John Diaz, the Seattle Police Department’s embattled chief, will announce his retirement, and officials will name a member of the department’s brass, Jim Pugel, the interim chief at a press conference early this afternoon, city sources tell The Stranger.
Diaz is only 55 years old—which may seem young for retirement for an official in an administrative role at the city—so the decision to step down carries political overtones just as this year’s mayoral race picks up momentum. Mayor Mike McGinn was responsible for appointing Diaz in 2010 amid skepticism about Diaz’s ability to manage a department plagued with allegations of misconduct (this paper wrote at the time “McGinn blows it” and has since called on the mayor to fire Diaz). But Diaz’s departure removes a hot potato from the political contest.
Diaz spent 33 years on the force, including years as captain of the East Precinct, and in those years, crime rates dropped to some of their lowest levels in decades.
But in his years as interim chief and then chief, Diaz has struggled to quell ongoing concerns of excessive force, racial bias, and misconduct among the ranks. The city is currently complying with a five-year consent decree in federal court with the US Department of Justice to correct the department’s pattern of excessive force.
In his stead, Assistant Chief Jim Pugel will be named interim chief while the city begins a search process. Pugel heads the department’s criminal investigations.