THE STRANGER HAS LEARNED that Assistant Seattle Police Chief John Pirak, the rank and file's dream candidate to replace outgoing Chief Norm Stamper, is not interested in the job. Pirak, who came up through the ranks to earn his assistant chief spot, didn't return our calls, but police sources say Pirak has given the thumbs down. "Would you want to jump into this firestorm?" one sergeant asks. Firestorm is right. Relations between the city and the cops are as heated and politicized as they've ever been. Indeed, with stalled contract negotiations and post-WTO mistrust (line officers mistrusting their leadership, that is) Mayor Schell's upcoming decision is monumental.

According to SPD Guild Vice President J. D. Miller, under outgoing Chief Norm Stamper, officers "feel they have no relationship with and are not valued by the department."

"Things are highly charged," says City Council Member Peter Steinbrueck. "How we perform here is going to be closely watched -- especially the mayor. The current relationship [between the mayor and the police] has what I perceive to be a high level of animosity. I think there's a need for damage repair that can be accomplished through this. Whether that happens remains to be seen."

The process for finding a new chief, expected to be outlined by Schell next week, is going to be modeled on the national search that netted Stamper.