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Seattle Police Department
The Seattle Police Department (SPD) is the principal law enforcement agency of the city of Seattle, Washington, United States. It is responsible for the entire city except for the campus of the University of Washington (which is under the university's police department).
Law enforcement in Seattle began with the election of John T. Jordan as town marshal in 1869. The SPD was officially organized on June 2, 1869, predating the incorporation of Seattle by the territorial legislature in December. Today, it has a number of specialty units including SWAT, bike patrol, harbor patrol, motorcycles, and a variety of detective units.
Between 2012 and 2025, the SPD was under federal oversight after a United States Department of Justice investigation found that SPD officers routinely used excessive force.
Patrolmen are represented by the Seattle Police Officers' Guild in labor negotiations.
Sergeant Major Arnold "Arny" McGinnis (retired in 2012) is the only known SPD member to hold the rank.*
After three years in patrol, officers can become candidates to transfer to a wide variety of specialty units and are also eligible to attend a weeklong detective school. After five years as a police officer, they can take a promotional examination. Every other year, civil service tests are administered for promotions. Tests are given for the rank of sergeant, lieutenant, and captain. Assistant and deputy chiefs are appointed by the chief from the management ranks. Officers may be promoted to sergeant after five years of experience with the department and passing the sergeant's exam. Lieutenants must have at least three years' experience as sergeants, and captains must have at least three years' experience as lieutenants. A bachelor's degree may substitute for one year of experience but can only be used for one promotional exam.
The Seattle police force was established in 1869 with the election of John T. Jordan as the first town marshal. In 1883, the town marshal position was disestablished and replaced by an appointed position: the chief of police. By 1896, there were 43 police officers and 60,000 residents.
Officer David Sires was the first officer to be killed in the line of duty in 1881. The man accused of killing Sires, along with two other men accused of murder, were lynched by a mob of Seattleites in January, 1882. This event, along with the Anti-Chinese Race Riots of 1886 were associated with significant investment by the city into the police department.
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Seattle Police Department
The Seattle Police Department (SPD) is the principal law enforcement agency of the city of Seattle, Washington, United States. It is responsible for the entire city except for the campus of the University of Washington (which is under the university's police department).
Law enforcement in Seattle began with the election of John T. Jordan as town marshal in 1869. The SPD was officially organized on June 2, 1869, predating the incorporation of Seattle by the territorial legislature in December. Today, it has a number of specialty units including SWAT, bike patrol, harbor patrol, motorcycles, and a variety of detective units.
Between 2012 and 2025, the SPD was under federal oversight after a United States Department of Justice investigation found that SPD officers routinely used excessive force.
Patrolmen are represented by the Seattle Police Officers' Guild in labor negotiations.
Sergeant Major Arnold "Arny" McGinnis (retired in 2012) is the only known SPD member to hold the rank.*
After three years in patrol, officers can become candidates to transfer to a wide variety of specialty units and are also eligible to attend a weeklong detective school. After five years as a police officer, they can take a promotional examination. Every other year, civil service tests are administered for promotions. Tests are given for the rank of sergeant, lieutenant, and captain. Assistant and deputy chiefs are appointed by the chief from the management ranks. Officers may be promoted to sergeant after five years of experience with the department and passing the sergeant's exam. Lieutenants must have at least three years' experience as sergeants, and captains must have at least three years' experience as lieutenants. A bachelor's degree may substitute for one year of experience but can only be used for one promotional exam.
The Seattle police force was established in 1869 with the election of John T. Jordan as the first town marshal. In 1883, the town marshal position was disestablished and replaced by an appointed position: the chief of police. By 1896, there were 43 police officers and 60,000 residents.
Officer David Sires was the first officer to be killed in the line of duty in 1881. The man accused of killing Sires, along with two other men accused of murder, were lynched by a mob of Seattleites in January, 1882. This event, along with the Anti-Chinese Race Riots of 1886 were associated with significant investment by the city into the police department.