About the Captain

Captain Paul McDonagh began his police career with the Seattle Police Department in May of 1983. As a police officer, Captain McDonagh worked the East and South Precincts in Patrol, as a Field Training Officer and the South Precinct Anti-Crime Team(ACT). Captain McDonagh 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.

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.

Captain McDonagh has commanded the East Precinct since 2007.