WHEREAS, in 2010 the Mayor will appoint a new Chief of Police, subject to confirmation by the City Council; and

WHEREAS, successful policing depends on the professionalism of officers, the leadership of police commanders, and the confidence and partnership of the community; and

WHEREAS, in 2003 the Seattle Police Department became one of the few large city police departments to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, which requires meeting more than 400 professional standards for excellence in police management and operations, including but not limited to training, use of force, emergency preparedness and accountability, and the Department has maintained accreditation since; and

WHEREAS, in 2007 the City Council passed and the Mayor concurred in Resolution 30996, which established performance goals for the Police Department; and

WHEREAS, Resolution 30996 goals include reducing crime; reducing fear of crime; increasing traffic safety; increasing safety in public places; providing good service by responding to calls and attending to community needs; holding offenders accountable; using authority and force fairly and only as reasonably necessary; strengthening emergency prevention and response; and using public resources efficiently and effectively; and

WHEREAS, the Neighborhood Policing Plan is an innovative and well-founded plan for employing Police Patrol toward Resolution 30996 goals, and the Council remains committed to the full implementation of the Plan; and

WHEREAS, in all likelihood the City will continue to face significant fiscal pressure for years to come, and the Police Department currently is allocated more than one-quarter of the City's General Subfund; and

WHEREAS, in recent years the most successful new policing strategies have been based on solid evidence of effectiveness in crime prevention, and many cities throughout the nation have benefited from such strategies; and

WHEREAS, the Council is committed to community involvement and ownership in crime prevention strategies that support the success of innovative programs;

NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE THAT:

Section 1. In confirming a new Chief of Police, the City Council will emphasize the prospective Chief's willingness, demonstrated history and ability to maintain and improve the foundations of the Police Department's performance, including:

(a) Achieving the performance goals stated in Resolution 30996.

(b) Maintaining the Department's accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.

(c) Gaining and maintaining the trust and respect of officers, commanders and civilian employees of the Department while ensuring the highest standards of professionalism.

(d) Maintaining and increasing the community's confidence in the Department. This includes confidence in the Department's effectiveness in protecting public safety. It also includes confidence that officers will treat all citizens fairly, which is enhanced in part by strong Department support for civilian oversight of officer conduct. It also means community members will be recognized and engaged as meaningful partners.

(e) Fully implementing the Neighborhood Policing Plan. This includes balancing the deployment of Patrol officers by the time and location of calls for service and allocating the resources needed to meet high service standards in responding to calls. It also includes instilling and maintaining leadership throughout the chain of Patrol supervision so that the proactive time of officers is well managed and focused on the most serious neighborhood crime problems.

(f) Supporting the long term performance of the Department by identifying, developing and nurturing leaders within the Department.

(g) Supporting the long term performance of the Department by recruiting the best and the brightest to form a work force that reflects Seattle's demographics and cultural values.

(h) Effectively managing budgets, staff and other resources so as to meet objectives efficiently and preserve scarce public funds.

Section 2. In confirming a new Chief of Police, the City Council will also emphasize the prospective Chief's demonstrated ability to foster innovation and willingness to advance policing and public safety in Seattle by identifying the most effective evidence-based policing and public safety strategies nationally and applying those that would bring the most benefit to Seattle.

The Council expects improvements in the following areas:

(a) Focused and proactive problem-solving policing. This includes, but is not limited to, organizing and managing the proactive time of Patrol officers, per the Neighborhood Policing Plan; building effective partnerships with non-law enforcement agencies and other jurisdictions; achieving a better balance for detectives between reactive case-by-case investigations and proactive reduction of recurring and new crime problems; and increasing the deterrent effect of criminal penalties by increasing the speed and certainty of their application to well-defined crime problems, accompanied by appropriate opportunities for offenders to mend their ways.

(b) Information about crime, crime trends and specific crime problems. This includes improvements in both the quality and currency of information, including creation of systems that allow for real-time reporting and analysis, for the purposes of better management within the Police Department, more useful reporting to the Mayor and City Council for establishing policy and passing legislation, as well as for appropriate community accountability.

Adopted by the City Council the ____ day of ____________________, 2010, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this________ day

of ______________________, 2010.

_________________________________

President ___________of the City Council

Filed by me this ____ day of ________________________, 2010.

____________________________________

City Clerk

(Seal)

Peter Harris/BG

LEG police chief selection RES

1/13/2010

Version #1