleet where she continued her leadership and management role in all aspects of accounting and purchasing and worked closely with the departmental budget.
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In addition, she was responsible for the effective and efficient management of all departmental vehicles and motor pool operations; as well as for the provision of logistical support, equipment, and supplies for all departmental employees during routine and special events. Valarie was promoted to CAO effective April 2008.
Education
Valarie graduated from Northeast Louisiana University with a BA in Accounting in 1979 and from City University in 1998 with a Masters of Public Administration. She has been a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Washington since 1985 and is a current member of the Washington State Society of Certified Public Accountants. Valarie is an alumnus of City of Seattle’s Advanced Management Program and a 2010 graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police at Boston University.
SPECIAL OPERATIONS BUREAU - Assistant Chief Paul McDonagh
Assistant Chief Paul McDonagh commands the Special Operations Bureau. This Bureau oversees Homeland Security, Traffic and Parking Enforcement, Metro Special Response, and Criminal Intelligence.
Assistant Chief Paul McDonagh began his police career with the Seattle Police Department in May of 1983. As a police officer, McDonagh worked the East and South Precincts in Patrol, as a Field Training Officer and the South Precinct Anti-Crime Team(ACT). He spent time in the Special Patrol Unit/Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) where he remained when he was promoted to Sergeant. He also served as a Patrol Sergeant in the North Precinct.
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As Lieutenant he was assigned as the Evidence and Identification Section Commander overseeing the Photo Lab, Fingerprint Technicians, Latent Print Examiners, Evidence Unit and managed the Seattle Police segment of the regional Automated Fingerprint Identification System(AFIS). He was then assigned to the newly formed Emergency Preparedness Bureau, Homeland Security Section. He was promoted to East Precinct Commander in April of 2007 and served there until October 2009.
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS BUREAU - Assistant Chief Jim Pugel
Assistant Chief Jim Pugel commands the Investigations Bureau. This Bureau oversees Homicide, Robbery, Fraud, Auto Theft, Narcotics, Major Crimes Investigation, Internet Crimes Against Children, Vice, Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and CSI Units.
Assistant Chief Jim Pugel began his career with the Seattle Police Department as a volunteer Reserve Officer in 1981. His career with the Department began when he was hired in January 1983. As a Police Officer, Chief Pugel worked throughout the city before being assigned to SWAT in 1986. He was promoted to Sergeant in January 1990.
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As a Sergeant, Chief Pugel supervised in the East Precinct and the Basic Training Academy before being reassigned to SWAT. He was promoted to Lieutenant in January of 1994 and served as both a Watch Commander and an Operations Lieutenant in the East Precinct before commanding the Sexual Assault Unit. Chief Pugel also served as the Administrative Aide to the Chief before being promoted to Captain of the West Precinct in March of 1999. He was promoted to Assistant Chief in July 2000 and most recently commanded the Field Support Bureau.
Education
Chief Pugel graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and English. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Senior Management Institute for Police at Boston University. In 2006, he completed the Cascade Center Executive Management Program, Evans School of Public Affairs, University of Washington.
FIELD SUPPORT BUREAU - Assistant Chief Dick Reed
Assistant Chief Dick Reed is the Commander of the Field Support Bureau which includes Human Resources, Information Technology, Training and the 9-1-1 Center.
Assistant Chief Reed began his career as a police officer in 1985. He worked vehicle, foot and bicycle patrol assignments during the first five years of his career in the East Precinct. He served in the audit and procedures unit and as a burglary theft Detective before being promoted to Sergeant in 1994.
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As a Sergeant, he was assigned as assistant to the Investigations Bureau commander. Later he served as a Bicycle Patrol Sergeant in the West Precinct. Dick served in Internal Investigations first as a Sergeant and then continuing after his promotion to Lieutenant in 1997.
In his nine years as a Lieutenant, he worked in the North, Southwest and West Precincts in various roles. He served in planning, logistics and operational roles in a number of large scale security events. Dick served in the Human Resources section where he administered illness and injury rules and managed the background and recruitment unit. He also served for an extended period of time as the interim human resources director with the added responsibility of employment services, payroll and risk management.
Promoted to the rank of Captain in 2006, he served as Director of the police 9-1-1 center where he led a staff of more than one hundred employees who answer and dispatch calls for police service in the City.
Education
Assistant Chief Reed earned his Bachelor of Arts from Whitman College in 1983 and a Masters in Public Administration from Seattle University in 1991. He is also a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police at Boston University.
PATROL OPERATIONS BUREAU - Assistant Chief Mike Sanford
Assistant Chief Mike Sanford commands the Patrol Operations Bureau . This Bureau oversees the West Precinct, North Precinct, East Precinct , South Precinct and Southwest Precinct.
Assistant Chief Mike Sanford began his been with the Seattle Police Department in 1984. He was assigned as a Patrol Officer in the East precinct until 1987, before joining the SWAT team and later, the Basic Training unit. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1994, where he worked in the South and West Precincts and in Narcotics. During his time as a Sergeant, he was integral to the formation of the Citywide Anti-Violence Team.
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As a Lieutenant, Sanford worked first in Audit and Procedures, Training, Narcotics and as a back-up SWAT Commander. During that time, he was also selected as an Executive Assistant to serve for two Chiefs of Police.
In 2001, he was promoted to Captain, where he oversaw the Records Section, then served as the West Precinct Commander, the Metro Unit Commander and the Homeland Security Commander.
Education
Chief Sanford holds an Associates Degree in Police Science from Shoreline Community College, a Bachelors Degree in Political Science (Society and Justice), and a Masters Degree in Public Administration - both from the University of Washington. He is also a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police at Boston University.
