Braziel sounds best.

Have they released these neighborhood survey results in full?

Thx Cienna, your coverage on this process has been informative.

One thing you havent touched on with Davis, reducing crime in East Palo Alto is HUGE DEAL! EPA had one of the highest crime rates in the nation. higher than Oakland, DC, and B- More. It was the wild west. The crime drop there has been dramatic. Seattle's crime is nothing compared to there. imagine if a small portion of seattle ( capitol hill) had 100 plus murders a year. and they seemed to have focused on community policing and neighborhood involvement.

i think this guy brings a lot, he would be my choice, but i agree with most, i think the sacramento guy is going to get it.

According to the Sacramento Bee, at least, Braziel is REALLY deserving... they're advocating starting to train his replacement now because if we don't take him, another big city definitely will.

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/05/17/2754750…

My vote is solidly for Davis. East Palo Alto is indeed small but I think your summary of his qualifications is misleading.

From his bio:

Prior to his appointment, [in East Palo Alto] Chief Davis spent 19 years with the Oakland Police Department where he rose to the rank of Captain and served in assignments including Police Academy Director, Criminal Investigations Commander, Patrol Commander and Inspector General of the Police Department.

Braziel sounds best.

But let's see what our Lords and Masters want.

After all, the SPD will work for them, not we Citizens.

Thanks for the feedback. @3 and 6, I covered Davis and Braziel's backgrounds in greater depth here:

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/flirt…

I'm rooting for Braziel, now. We had two Clark Kent-looking principals at my high school and they were very effective administrators. And possibly superheroes.

I attended the media event and asked questions to each candidate about their interaction with the school districts in their towns and any programs to curb youth violence.

Chief Diaz was so low-key he was positively anemic. I tried again but I got a very non-answer answer. But he clearly loves the SPD and has a long history with them.

Ron Davis is a charmer, almost too much so. He had enthusiasm, ideas and charisma. It's hard to believe he could take on such a large department. But his story about being reprimanded early in his career for rudeness and aggression was really inspiring. It could have wrecked his career but he didn't let that happen. A good role model. He had some great ideas about keeping youth in school.

Rick Braziel is an aw shucks, friendly guy. Very approachable, very smart. He also had great answers to keeping youth in school including bringing back truancy officers. Really smart guy.

I would pick Braziel first, Davis second and Diaz last. It struck me that picking a police chief is somewhat like picking a district superintendent. They need to lead and inspire a corp of people (cops and teachers), they need the support of their leaders (the School Board and the Mayor/City Council) and they need the belief in their abilities from the people (parents/community and the public).

Braziel seems way too much like a Gil Kerlikowske clone. Looks like a Gil, talks like a Gil, probably a Gil. And: that. is not. a. good. thing.

He's got the community policing and "I'm just here to provide good customer service" rap down great. And if that's actually true that would be something. But I'm tired of cops who talk reform and don't actually do it.

Davis has actually done some significant things.

And, as far as the small department rap goes: hello? Nineteen years in Oakland? A city that truly does make Seattle look like Mayberry with highrises (thanks, Judy Nicastro). Seattle's not even in the same league as Oakland (we're like single or double A) when it comes to serious crime, and if he could be in command positions there Seattle oughta be cakewalk.