>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE ON
SHORT NOTICE. I AM HERE TODAY
TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT
REGARDING THE FUTURE OF OUR
OUTSTANDING POLICE DEPARTMENT.
CHIEF ADRIAN DIAZ WILL BE
STEPPING ASIDE AND WE WILL HAVE
AN INTERIM POLICE STARTING
TOMORROW. I WOULD LIKE TO
ELABORATE ON THE THOUGHT THAT
WENT INTO THIS AND THE PROCESS
THAT WENT INTO THIS AND I WANT
TO START TALKING ABOUT CHIEF
DIAZ AND THE LEADERSHIP HE HAS
DEMONSTRATED TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP,
OUR POLICE SERVICES MET ALL BUT
TWO OF THE FEDERAL CONSENT
DECREE PROVISIONS AND THE
REMAINING TWO DISCIPLINE AND
CROWD MANAGEMENT IS PROGRESSING
WELL. WE HAVE LAUNCHED DUAL
DISPATCH PILOT THAT I THINK
MANY OF YOU HAVE FOLLOWED AND
SIGNED A NEW CONTRACT WITH THE
POLICE OFFICERS UNION AND
IMPLEMENTED NEW RECRUITMENT AND
THIS DEMONSTRATES THE CHIEFS
LEADERSHIP. RIGHT NOW HOMICIDE
IS DOWN 44% IN TOTAL REPORTED
CRIME IS DOWN 5%. AND SINCE THE
CONTRACT WAS APPROVED WE HAVE
RECEIVED AROUND 17 TO 19
APPLICATIONS A DAY AND SAME
TIME LAST YEAR WE WERE AT 5 TO
6 APPLICATION TODAY, THAT IS A
300% INCREASE. AND THE TOTAL
REPORTED CRIME CONTINUES TO
DECREASE AND THE NUMBER OF
EVENTS THAT WE ARE SEEING AND
INTERACTIONS THAT WE ARE SEEING
IS DEMONSTRATED BY OUR
APPLICATIONS UNDER THE CONSENT
DECREE THAT THIS CHIEF HAS BEEN
OUTSTANDING. I FIRST MET CHIEF
DIAZ AND HE HAS SERVED FOR OVER
27 YEARS AND IS THE PRESIDENT
OF THE POLICE EXECUTIVE
RESEARCH FORUM, A REPUTABLE
ORGANIZATION THAT DOES
OUTSTANDING WORK, I FIRST MET
CHIEF DIAZ IN AROUND 2007 IN
COMMUNITY WHERE HE ESTABLISHED
HIMSELF AS A COMMUNITY-BASED
KIND OF PERSON AND HAS
CREDIBILITY IN MANY
ORGANIZATIONS, PARTICULARLY IN
UNDERREPRESENTED BLACK AND
BROWN COMMUNITIES AND I WOULD
BE THE FIRST TO SAY THAT HE HAS
INTEGRITY, IN MY MIND AND IT IS
BEYOND REPROACH. HE IS A FRIEND
AND I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS
SERVICE. WE ARE NOW LOOKING AT
THE INTERNAL CULTURE OF THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WE ARE
TRYING TO CREATE A
REPRESENTATIVE DEPARTMENT OF
WHO WE ARE AT OUR BEST. THE
CULTURE THAT WE CAN STAND IN
ANY CITY AND SAY WE ARE TRULY
THE BEST, REALIZING THAT THERE
ARE CULTURAL ISSUES IN DARN
NEAR EVERY POLICE DEPARTMENT IN
THIS COUNTRY. WE WANT TO STAND
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH
EVERYONE AND TALK ABOUT RACE
DISCRIMINATION AND GENDER DISC
RUMINATION, DIVERSITY,
INCLUSIVITY AND THAT WE MODEL
OUR VALUES. RECENT ALLEGATIONS
OF DISCRIMINATION, PREJUDICE
AND HARASSMENT IN THE
DEPARTMENT, AS YOU ALL KNOW HAS
CAUSED ME TO POINT AND -- AN
INDEPENDENT AND OBJECTIVE
REVIEW OF THESE ALLEGATIONS.
THIS WORK CONTINUES TO BE
UNDERWAY AND WE SUPPORT THAT
WORK AND I ALSO REVIEWED THE
REPORTS OF OUR FEMALE OFFICERS
AND FOUND THEIR FEEDBACK
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. SO CHIEF
DIAZ AND I HAD MANY DISCUSSIONS
OVER THE YEARS AND I THINK HE
SHOULD BE COMMENDED BY
SUGGESTING THAT WE PUT THE
NEEDS OF THE CITY FIRST AND THE
NEEDS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
FIRST. HE HAS AGREED TO SET
ASIDE AND WORK ON SPECIAL
PROJECTS AND REALIZE THE KIND
OF CULTURE CHANGE THAT WE WANT
PERHAPS COULD BE BETTER SERVED
WITH HIM STEPPING ASIDE. WE
ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
ANYONE WHO HAS ANY COMPLAINTS
WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT WILL NOT
HAVE A THREAT OF RETALIATION OR
BLOWBACK WHILE THE
INVESTIGATION OCCURS. I WANT TO
PERSONALLY AGAIN, THANK CHIEF
DIAZ FOR HIS SERVICE AND
CONTINUED DEDICATION TO THE
CITY OF SEATTLE AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUE WORKING
WITH HIM IN THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT IN THAT REGARD. SUE
IS EQUALLY QUALIFIED SHE WILL
BE AN OUTSTANDING MAYOR FOCUSED
ON RECRUITMENT, CULTURE CHANGE
AND WORKING TO CREATE SAFETY
FOR ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS. IN MY
CONVERSATION WITH CHIEF DIAZ,
AND SOMEWHAT OF A PERSONAL
NATURE WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE
AMOUNT OF LITIGATION THAT HAS
TO BE SOMEWHAT DISTRACTING. HE
IS A GOOD HUMAN BEING AND SO
THE QUESTION IN TERMS OF CAN
YOU CONTINUE TO EVALUATE OR
PRACTICE THE TYPE OF EXCELLENCE
THAT WE DEMAND IN THIS CITY
WHILE BEING AND ADDRESSING THE
ALLEGATIONS GOING BACK TO SUE,
SHE HAS A HISTORY OF MODERN
POLICING AND CULTURE CHANGE AND
SERVED AS THE KING COUNTY
SHERIFF, ON THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE TRAINING COMMISSION AND
A MEMBER OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S
TASK FORCE ON 21ST-CENTURY
POLICE. SHE IS AN EXPERT IN
RECRUITING AND NATIONAL BEST
PRACTICES, MODERN POLICING,
PUBLIC SAFETY STRATEGIES ROOTED
TO COMMITTING TO KEEP ALL
PEOPLE SAFE. WE SHOULD BE
HONORED THAT SHE HAS AGREED TO
STEP UP AND SERVE THE GREAT
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE. SHE IS ALSO
A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT TO THE
30 BY 30 INITIATIVE TO SEE MORE
POLICE WOMEN RECRUITS BY 2030.
AND THIS WOULD BE VERTICAL AS
WE WORK TO RECRUIT MORE WOMEN
OFFICERS THAT REFLECT THE VALUE
OF OUR CITY. SIMPLY PUT, SHE IS
THE RIGHT PERSON AT THE RIGHT
MOMENT TO LEAD SPD INTO ITS
NEXT CHAPTER AND WE ARE HATEFUL
THAT SHE PUT RETIREMENT ON
PAUSE TO HELP OUR CITY AND OUR
DEPARTMENT AND HELP ALL OF YOU
THAT ARE LISTENING TO ME RIGHT
NOW. YOU WILL HEAR FROM CHIEF
DIAZ AND CHIEF ROHR IN A MINUTE
BUT LET ME MAKE ONE UNCLEAR. WE
WILL IMMEDIATELY COMMENCE THE
SEARCH FOR A PERMANENT POLICE
CHIEF. CHIEF ROHR WILL NOT BE A
PERMANENT APPOINTMENT. SHE WILL
WORK WITH KATHY O'TOOLE WHO WE
ARE IN CONSULTATION WITH TO
HELP YOU FIND THE LIST OF
QUALIFIED CANDIDATES. LET ME
ALSO SAY THAT CULTURE CHANGE IS
VERY HARD. I AM LOOKING OUTSIDE
OF THE DEPARTMENT TO PERHAPS
TAP SOME OF THE TALENT IN OTHER
CITIES. PEOPLE WITH LIVED
EXPERIENCE CAN HELP US CHANGE
CULTURE. I AM VERY PROUD OF OUR
POLICE DEPARTMENT. LET ME MAKE
THAT CLEAR. WHEN YOU LOOK AT
THE USE OF FORCE NUMBERS AND
WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE
LIMITED RESOURCES, THEY MAKE ME
PROUD AS MAYOR. WE WILL
COMMENCE A NATIONAL SEARCH FOR
THE NEXT PERMANENT CHIEF OF
POLICE. THE INTERIM WILL NOT
APPLY FOR THAT POSITION. AND I
FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT WE
WILL HAVE A CHIEF THAT CAN HELP
US CHANGE THE CULTURE AND
CREATE THE PLACE THAT WE CAN
ALL BE PROUD OF. WITH THAT I
WILL ASK CHIEF DIAZ TO SAY A
COUPLE OF WORDS AND THEN CHIEF
SUE RAHR.
>> WHEN I TOOK ON THE ROLE OF
CHIEF OF POLICE I KNEW IT WOULD
COME WITH MANY CHALLENGES. THE
CITY WAS AT A PEAK WITH RACIAL
RECKONING WITH PROTEST DAILY
AND THE CALLS TO IMAGINE
RE-POLICING AND OF PUSH TO
DEFEND THE POLICE WITH ON
THE RISE, CULTURE THAT REQUIRE
CHANGE AND ALONG WITH MY
COMMAND STAFF I DOVE INTO FIND
SOLUTIONS. IN FOUR YEARS WE GOT
BACK ON TRACK WITH THE DISSENT
DECREE. I CREATED BEFORE THE
BADGE AND NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED
PROGRAM AND IMPLEMENTED A
SYSTEM TO IMPLEMENT BIAS
POLICING AND INVESTED IN
OFFICER WELLNESS. IMPLEMENTED
AN EXCESSIVE PLAN FOR RACIAL
JUSTICE, REINVENTED CROWD
MANAGEMENT AND NEARLY
ELIMINATED SERIOUS USE OF
FORCE. VIOLENT CRIME IS DOWN,
OFFICER COMPLAINS ARE DOWN
SIGNIFICANTLY AND WE ARE TAKING
MORE GUNS OFF THE STREET THAN
EVER BEFORE. WE'VE RECOVERED A
NUMBER OF DRUGS AND SAVED
COUNTLESS LIVES AND DID THIS
ALL WITH THE HELP OF CREATING
THE THIRD PUBLIC SAFETY
DEPARTMENT AS WELL. I HAVE
ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH IN THE
FOUR YEARS AS CHIEF BUT THERE
IS MORE WORK TO BE DONE. I PASS
THAT CHALLENGE ALONG TO MY
PREDECESSOR AND I WILL CONTINUE
TO SUPPORT THE CITY AS A
TRANSITION TO THIS NEW ROLE. I
WANT TO THANK THE MEN AND WOMEN
OF THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR HARD WORK
AND THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS
SUPPORTED US THROUGH EVERY
CHALLENGE. THANK YOU. [
APPLAUSE ]
>> WHAT YOU SAW WAS
AUTHENTICITY AT ITS FINEST. I
WILL SAY PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY
THAT CHIEF DIAZ IS A GOOD HUMAN
BEING AND HE SERVED AS WELL. I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONTINUED LEADERSHIP. YOU
CAN'T MAKE UP THAT KIND OF
HEART AND HE HAS DEDICATED 27
YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO THE
CITY. IT IS BECAUSE OF HIS
COMMITMENT TO THE CITY, AND I
WILL BE CANDID WITH ALL OF YOU
AS I ONLY KNOW HOW TO BE, HE
GETS CALLS ALL THE TIME TO LEAD
OTHER DEPARTMENTS BUT HE IS
COMMITTED TO THIS CITY. SO I
WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK YOU FOR
YOUR STRONG LEADERSHIP AND
CONTINUED SUPPORT. WITH THAT I
WILL INTRODUCE CHIEF SUE RAHR.
THE MIC IS YOURS.
>> YOU CAN SEE WHILE THIS WILL
BE A TOUGH CHALLENGE BECAUSE
I'VE GOT SOME BIG SHOES TO
FILL. I AM INCREDIBLY HONORED
TO BE ASKED TO STEP IN AND
STEER THE SHIP AS THE MAYOR
IDENTIFIES A NEW CHIEF. I JUST
HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT
TO SAY. FIRST, TO THE MEN AND
WOMEN OF THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, YOU ARE GOING
THROUGH SOME TURBULENCE RIGHT
NOW. I RECOGNIZE THAT AND WANT
TO DO WHAT EVER THEY CAN TO
REASSURE YOU THAT WE WILL GET
THROUGH THIS. THE FIRST THING I
WILL DO TOMORROW, FIRST DAY IN
THE OFFICE AT 9:00, I WILL
START BY LISTENING. I WANT TO
HEAR FROM THE MEN AND WOMEN,
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
WHAT YOU ARE SEEING, WHAT YOUR
IDEAS ARE AND WHAT YOU NEED. I
NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE
ALL FACING ON THE STREET. I
ALSO NEED YOU TO BE BRUTALLY
HONEST AND OPEN WITH ME SO I
CAN UNDERSTAND, ARMED WITH THAT
INFORMATION I WILL DO MY VERY
BEST IN THE SHORT TIME THAT
I'M HERE TO GET YOU THE TOOLS
AND SUPPORT THAT YOU NEED TO
DELIVER GOOD POLICING TO THE
PEOPLE WE SERVE. THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS
INCREDIBLE TALENT THAT
SOMETIMES DOES NOT GET
RECOGNIZED AND MY GOAL IS TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY
GETS TO SEE THE GREAT WORK THAT
IS BEING DONE AND BUILD ON THAT
SOME MORE. TO THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE REALLY
GRIEVING WITH THIS CHANGE, AND
I UNDERSTAND THAT. I WILL ALSO
START, REVEREND WALTON, BY
LISTENING TO PEOPLE. I WANT TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT WE CAN DO
TOGETHER TO IMPROVE PEOPLE'S
SENSE OF SAFETY AND GAIN YOUR
TRUST. I KNOW THAT WILL BE A
TOUGH ROAD, BUT WE WILL DO IT.
IT WILL TAKE ME A LOT OF TIME
TO DO THIS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT
RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN
SEATTLE ARE NOT ONE BIG
MONOLITHIC BLOCK. EVERYONE IS
UNIQUE IN EVERY COMMUNITY IS
UNIQUE AND I WILL TAKE THE TIME
NECESSARY TO LISTEN AND LEARN
WHAT YOUR NEEDS ARE AND YOUR
IDEAS ARE AND WHAT WE CAN DO
TOGETHER TO CONTINUE IMPROVING
SAFETY. FINALLY, SEVERAL PEOPLE
HAVE ASKED ME, WHY DID I TAKE
THIS JOB? I WAS PERFECTLY HAPPY
WITH MY GRANDKIDS, DOING A LOT
OF WORK IN THE CONSULTING WORLD
IN TRYING TO IMPROVE THE
PROFESSION OF POLICING. BUT I
HAVE TO SAY, I FEEL A LITTLE
UNCOMFORTABLE STANDING IN THE
SIDELINES PREACHING ABOUT WHAT
LEADERS SHOULD DO. I DECIDED IT
IS TIME TO PUT UP OR SHUT UP SO
I WILL JUMP INTO THE ARENA
AGAIN. NOT FOR A LONG TIME, BUT
LONG ENOUGH TO TRY TO HELP MY
BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT I'VE
WATCHED FROM ACROSS THE STREET
FOR SO MANY YEARS. THERE ARE
STILL A FEW PEOPLE AS OLD AS ME
THAT ARE IN THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND I WILL NEED A
LOT OF HELP AND I WILL NEED TO
GAIN WISDOM, ERIC, I WORK WITH
YOUR DAD. I KNOW YOUR DAD
BETTER THAN YOU. BUT I REALLY
AM EXCITED TO MEET THE MEN AND
WOMEN INSIDE THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT THAT I DON'T YET
KNOW BECAUSE I KNOW THEY HAVE A
LOT OF GOOD IDEAS AND THEY'VE
GOT GOOD HEARTS AND I WANT TO
HELP THEM GET THOSE HEARTS OUT
ON DISPLAY. MAYOR, THANK YOU
AGAIN FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE.
>> THANK YOU. BEFORE I TAKE A
FEW QUESTIONS I DO WANT TO
RECOGNIZE SENATOR JOHN LUBBOCK,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED
SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND
COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE. AND COUNCIL MEMBER AND
ROB, HERE AS ELECTED LEADER AS
WELL. WE WILL HAVE A LITTLE
ORDER HERE. JUST ONE SECOND.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMAND
STAFF CHANGES YOU CAN TELL US
ABOUT AND SECONDLY, WITH NO
FORMAL LEADERSHIP IN PLACE WITH
THESE CHANGES CAN YOU TELL THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE, IS SEATTLE
SAVE, TALK ABOUT THE PUBLIC
SAFETY PART.
>> WILL THERE BE COMMAND STAFF
CHANGES, WE ARE DISCUSSING THAT
NOW. INTERIM CHIEF SUE RAHR
WILL MAKE SOME DECISIONS AND
THOSE DISCUSSIONS ARE OCCURRING
NOW. NUMBER TWO, THE CITY
SHOULD HAVE THE ULTIMATE FAITH
IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. THEY
ARE SHOWING OUTSTANDING
LEADERSHIP. THIS IS HOW YOU GET
BETTER. HOW YOU EVALUATE
YOURSELF, YOU HIRE PEOPLE TO
GIVE YOU FEEDBACK WHETHER YOU
WANT IT OR NOT. YOU HAVE OPEN
DIALOGUE WITH PROVEN LEADERS
AND PUT YOUR OWN EGO TO THE
SIDE AND SAY, WE CAN DO AND WE
CAN BE BETTER. SO THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE SHOULD FEEL GOOD ABOUT
THIS MOVE. WE DON'T MAKE PETTY
MOVES, WE MAKE STRATEGIC MOVES.
IF THERE IS ONE THING TO TAKE
AWAY FROM THIS, PRESS
CONFERENCE, AS I STAND WITH
THIS FINE LEADER, AS HIS
SACRIFICE FOR 25 YEARS, WE ARE
BUILDING UPON THAT AND THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE SHOULD HAVE
THE UTMOST CONFIDENCE THAT WE
ARE TRENDING IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION WITH THE RIGHT
POLICIES AND PEOPLE AND WE WILL
KEEP ON KEEPING ON. NEXT
QUESTION.
>> YOU SAID THINGS ABOUT
OUTGOING CHIEF DIAZ. WHAT WAS
THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMELS
BACK?
>> THERE WAS NOT ONE EVENT OR
ONE STRIKE THAT BROKE THE
CAMELS BACK TO USE YOUR
DESCRIPTION. MY EXECUTIVE TEAM
AND I WORKING WITH THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, WE ARE ALL ABOUT
STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION AND
CALIBRATING THE ISSUES OF THE
CITY. SO, AGAIN, GIVEN THE
AMOUNT OF LITIGATION THAT HAS
PERSISTED AND GIVEN THE
INTERVIEWS WE ARE HAVING RIGHT
NOW, LOOKING AT ONE OF THE
GENDER DISCRIMINATION CLAIMS
AND HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT,
THAT WE ASK OURSELVES OPEN AND
HONESTLY, NUMBER ONE, IN THE
INVESTIGATION, CAN WE MAKE SURE
IT IS NOT IMPEDED IN ANY WAY,
SO GOOD INVESTIGATION AND
RECOMMENDATIONS. MIGHT THERE BE
A THREAT OF RETALIATION WE HAVE
TO CONCERN OURSELVES WITH AND
IF WE ARE REALLY COMMITTED TO
CULTURE CHANGE, SHOULD WE MAKE
STRATEGIC CHANGES? I SIGNALED
THIS ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND
ASKED THE QUESTION OPENLY AND
SAID, I AM ALWAYS EVALUATING MY
DEPARTMENT HEADS. THE BEST
THING A MAYOR CAN DO IS MAKE
SURE THAT PEOPLE AT THE RIGHT
TIME FOR MAKING THE RIGHT
DECISIONS. CHIEF DIAZ IS A
CEYONE, EVERY TIME SOMEONE
FILES A COMPLAINT AGAINST HIS
DEPARTMENT IT AFFECTS HIS
ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS. THIS
WAS A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS.
BUT THERE WAS NOT ONE EVENT
THAT TRIGGERED ANYTHING. I WILL
MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR. I WILL
NOT COMMENT ON LITIGATION, I
THINK THAT IS AN AND WAS MOVED
BY ANY STRETCH OF THE
IMAGINATION. THERE IS A PROCESS
FOR THAT, IT IS CALLED DUE
PROCESS FOR A REASON AND WE
WILL LET THOSE LITIGATIONS PLAY
OUT AND LOOK AT THESE ISSUES
WITHIN IMPARTIAL FACTS.
>> ARE YOU PUTTING A FULL STOP
ON NO INTERNAL CANDIDATES
APPLYING FOR THE ADDITION OR
WOULD YOU CONSIDER ANYONE FROM
A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT?
>> THE QUESTION AS I UNDERSTAND
IT, AS WE CONDUCT A NATIONAL
SEARCH AM I PUTTING A FULL STOP
ON INTERNAL CANDIDATES AND
STRICTLY LOOKING AT EXTERNAL
CANDIDATES AND THE ANSWER IS,
NO I'M NOT PUTTING FULL STOPS
ON ANYONE TO APPLY. IF YOU
BELIEVE YOU ARE QUALIFIED, DO
APPLY. I USE THE TERM STANDARD
OF EXCELLENCE A LOT IN MY
SPEECHES. IF YOU BELIEVE YOU
BRING THE STANDARD OF
EXCELLENCE THAT WE WANT HERE IN
SEATTLE, YOU SHOULD APPLY. I
DID MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THE
KIND OF CULTURE CHANGE I'M
LOOKING AT, ONE HAS TO QUESTION
WHETHER THAT CAN COME FROM AN
INTERNAL CANDIDATE. I WILL JUST
BE CANDID WITH YOU. THE CITY IS
NO STRANGER TO THIS. YOU CAN
LOOK AT THE FORMER CHIEF WHO
CAME FROM OUTSIDE AND FORMER
CHIEF O'TOOLE, WHO CAME FROM
OUTSIDE. THERE HAS BEEN A
HISTORY IN OUR CITY THAT TO
CREATE THE KIND OF CHANGE WE
WANT WE GO EXTERNAL. I AM BEING
OPEN AND CANDID THERE. WE WILL
SEE WHAT KIND OF CANDIDATES WE
BRING IN.
>> I HEARD THAT JOHN O'NEILL
AND ERIC BARTRAM ARE CLEARING
OUT THEIR DESKS TODAY. CAN YOU
CLARIFY IF THEY ARE CHANGING
POSITIONS AND CAN YOU EXPLAIN
WHAT SPECIAL PROJECTS MEANS?
>> ERICA HEARD RUMORS ABOUT THE
ASSISTANT CHIEF, DEPUTY CHIEF
BARTON AND ASSISTANT CHIEF
O'NEILL, WHETHER THEY ARE ON
ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE OR WHETHER
THEY WILL BE IN THEIR POSITIONS
IN THE SECOND PART WHAT DOES
SPECIAL PROJECTS MEAN, VERY
GOOD. LET ME TAKE THE SECOND
HALF FIRST SINCE MY BRAIN WORKS
THAT WAY. THOSE DETAILS ON
SALARY AND WHAT SPECIAL
PROJECTS ARE BEING DISCUSSED
RIGHT NOW, WE WILL HAVE BETTER
CLARITY ON THAT. THAT IS A
DECISION TO WORK OUT WITH THE
INTERIM CHIEF. I MADE IT VERY
CLEAR TO THE INTERIM CHIEF THAT
WE HAVE 27 YEARS OF A STRONG
POLICE OFFICER AND CHIEF HERE
AND WANT TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT
IN SOME AREAS OF CONCERN BUT WE
WILL WORK THOSE DETAILS OUT.
WITH RESPECT TO THE ASSISTANT
CHIEF STATUS AND DEPUTY CHIEF,
NOT REALLY IN A POSITION TO
TALK ABOUT THEIR SITUATIONS.
THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED BY THE
NEW CHIEF AND I WANT TO MAKE IT
CLEAR, PLUS ANSWER YOUR
QUESTION, WE ARE HERE TO RUN A
DEPARTMENT. THERE ARE NO
ASTERISKS, CHIEF RAHR IS A
PROVEN NATIONAL EXPERT IN THIS
SPACE. WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT
SHE WILL LOOK AT THE ISSUES,
PERSONNEL ISSUES, ALLEGATIONS
AND MAKE STRATEGIC DECISIONS
AND I WILL TRUST HER DISCRETION
THERE. I AM NOT IN A POSITION
TO SAY HOW THAT WILL PLAY OUT
TODAY.
>> YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE SEVERAL
ACTIVE INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND NOW AN
INTERIM CHIEF. HAD YOU POSSIBLY
TELL RECRUITS TO COME TO
SEATTLE?
>> I WANT TO REPEAT THOSE
NUMBERS RIGHT NOW. I KNOW IT IS
JUST LIKE PRINTING SOUND BITES
WITH THESE NUMBERS. THEY ARE
APPLICATIONS, AROUND 17-19
APPLICATIONS A DAY COMPARED TO
5-6 LAST YEAR. SO TO ANSWER
YOUR QUESTION DIRECTLY, CHRIS,
WE HAVE A WONDERFUL POLICE
DEPARTMENT. WE ARE ON THE
CUTTING EDGE AND PAY A
COMPETITIVE SALARY AND WE
BELIEVE IN SOCIAL JUSTICE AND
COMMUNITY-BASED POLICING. WE
HAVE A CITYWIDE BODY OF
EMPLOYEES THAT EMBRACE THE
VALUES WE BELIEVE IN. SEATTLE
IS A GREAT CITY, IGNORED THE
RAIN THAT YOU SEE TODAY, CHRIS.
WE WILL GET A GOOD WEEKEND THIS
WEEKEND. WE HAVE A MARVELOUS
HAND WE'RE DEALT AS A CITY. I
ASK POLICE OFFICERS, BE A PART
OF THE SOLUTION. WE ARE
RECRUITING CONSTANTLY. I
RECRUIT ANYTIME I SEE SOMEONE
THAT MAY HAVE AN INKLING TOWARD
PUBLIC SAFETY. WHEN YOU LOOK AT
ANY CITIES, THEY STRUGGLE WITH
STRONG LEADERSHIP AT THE TOP.
CHIEF DIAZ GETS CALLS ALL THE
TIME. HE IS NATIONALLY
RESPECTED AS A POLICE CHIEF. WE
TELL RECRUITS, COME HELP US
IMPROVE THE CITY AND BE PART OF
THE SOLUTION AND I FEEL VERY
OPTIMISTIC THAT OUR RECRUITING
NUMBERS WILL CONTINUE TO TREND
THE WAY THEY ARE.
>> I WILL TRY TO LIVE UP TO
THAT TITLE OF NATIONAL EXPERT
ON RECRUITING. I HAD NINE YEARS
AT THE POLICE ACADEMY AND
TALKED TO NEW RECRUITS COMING
IN THE DOOR. YOU COULD IMAGINE
AFTER THE MURDER OF GEORGE
FLOYD AND UPRISINGS, PEOPLE
KEPT SAYING, WHY ON EARTH WOULD
ANYBODY WANT TO BE A COP TODAY?
I SAT WITH MY RECRUITS AND I
SAID, THIS IS THE BEST TIME TO
BECOME A COP. WE ARE ON THE
VERGE OF CHANGE AND DON'T YOU
WANT TO BE PART OF PUSHING THIS
NEW CHANGE? WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT
IS HAPPENING IN THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW, I
KNOW THERE IS SOME TURBULENCE,
BUT THERE IS SOME INCREDIBLE
WORK BEING DONE. I HAVE TO DO A
SHOUT OUT TO MY FRIEND, SENATOR
LOVICK, WE WORKED TIRELESSLY
FOR TWO YEARS TO GET STATE LAW
CHANGE SO WE COULD IMPLEMENT
FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULES.
BECAUSE ALL THE RESEARCH ACROSS
THE NATION INTERNATIONALLY, IT
TELLS US IT IS THE STRONGEST
RECRUITING TOOL FOR WOMEN,
HAVING FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES. I
HOPE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AS A
TEAM TO MAKE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT THE MOST ATTRACTIVE
DEPARTMENT FOR WOMEN TO COME TO
WORK. I WANT LOTS OF PEOPLE. WE
NEED LOTS OF DIVERSITY. WE NEED
DIVERSITY OF EXPERIENCE. BUT
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
WILL BE THE TOP RECRUITER FOR
FEMALE RECRUITS, THIS WILL BE
THE PLACE PEOPLE WANT TO COME
TO WORK. I'M CONFIDENT OF
THAT.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR HARRELL.
YOU MENTIONED THE NUMBER ON THE
SHEET THAT HOMICIDES
YEAR-TO-YEAR WERE DOWN 44%.
CHIEF DIAZ HAS OVER TWO DECADES
AND JUST COMMUNITY WORK,
WORKING WITH A LOT OF
ORGANIZATIONS. A LOT OF THOSE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE ON THE
FRONT LINE RIGHT NOW AND THE
VIOLENCE DISRUPTION IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE, WE KNOW THAT A LOT
OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS, MEMBERS
AND COMMUNITY LEADERS ARE BEING
INTENTIONAL ON TRYING TO FIGHT
BACK. THAT IS NOT THE ONLY
REASON THE NUMBERS ARE DOWN,
WHAT CONSIDERATION ARE YOU
TAKING IN THIS TRANSFER INTO
INTERIM CHIEF RAHR TO KEEP
THESE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS IN
PLACE THAT ARE VERY CRITICAL IN
DRIVING DOWN THE HOMICIDE AND
VIOLENT CRIME RATE IN OUR CITY.
INTERIM CHIEF RAHR, MY QUESTION
FOR YOU IS, THESE RELATIONSHIPS
ARE THERE, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN
COMING IN AS AN OUTSIDER TO BE
ABLE TO GAIN THE TRUST THAT IS
JUST NOT TRANSFERABLE FROM
CHIEF DIAZ TO YOURSELF. WHAT
ARE YOUR PLANS COMING INTO OUR
COMMUNITY?
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT CRITICAL
QUESTION. I WANT TO CONCEDE AND
AGREE WITH YOUR CONCLUSION,
THAT IS THAT COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS ARE COMING FROM
GEOGRAPHY, HOMES, FAMILIES AND
COMMUNITIES. MANY OF WHOM HAVE
BEEN TRAUMATIZED AND
EXPERIENCED VIOLENCE, HELPING
US IN ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF
VIOLENCE. THEY ARE VALUABLE
PARTNERS. IT CANNOT CENTER
AROUND ONE PERSON, IT HAS TO BE
EMBEDDED IN EVERYTHING THAT WE
DO. WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO THIS
APPROACH, IT IS A SMART
APPROACH AND INEFFECTIVE
APPROACH. I KNOW SPECIFICALLY
THAT THE PEOPLE DOING THIS
WORK, I AM INCREDIBLY IMPRESSED
BY NOT ONLY THEIR HEARTS BUT
THEIR ACTUAL ACTIONS, WHAT THEY
ARE OUTDOING. RAINIER BEACH FOR
EXAMPLE, SOME OF THEM PUT THEIR
OWN LIVES IN HARM'S WAY TO BE
VIOLENCE DISRUPTORS. SO WE FEEL
CONFIDENT THAT THIS GREAT WORK
WILL CONTINUE. CHIEF RAHR IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING
IN THAT REGARD.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU BRING THAT
UP, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT,
WE CANNOT GET THE CRIME RATE
DOWN BY OURSELVES, WE CANNOT DO
THAT WITHOUT PARTNERING WITH
THE COMMUNITY. I AM EXTERNALLY
GRATEFUL THAT THERE ARE ALREADY
GROUPS AND LEADERS IN PLACE. I
READ IN THE NEWSPAPER ABOUT THE
WORK YOU'VE DONE AND THE
SACRIFICES THAT YOUR TEAMS HAVE
MADE AND I AM VERY ANXIOUS TO
SIT DOWN WITH YOU AND MAKE
CONCRETE PLANS ABOUT HOW WE
CONTINUE THIS RELATIONSHIP AND
CAN WE INCREASE IT? I WAS THE
GANG UNIT COMMANDER IN KING
COUNTY A LONG TIME AGO WHEN
GANGS WERE FIRST BECOMING A
PROBLEM. ONE OF THE THINGS I
LEARNED FIRSTHAND IS THAT WE
CANNOT DO THIS WITHOUT THE
COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE INSIDE THE
COMMUNITY TELLING US WHAT IS
GOING ON, TELLING US WHAT WE
NEED TO KNOW. WE CANNOT DO IT
WITHOUT YOU. 100%, WE WILL
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU. I
APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'VE
ALREADY DONE AND I HOPE WE CAN
CONTINUE IT GOING FORWARD.
>> BEFORE I TAKE ANOTHER
QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBERS, WOULD
YOU BE SO KIND AS TO COME UP
HERE. SO THAT YOU'RE NOT
STANDING IN THE BACK IN THE
CHEAP SEATS. THERE YOU GO. THAT
IS ONE OF SEATTLE'S FINEST
RIGHT THERE. THANK YOU FOR
ATTENDING THIS PRESS
CONFERENCE.
>> WHY NOT LET THE
INVESTIGATION RUN ITS COURSE
BEFORE MAKING THIS DECISION? I
KNOW WITH THE LAST ROUND OF
SEARCHES IT WAS DIFFICULT TO
GET QUALIFIED APPLICANTS, WHAT
MAKES YOU THINK IT WILL BE
DIFFERENT THIS TIME?
>> I WILL ANSWER THE QUESTION
INSTEAD OF REPEAT IT. WHY NOT
LET THE INVESTIGATION WE ARE
CONDUCTING BEFORE WE ARE MAKING
SUCH A CHANGE, AS AN
EXPERIENCED ATTORNEY, FOR MANY
INVESTIGATIONS AND DISCOVERY
PROCESS, YOU DO NOT NEED IT TO
BE COMPLETE BEFORE YOU REACH
CERTAIN CONCLUSIONS. WE HAVE
TALKED TO THE INVESTIGATOR
PRELIMINARILY , HOW'S IT
GOING, THAT KIND OF
CONVERSATION. WE CONCLUDED AS A
CONSECUTIVE TEAM, I DON'T MAKE
THESE DECISIONS IN A VACUUM. WE
DECIDED AS A TEAM, IF OUR GOAL
IS TO ACHIEVE A STANDARD OF
EXCELLENCE IN SAFETY AND
CHANGING CULTURE, WE DO NOT
WAIT FOR THE TERMINATION OF AN
INVESTIGATION AND WE DO NOT
NEED TO EVALUATE THAT. AND IF
WE DO IT RIGHT, AND BY THAT I
MEAN MAKING SURE THAT CHIEF
DIAZ IS AFFORDED HIS DUE
PROCESS , HE COMES WITH A LOT
OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT THAT HE
HAS EARNED. I WANT TO MAKE THAT
CLEAR. SUPPORT THAT HE HAS
EARNED INSIDE THE DEPARTMENT
AND OUTSIDE THE DEPARTMENT.
THAT WE DO NOT NEED THE
COMPLETION OF A FULL
INVESTIGATION TO REACH THE
CONCLUSION THAT WE ARE ABOUT
TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD AND I
HAVE A SENSE OF URGENCY IN
CREATING THE SAFE CITY THAT I
DEMAND WE HAVE. THE SECOND PART
OF THE QUESTION, I FORGOT.
>> I WOULD DISAGREE WITH YOUR
PREMISE. I THOUGHT THE LAST
SEARCH WE HAD HAD THREE
OUTSTANDING CANDIDATES. AND I
ENCOURAGED CHIEF DIAZ TO IMPLY
-- APPLY. SOME PEOPLE HAVE READ
THAT IN THE RECRUITING WORLD,
WELL, I WILL NOT APPLY AGAINST
A STRONG AND EFFECTIVE
CANDIDATE. THE RECRUITING WORLD
THE FIRST THING PEOPLE WANT TO
KNOW IS IF IT IS A TRULY
TRANSPARENT PROCESS AND DO I
HAVE A SHOT. AND THEY DO. I AM
CONFIDENT IN USING OUR ABILITY
TO NETWORK AND I THINK I
MENTIONED OPENING REMARKS AND
I'VE TALKED TO MAYORS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY ALL THE TIME.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, PEOPLE LOVE
SEATTLE, THEY LOVE TO COME TO
THIS GREAT CITY. I CAN BRAG
ABOUT THIS PLACE ALL I WANT. WE
FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THEY WILL
GIVE A TOP-NOTCH CANDIDATE, AND
I LOOK FORWARD TO IT.
>> JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO YOU
SAID YOU WANTED TO ALLOW FOR
DUE PROCESS FOR THE
INVESTIGATION TO GO THROUGH AND
NOW WE ARE ALL HEARING ALMOST
OVERNIGHT THAT CHIEF DIAZ IS
STEPPING DOWN, SO WHAT CHANGED?
>> NOTHING HAS CHANGED. I
THOUGHT I ANSWERED THAT
QUESTION EARLIER. LET ME SAY IT
IN A BETTER WAY. FOR THE LAST
MONTH OR SO, EVEN MAYBE BEFORE
THAT, WE ARE ASKING OURSELVES,
HOW CAN WE BE BETTER, HOW CAN
WE DO BETTER. NOT JUST THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, I HAVE NORTH
OF 41 DEPARTMENTS THAT I HAVE
ASKED THE SAME QUESTION TWO IN
CABINET MEETINGS. I AM ALWAYS
EVALUATED, I AM EVALUATED EVERY
DAY AND MY EXECUTIVE TEAM ARE
EVALUATED EVERY DAY. NO ONE
EVENT OR EPIPHANY RESULTED THAT
WE HAVE TO MAKE A CHANGE, IT
WAS THE RESULT OF A DELIBERATE
THOUGHT, STRATEGIC THINKING,
COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE AND WE
DECIDED TO MAKE A LEADERSHIP
CHANGE. THAT IS IT.
>> WE ARE DISCUSSING THE ROLE
RIGHT NOW. THERE WILL BE SOME
FOLLOW-UP REQUESTS ON THAT. I
WANT TO CAPITALIZE ON HIS
REMARKABLE EXPERIENCES, BEING A
27 YEAR VET WITHIN THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. I WANT TO
CAPITALIZE ON INTERIM CHIEF
RAHR'S EXPERTISE IN LEADING
AND I DO NOT WANT TO
PREMATURELY WORK THAT RIGHT
NOW. THAT IS THE DISCUSSION WE
ARE HAVING RIGHT NOW.
>> TWO QUESTIONS, FIRST AND
FOREMOST, UNFINISHED BUSINESS,
WHAT WILL HAPPEN MOVING FORWARD
WITH THE CASE WITH DANIEL AND
THAT CASE. WAS THIS THE HARDEST
DECISION YOU HAD TO MAKE AS
MAYOR?
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. DEALING
WITH THAT CASE, SHE WILL MAKE
THE DECISION AS THE PROCESS
ALLOWS, WE DO NOT SUPPORT THAT
DECISION AND I EXPECT SHE WILL
MAKE THAT DECISION, I DON'T
WANT TO SAY IN A FEW WEEKS, BUT
YOU WILL MAKE IT IN A FEW
WEEKS. JUST KIDDING. BUT LET'S
TALK ABOUT THE SECOND PART OF
THE QUESTION. I LEAD WITH THIS,
I BELIEVE IN CHIEF DIAZ. HE IS
FIRST AND FOREMOST A FRIEND,
AND I BELIEVE HE IS EXTREMELY
TALENTED AS WELL AND IT AND
HURT A CULTURE, HE INHERITED A
CULTURE, A LOT OF THE ISSUES
AND ALLEGATIONS PREDATE HIS
TENURE AS CHIEF. SO ALL OF THE
DECISIONS I MAKE, AND IT
DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO BE AT
THAT LEVEL, BY THE WAY. IT CAN
BE MIDRANGE MANAGER, ANYTHING
THAT RESEMBLES AN ADVERSE CHAIN
OF REACTION, THEY ARE HARD
DECISIONS. I HAVE AN HR
BACKGROUND AND DID A LOT OF
WORK IN EMPLOYMENT LAW. YES, IT
IS A VERY EMOTIONAL DECISION
BUT I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT
CHIEF DIAZ WILL ADD INCREDIBLE
VALUE TO THE CITY. AND I AM NOT
ASHAMED TO SAY THAT HE IS A
FRIEND. SO, EMOTIONALLY, YES.
BUT I BELIEVE IT IS THE RIGHT
THING TO DO FOR THE BETTERMENT
OF THE CITY AND AGAIN, I WANT
TO THANK CHIEF RAHR FOR
STEPPING UP.
>> THIS IS A TIME OF RECKONING
FOR THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. WILL YOU NOW
FINALLY APOLOGIZE FOR THE 2020
PROTEST AND HOW THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT BRUTALIZED
MANY PROTESTERS AND MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC AND HOW CAN YOU
REASSURE THEM THAT WE WON'T SEE
MORE EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE ON
SUCH A SCALE THE NEXT TIME WE
HAVE PROTESTS IN THE STREET?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
WITH RESPECT TO THE 2020
PROTESTS, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY
OF SEATTLE IS THE HIGHEST
EXECUTIVE, I DO APOLOGIZE IF
ANY OF THE POLICE APARTMENT
VIOLATED CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
I WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS
INCIDENT AND AS A LAWYER FOR
MANY YEARS, PROTECTING
PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO PROTEST AND
SPEAK. I WAS FULLY COMMITTED
AND MADE SURE TO HIRE THE RIGHT
PEOPLE THAT ALIGNED THEMSELVES
WITH THOSE SAME VALUES. I WAS
JUST BORN EIGHT BLOCKS FROM
HERE AND I'VE SEEN IT IN SOME
OF THE BEST TIMES AND SOME OF
THE WORST TIMES. THOSE ARE
PAINFUL MEMORIES FOR A LOT OF
PEOPLE. SO I AM CONFIDENT THAT
ONCE AGAIN, IF WE TALK ABOUT
THESE THINGS OPENLY, TALK ABOUT
OUR SOFT UNDERBELLY'S, SO TO
SPEAK, WHERE WE ARE VULNERABLE,
THAT IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN GET
BETTER. WE ARE VERY BULLISH ON
DATA AND USE OF FORCE
INCIDENTS. YOU MAY RECALL THAT
I WAS AUTHOR OF THE RACIAL
PROFILING BILL, TO MAKE SURE
PEOPLE ARE NOT RACIALLY
PROFILED IN TERMS OF WHO IS
CHARGED AND PROSECUTED. AGAIN,
THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION AND
I FEEL PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THE
FUTURE FOR US.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR
INTERIM CHIEF RAHR. WHAT ARE
YOUR TOP PRIORITIES DURING YOUR
TIME WITH THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT?
>> FOR RIGHT NOW, FOR THE FIRST
COUPLE OF WEEKS IT WILL BE
ENTIRELY FOCUSED ON LISTENING
TO PEOPLE. MEETING WITH PEOPLE
FACE-TO-FACE INTERNALLY AND IN
THE COMMUNITY. I WILL RELY ON
CHIEF DIAZ TO HELP ME MAKE SURE
I REACH OUT TO ALL OF THE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS HE'S BEEN
WORKING WITH DIRECTLY. I WILL
BE DOING A LOT OF LISTENING. I
WILL ALSO BE LOOKING FOR
OPPORTUNITIES TO START WORK ON
OUR LEXICAL WORK SCHEDULES
BECAUSE RECRUITING, RIGHT NOW
IT IS A CRITICAL NEED, AND THAT
IS SOMETHING I CAN DO
RELATIVELY QUICKLY AND I THINK
WE WILL HAVE A VERY QUICK
IMPACT. THE RECRUITING NUMBERS
ARE ALREADY STARTING TO GET
BETTER. THE CONTRACT HAS BEEN
RESOLVED. I WANT TO GRAB THAT
WAVE OF MOMENTUM AND KEEP
BUILDING WITH IT. BUT REALLY,
TRULY, I WANT TO SAY TWO
THINGS. I NEED TO LISTEN AND
LEARN BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ALL
THE INFORMATION I NEED TO MAKE
DECISIONS YET. I NEED TO TALK
TO PEOPLE ON THE STREET, PEOPLE
WHO LIVE AND WORK IN THE
COMMUNITY.
>> WITH THESE ONGOING
ALLEGATIONS AND YOUR TEAM
CLEARLY MAKING THE ASSESSMENT
TO MOVE ON FROM CHIEF DIAZ, AT
THE SAME TIME, IF IT BECOMES A
DISTRACTION, WHY NOT JUST MOVE
ON FROM CHIEF DIAZ AND HAD YOU
MAKE SURE HIS PRESENCE DOESN'T
CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR THE REST OF
SPD IN TAKING A FRESH STEP?
>> BECAUSE I BELIEVE CHIEF DIAZ
HAS INCREDIBLE VALUE TO ADD TO
THE CITY. HE HAS LIFE
EXPERIENCES AND LEADERSHIP
EXPERIENCES THAT ARE AN ASSET
THAT WE CAN CAPITALIZE ON. I
BELIEVE HE REMAINS COMMITTED TO
PROTECTING PEOPLE IN THE CITY
THAT IS SO CRITICAL TO THIS
KIND OF WORK. AND FOR THOSE
REASONS, WE WOULD LOVE FOR HIM
TO STAY ON AND LEND US HIS
EXPERTISE.
>> TWO QUESTIONS. MAYOR,
FOLLOWING UP WITH THE DEBORAH
DAVIS QUESTION, STILL LOOKING
FOR THAT STRAW, I HAVE A
POLITICAL QUESTION, TWO YEARS
FROM NOW YOU WILL SEEK
RE-ELECTION, DID YOU NOT WANT
TO HAVE THIS SPECTER OF SPD AND
ITS PROBLEMS GOING INTO THIS
RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN? IS THAT
PART OF THE DECISION?
>> NO. NO. THAT'S MY ANSWER. I
MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON LOGIC,
STRATEGY, THE NEED FOR
EFFECTIVENESS. I'VE BEEN
ELECTED FOUR TIMES IN THE CITY
AND HAVE BEEN AROUND THE BLOCK
A FEW TIMES. THE NEEDS OF THE
CITY OUTWEIGH A POLITICAL
AGENDA. WE BELIEVE THIS IS THE
RIGHT THING TO DO HERE IT
AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THESE
TWO FINE HUMAN BEINGS IN THE
BACK OF ME FOR HELPING ME LEAVE
THIS CITY. MY SILENT LEADERSHIP
IS TO HIRE AND BE AROUND STRONG
PEOPLE. I HAVE A TEAM, AND I
TRY TO PUSH MY TEAM. I HAVE TO
KEEP UP WITH THEM. IT WAS A
DECISION WE THINK IS IN THE
BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY AND
THIS DEPARTMENT.
>> CHIEF, YOU HAVE A LOT OF
CONNECTIONS, DO YOU HOPE TO BE
A POLICE CHIEF IN ANOTHER CITY
SOME YEAR?
>> RIGHT NOW I THINK IT IS JUST
TAKING SOME TIME FOR MYSELF.
I'VE HAD SOME MEDICAL ISSUES
AS WELL, I HAD SOME BOUTS WITH
LUNG ISSUES THAT HAVE GONE ON
FOR OVER A YEAR. I THINK I WILL
WORK TOO MUCH, SO I WILL BE
ABLE TO ASSESS THAT AND DEAL
WITH THAT. I DO THINK THERE IS
STILL A LOT TO OFFER AND I WANT
TO MAKE SURE THE CITY GETS
EVERYTHING THAT I WANT TO BE
ABLE TO HELP OUT WITH. AND
ALSO, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FOR
MAY BE ANOTHER CITY, I DON'T
KNOW. RIGHT NOW I THINK IT IS
ALSO JUST TAKING A LITTLE BIT
OF TIME FOR MYSELF. SO, THANK
YOU.
>>> I'VE BEEN TALKING TO
SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS AND YOU
TALKED ABOUT A CULTURE OF
RETRIBUTION AND THAT THERE HAVE
BEEN ACCUSATIONS OF -- DID I
SAY RETRIBUTION? OH,
RETALIATION. THERE WE GO.
>> THERE IS TALK OF THE OPA
INVESTIGATION SYSTEM BEING USED
IN RETALIATION. WE ALSO
CONSIDER THE LEADERSHIP OF OPA
AND AIG AS YOU ARE LOOKING AT
THE TOP LEADERSHIP AND MAKING
CHANGES.
>> FAIR QUESTION. RIGHT NOW, I
AM NOT. RIGHT NOW WHAT WE ARE
LOOKING AT IS THE WHOLE
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM, IS IT
EFFECTIVE? NOT SO MUCH WORRIED
ABOUT THE PERSONNEL AND THE
PEOPLE. THEY ARE PRETTY
EFFECTIVE LEADERS. BUT THE
SYSTEM. IT IS A FAIR QUESTION
TO ASK, CAN WE MAKE IT BETTER?
AND I AM ASKING MY EXECUTIVE
TEAM TO EXAMINE THAT BUT THAT
IS NOT SOMETHING WE ARE WORKING
ON TOMORROW OR THE NEXT DAY. IT
IS NOT ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK SO
TO SPEAK RIGHT NOW. IT IS A
FAIR QUESTION WITH THE CITY
COUNCIL IS A LOOK AT THE BUDGET
AS WELL. TO ADDRESS THE BUDGET
ISSUE THAT MANY OF YOU HAVE
WRITTEN ABOUT, WE DO HAVE TO
LOOK AT THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS
IN THIS CITY IN EVERY ASPECT OF
OUR OPERATIONS. WE NEED TO BE
MORE EFFECTIVE AND MORE
EFFICIENT. SO THOSE TWO
ORGANIZATIONS ACCOUNTABILITIES
WILL NOT GO BEYOND EVALUATION.
WITHIN THE LAST MONTH OR SO OUR
EXECUTIVE TEAM THAT WE ARE
LOOKING AT, AS I TRY TO
DESCRIBE IT EARLIER, HOW DO WE
HANDLE THIS TO BE THE MOST
EFFECTIVE DEPARTMENT THAT WE
CAN. I BELIEVE THERE WERE
DISCUSSIONS WITH CHIEF RAHR
ABOUT A WEEK OR SO AGO ABOUT
THAT BEING A POSSIBILITY AND WE
PUT THAT IN OUR THINK TANK AND
WE WERE ECSTATIC THAT SOMEONE
OF HER CALIBER WOULD BE
INTERESTED IN SERVING THE CITY
OF SEATTLE AND WE CONTINUE
DISCUSSIONS FROM LAST WEEK.
>> DO YOU HAVE TIMELINE OF THE
NEXT CHIEF?
>> WE WILL START NEXT WEEK WITH
THE PROCESS IN WHICH WE BEGIN
THE SEARCH. I'M GOING TO GET
IN TROUBLE WITH THIS ONE BUT I
HOPE TO, I'M GOING TO SAY, 4
TO 6 MONTHS. I'M GOING TO SAY
4 TO 6 MONTHS. I'VE GOT
CONFIDENCE THERE. THIS PROCESS
TYPICALLY CAN TAKE AROUND 4 TO
6 MONTHS. THAT'S SORT OF THE
TIMELINE.
>> WHAT WILL CHIEF DIAZ'S TITLE
NOW BE. WE ARE HAVING
DISCUSSIONS ON THAT RIGHT NOW
WITH THE INTERIM CHIEF AND WE
WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO
PROVIDE YOU INFORMATION WHEN WE
KNOW MORE. SO, TO BE
DETERMINED.
>> WILL THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
CONTINUE THE INVESTIGATION INTO
THE COMPLAINT AGAINST HIM?
>> THERE IS NO WAY WE WILL
THWART IN ANY WAY OR INTERFERE
WITH ANY ONGOING COMPLAINTS
THAT HAVE BEEN MADE RECENTLY OR
NOT SO RECENTLY. THOSE
PROCESSES WILL CONTINUE AND WE
ENCOURAGE THE DUE PROCESS
IMPLICATIONS THAT COME ABOUT
WHEN THESE THINGS OCCUR. WE ARE
ALWAYS SUPPORTIVE OF DUE
PROCESS RIGHTS.
>> THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF
DISCUSSION OVER THIS PRESS
CONFERENCE ABOUT SORT OF
PRAISING CHIEF DIAZ AND YOU
MENTIONED THE NEED TO RECRUIT
WOMEN FOR THINGS LIKE FLEXIBLE
SCHEDULES. CAN YOU RESPOND TO,
WITHOUT SPECIFICALLY GETTING
INTO THE ALLEGATIONS, DO YOU
HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE CULTURE
OF SPG AND MISOGYNY, AND HOW
WILL YOU ADDRESS THAT?
>> I WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I
HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE CULTURE
OF ALL POLICE DEPARTMENTS. I
THINK WE ARE ALL TRYING TO DO
BETTER. I THINK THAT IT IS JUST
A NATURAL THING THAT HAPPENS
WHEN YOU HAVE A PROFESSION THAT
IS DOMINATED BY ONE GENDER FOR
HALF A CENTURY OR THREE
QUARTERS OF A CENTURY, AND
MAKING THOSE TRANSITIONS ARE
REALLY HARD. SO I DON'T THINK
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
IS WORSE OR BETTER THAN OTHERS,
I THINK WE HAVE WORK TO DO IN
EVERY DEPARTMENT. ONE OF THE
REASONS I WAS ANXIOUS TO JUMP
IN IS I THINK THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT IS OPEN TO
DOING SOMETHING MEANINGFUL AND
IMPLEMENTING A SYSTEMIC CHANGE.
WE CAN KEEP PLAYING WHACK A
MOLE EVERY TIME THERE IS AN
ALLEGATION HERE OR THERE BUT
UNTIL WE CHANGE THE SYSTEM, WE
WILL NOT HAVE MEANINGFUL
CHANGE. AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT REALLY DREW ME TO
THIS OPPORTUNITY, TO ACTUALLY
DO SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO
MATTER. YOU KNOW THAT BECAUSE
YOU HAVE BEEN TO MY HOUSE.
>> I WANTED TO ASK, YOU LOOKED
ACROSS THE WATER AT SEATTLE, IS
IT IMPORTANT THAT THE PERSON
WHO TAKES THE JOB PERMANENTLY
LIVES IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE?
>> IT WOULD BE IDEAL. BUT I
BELIEVE THERE ARE LEGAL
RESTRICTIONS ON REQUIRING A
PERSON TO LIVE IN CERTAIN
JURISDICTIONS OR SHOWING
SOMEHOW OF PREJUDICE TOWARD
SOMEONE BASED ON THEIR
RESIDENCE, SO YOU CANNOT
REQUIRE THAT BUT IT WOULD BE
CERTAINLY IDEAL TO KNOW THE
PEOPLE OF THE CITY, THE CULTURE
OF THE CITY AND TO CERTAINLY BE
A RESIDENT. I WILL TAKE SOME
MORE QUESTIONS. I'M GOOD. KEEP
GOING.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT
BECAUSE OF THE HIGHEST RANK
THAT CHIEF DIAZ HAD AS
LIEUTENANT, I THINK THAT HE
WOULD THEN GO BACK TO
LIEUTENANT, DO YOU HAVE
INTENTIONS THEN TO PROMOTE HIM
TO ASSIST IN CHIEF?
>> I DON'T KNOW YET BECAUSE I
HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY BRIEFED ON
ALL THE SITUATIONS AND I DON'T
KNOW WHAT THAT HR ROLES ARE
YET. I START TOMORROW MORNING
BY 9:00 AND HOPEFULLY BY 5:00 I
WILL HAVE A BETTER GRIP ON
THAT. I'M NOT SURE YET.
>> LET ME GIVE YOU A LITTLE
CLARIFICATION. ANY CHIEF, BY
PROCESS, BY LAW, HAS THE RIGHT
TO REVERT BACK TO THEIR LAST
POSITION, WHICH IN THIS CASE
WOULD BE LIEUTENANT. THE RULES
ALSO ALLOW FOR DISCRETION FOR
THAT CHIEF OR EVEN THE
ASSISTANT CHIEF. THAT IS WHY I
AM ESSENTIALLY BEING VAGUE.
WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IS THE
TITLE FOR ME AS MAYOR, WHAT IS
MOST IMPORTANT IS THAT THE BODY
OF WORK ONCE THE CHIEF TO LEND
HIS EXPERTISE. WE WANT IT TO BE
MEANINGFUL AND WHAT IS DRIVING
IT IS THE BODY OF WORK WE WANT
DONE. ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY.
AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, WHAT I
WANT TO MAKE CRYSTAL CLEAR IS
THAT THERE IS NOT A LEGAL
REQUIREMENT THAT YOU PUT CHIEF
DOWN TO THE LAST RANK. THERE IS
DISCRETION ON HOW THAT IS
HANDLED AND THE RULES ALLOW
THAT AND WE ARE ALWAYS IN
CONFERENCE WITH OUR HR
DEPARTMENT AND HOW WE LACE
PEOPLE. WE ARE HAVING THOSE
DISCUSSIONS NOW.
>> YOU HAVE ALREADY PLEDGED
THAT YOU WILL NOT DOWNSCALED
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO MEET
THE HUGE BUDGET HOLD. ARE YOU
CONCERNED ABOUT THE OPTICS OF
DISPROPORTIONATELY BUDGETING
FOR POLICE WHEN THE FUNDING IS
PROPOSED TO BEING FROZEN. AND
SECONDLY, DO YOU THINK THAT
INTERNAL CULTURE AND TOXICITY,
WHETHER SEXISM OR RACISM FOR
EMPLOYEES OF THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, DOES THAT CORRELATE
WITH HOW THEY SERVE THE
COMMUNITY AND YOU SEE THE
DISPROPORTIONATE NEED OF THE
BLACK AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OR
USE OF FORCE OR LACK OF
INVESTIGATION OR SEXUAL
ASSAULTS. DO YOU THINK THOSE
TWO ISSUES OF INTERNAL CULTURE
AND EXTERNAL IMPLICATIONS
CORRELATE?
>> VERY GOOD QUESTION. A LITTLE
COMPLICATED BUT I WILL GIVE IT
A SHOT. SO, AS MAYOR, WE
CALIBRATE THE NEED FOR
EFFECTIVE, STRONG, PUBLIC
SAFETY THROUGH A POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND THROUGH OTHER
MEANS AS WELL, COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS. I AGREE WITH THE
PREMISE THAT JUST HAVING AN
ABUNDANCE OF POLICE OFFICERS IS
NOT THE EFFECTIVE WAY TO
ACHIEVE EFFECTIVE PUBLIC
SAFETY. HAVING LIVED IN 98118
AND 9811 FOR MOST OF MY LIFE, I
UNDERSTAND THAT, AND LOOKING AT
THE COUNTRY IN CERTAIN AREAS OF
OVERUSE OF FORCE, WE ARE ALWAYS
COGNIZANT OF FOR THE FACT THAT
WE DO NOT WANT TO HARM THE
PEOPLE WE ARE TRYING TO
PROTECT. THE FACT OF THE MATTER
IS THAT MANY BLACK AND BROWN
PEOPLE AND UNDERREPRESENTED
PEOPLE LIVE IN UNSAFE
CONDITIONS. I AM COMMITTED TO
MAKING SURE THESE COMMUNITIES
ARE SAFE. THAT IS WHY I PASS
THE LAW SUCH AS THE RACIAL
PROFILING LAW. WE ARE CONFIDENT
THAT WE CALIBRATE THE NEEDS TO
PROTECT THE COMMUNITY IN
EVERYTHING THAT WE DO. SECOND
PART OF YOUR QUESTION, I THINK
YOU ARE RIGHT THAT IN ORDER FOR
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BE THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT I ENVISION
AND THAT MY EXECUTIVE TEAM AND
THE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING HARD
TO DO, THE CHANGE HAS TO COME
FROM WITHIN AS WELL. QUITE
CANDIDLY I TOOK THE REINS OF
LEADERSHIP I HAD TO DO A LOT OF
EXTERNAL FOCUS AND IN SOME OF
OUR UNHOUSED POPULATIONS THERE
WAS PROLIFERATION OF VIOLENCE
AND WE HAD TO GO RIGHT INTO
EXTERNAL MODE. BUT I BELIEVE
THE LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE I TALK
ABOUT CANNOT BE ACHIEVED UNLESS
I LOOK THE OFFICERS IN THE
EYES, THE COMMAND STAFF IN THE
EYES AND SAY, CAN WE DO BETTER?
WHAT DOES IT TAKE? SO THE
INTERNAL FOCUS IS CRITICAL TO
THE EXTERNAL WORK THAT NEEDS TO
BE DONE. THEREIN LIES THE
OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE FOR INTERIM
CHIEF RAHR AND I AM EXCITED
ABOUT THEM DOING THEIR WORK.
>> YOU MIGHT HAVE ANSWERED THIS
ALREADY, BUT WHOSE IDEA WAS IT
FOR CHIEF DIAZ TO STEP DOWN?
>> I MAKE DECISIONS WITH MY
EXECUTIVE TEAM. AND WE
DISCUSSED THIS WITH CHIEF DIAZ,
SO I WOULD SAY IT IS A
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH THE
CHIEF AND MY EXECUTIVE TEAM. IT
LOOKS AS THOUGH NOW WE ARE JUST
GETTING INTO THE SPECIFICS OF
THE COMMUNICATION. WHEN DID I
APPROACH THE CHIEF? ABOUT TWO
AND HALF YEARS AGO AND ASKED
HIM TO STICK ON AND BE MY
CHIEF. WE HAVE ONGOING
DISCUSSIONS AND WE EVALUATE
EVERYTHING THAT THE CHIEF IS
DOING. THE RECENT DISCUSSIONS
I'VE HAD WITH HIM ARE NO
DIFFERENT THAN THE DISCUSSIONS
I'VE HAD WITH HIM A MONTH OR
TWO AGO. I THINK THAT THERE
SEEMS TO BE THIS PERHAPS
CONCERN THAT THERE WAS AN
EPIPHANY THAT WAS REACHED
YESTERDAY OR THE DAY BEFORE OR
AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED AND
IT JUST WASN'T THE CASE. AS I
HAVE TRIED TO SAY ON FOUR
OCCASIONS, I JUST THINK IT IS
IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE
CITY AS IT TRANSCENDS INTO
EVERYTHING ELSE. I WANT TO
THANK THE CHIEF FOR LOOKING AT
THE SAME WAY THAT I LOOKED AT
IT. WE'RE JUST SORT OF
SPINNING AROUND. THANK YOU. I
MAY LEAVE SOME QUESTIONS
UNANSWERED BUT YOU ARE GETTING
INTO THE E- OKAY, GO AHEAD.
>> THERE WAS AN ASSISTANT CHIEF
THAT WAS PUT ON LEAVE LAST
WEEK, DOES THAT HAVE ANYTHING
TO DO WITH WHAT IS BEING
DISCUSSED TODAY?
>> THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THE
ASSISTANT CHIEF INCIDENT HAD
ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS. NOT
IN AND OF ITSELF. THAT IS PART
AND PARCEL OF, I THINK, A
LARGER -- NUMEROUS ALLEGATIONS
THAT WERE MADE AGAINST THE
DEPARTMENT. ALL OF WHICH WE
TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY. NUMEROUS
ALLEGATIONS BOTH IN TERMS OF
HARASSMENT, DISCRIMINATION,
HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT
ISSUES, SO IT WASN'T THAT
INCIDENT BUT THE FACT OF THE
MATTER IS, I KNOW FROM SPEAKING
TO THE CHIEF, EVERY TIME THERE
IS AN ALLEGATION WE HAVE TWO
PUT OUR ARMS AROUND EACH OTHER
AND TALK TO THE EXECUTIVE TEAM
ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON THERE.
HOW CAN WE BE OF ASSISTANCE?
THE CITY COUNCIL IS CONCERNED
ABOUT THESE ISSUES AS WELL.
THERE WAS NOT JUST ONE INCIDENT
THAT TRIGGERED THIS DECISION
THAT I MADE.
>> MY QUESTION IS WHAT HAPPENS
IF ALL OF THESE ALLEGATIONS
TURN OUT TO BE UNFOUNDED WITHIN
THE DEPARTMENT.
>> LET ME REPEAT THAT QUESTION,
WHAT IF THE ROOT DUE PROCESS,
THE NUMEROUS ALLEGATIONS ARE
BASELESS, THAT IS A GOOD
QUESTION. I JUST DON'T KNOW AT
THIS POINT. IN FAIRNESS TO THE
CHIEF, HE IS ENTITLED TO DUE
PROCESS. I HOPE I SPOKE AT
LENGTH ABOUT HIS 27 YEARS OF
SERVICE. YOU SAW HIS
AUTHENTICITY. LET ME ALSO MAKE
IT VERY CLEAR, THERE IS NO
RECORD THAT HE'S DONE ANYTHING
WRONG. THAT HAS NOT BEEN PROVEN
ANYWHERE, TO MY KNOWLEDGE. SO
WE ARE TRYING TO IMPROVE THE
SAFETY OF THE CITY. WE WILL SEE
HOW THE LITIGATION PLAYS OUT,
AND WE ALSO DON'T SHAME OR
RIDICULE PEOPLE THAT MAKE
ALLEGATIONS. WE MAKE THAT
CLEAR. AND ONE OF THE FACTORS
WE WEIGHED INTO WAS WHETHER, AS
THE ALLEGATIONS UNFOLD, WHETHER
WE ARE KEEPING THE CHIEF IN A
POSITION WHERE HE WOULD HAVE A
FEAR OF RETALIATION AND THAT
FACTORED INTO OUR DECISION.
>> I JUST LOST MY TRAIN OF
THOUGHT. SO, OF COURSE, MY
FEELINGS ARE THAT I DISAGREE
WITH WHAT IS GOING ON, THIS IS
AN INCREDIBLE CHIEF. I FEEL
LIKE NOBODY IS SAFE IN THE CITY
AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY CAN MAKE
ALLEGATIONS AFTER ALLEGATIONS
AND IF THERE ARE TOO MANY, YOU
ARE OUT. TODAY, YOU KNOW I WORK
WITH RECRUITS AND I DISAGREE
WITH A LOT OF IT, RECRUITMENT
ISN'T UP, TODAY, WITH
GRADUATION, THE CHIEFS AND
EVERYBODY CAME UP TO ME SAYING
THAT THEY BACK THIS CHIEF AND
THEY ARE SHOCKED. DUE PROCESS
DID NOT HAPPEN NO MATTER HOW
YOU GUYS EXPLAIN IT. IT IS
WRONG THAT HE IS GETTING THE
BRUNT OF IT. I EVEN HAVE DEALT
WITH A LOT OF RECRUITS THAT
HAVEN'T EVEN GRADUATED AND
HAVE BEEN ON THE STREETS AND
LEFT THE DEPARTMENT AND ARE SO
UNHAPPY AND IT HAS NOTHING TO
DO WITH HIM. SO MANY. I HAVE 40
SOME TEXT MESSAGES AND PHONE
CALLS, MY PHONE IS BLOWING UP,
I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO
ANYBODY, THEY ARE UPSET AND
DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I'M
JUST SHOCKED, BRUCE. DUE
PROCESS DID NOT HAPPEN. HE HAS
BEEN MADE GUILTY. AND NO MATTER
WHAT HAPPENS AND I KNOW FOR A
FACT THAT HE WILL BE DRIVEN
INNOCENT AND A LOT OF OTHER
PEOPLE, IT IS A LITTLE TOO
LATE. I'M NOT THE CHIEF BUT I
WOULD SAY THE HELL WITH ALL OF
THIS AND I WOULD BE OUT OF
THERE AND HAVE THE BIGGEST
LAWSUIT EVER. THIS IS WRONG,
WHO IS GOING TO WANT TO COME
HERE. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY
THAT REALLY CARES, THEY JUST
WANT THE TITLE. BUT THIS IS
SETTING US BACK SO FAR.
>> FIRST, BECAUSE I'VE KNOWN
YOU SINCE I WAS 13, YOU CAN
CALL ME BRUCE. I RESPECT YOU
AND I KNOW YOU ARE PASSIONATE
ABOUT THE CITY. I RESPECT YOUR
OPINION AND I DID CALL YOU
EARLIER TODAY, AS A MATTER OF
FACT. JUST TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION WITH YOU. THERE
ARE COMMUNITY NUMBERS LIKE MIST
SPEECH THAT BELIEVE IN THE
CHIEF. BECAUSE, AS I SAID
EARLIER, HE EARNED IT. AND ,
THE DUE PROCESS, THE PROCESS
CONTINUES ON THE NUMEROUS
ALLEGATIONS. I RESPECT YOUR
OPINION.
>> BUT IS EVERYBODY NOT SAFE IN
THE DEPARTMENT? IF THERE ARE
ALLEGATIONS MADE ON SOMEBODY
OVER AND OVER ARE THEY OUT
WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO DEFEND
THEMSELVES? I MEAN, AM I AT
RISK FOR RETALIATION FOR EVEN
SPEAKING OUT?
>> ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE
MADE THE MOVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING CLAIMS
DON'T FEEL -- FEAR
RETALIATION, BUT IT IS SORT OF
A RHETORICAL QUESTION, AGAIN,
AS A LAWYER, I BELIEVE IN DUE
PROCESS. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT
PEOPLE ARE GUILTY JUST FROM
ALLEGATIONS BUT I HAVE TO
RESPECT THE PROCESS. I WILL
LEAVE IT THERE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR COVERING THE STORY,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.