SEATTLE — Interim Seattle police Chief Sue Rahr has announced several department shake-ups, including the retirement of Deputy Chief Eric Barden.
Barden is second in command at the Seattle Police Department, under interim Chief Sue Rahr and has been with the department for 38 years.
Rahr said Barden is currently assisting his father with his mother's "very serious illness" and that he will be away from the headquarters beginning Monday. No official retirement date has been set.
Rahr also announced current Assistant Chief Yvonne Underwood will become the acting deputy chief, and North Precinct Captain Lori Aagard will become acting assistant chief over Professional Standards.
Deputy Chief Eric Barden has been facing controversy following a domestic violence allegation and an internal Seattle police investigation.
As of July 2024, Barden has been under an internal Seattle Police Department investigation after he allegedly asked another law enforcement officer to lie on a police report. The report centered around a 2023 domestic violence incident in which Barden was the alleged victim.
Records show the deputy refused to lie. The Pierce County record shows “he will not be breaking the law by putting false information in his report.”
Also in July, the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office said they would not charge Barden in a separate domestic violence incident. The deputy prosecutor said she did not believe there was enough “sufficient admissible evidence” to proceed with the case.
That case stems from a 2023 complaint accusing him of domestic violence.
According to records released by Pierce County, Barden was dating the alleged victim, who was angry she was not included in a social event. An argument ensued at Barden’s home and “allegedly got physical,” according to the records. The prosecutor wrote the alleged victim was intoxicated and that there was a delay in reporting of over 15 months that is “problematic if not explicable.”
Barden was placed on Pierce County's “Brady List," which is a record of law enforcement officers who are considered untrustworthy and may not be credible witnesses in court.