SEATTLE — Some community leaders told KING 5 they were blindsided by the city’s decision to reassign former Seattle Chief of Police Adrian Diaz.
That includes Appollonia Washington, co-owner of a Seattle daycare. In October of 2023, a bullet shattered one of the daycare’s windows.
Washington said children had to crawl to safety. That’s when she determined enough was enough.
“Good thing nobody was hurt physically, but mentally, it’s been a lot of families still supporting each other,” she said.
Washington credits Diaz with bringing change to her block.
“My interactions with him were always great, and my families who interacted with him - they loved his presence,” she said.
The move announced May 29 is one the Downtown Seattle Association called “tough” but necessary.
“Public safety is the most important function of our city government,” Downtown Seattle Association President and CEO Jon Scholes said. “It’s the number one issue at the top of the list on our city charter, and for good reason. So, I think our city council, our mayor and our police leadership need to continue to be laser-focused that our downtown and our neighborhoods throughout the city are safe.”
Diaz has been at the forefront of the department that has been hit with lawsuits in recent years. Some of those lawsuits include him directly.
Still, Victoria Beach, who is employed by the police department as a public liaison for the African American community, said if the chief of police is removed, she has “lost all faith in the police department and the mayor’s office.”
"We live in a corrupt city if stuff like this is allowed. You can make any allegation toward anybody and you’re out,” the long-time resident of Seattle’s Central District said. “That’s wrong.”
Beach added that “whatever happens today, it’s not over.”
Sue Rahr, the former sheriff of King County, was announced as the interim chief of Seattle police. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell touted Rahr as an expert on "modern policing" and recruiting.
Rahr will not be a candidate for the role of permanent police chief. Harrell and the department will conduct a national search to fill that position. Rahr will work to identify a group of final candidates for the position, then a public committee will review them. Finally, Harrell will provide an examination and make a hire.
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