Former Washington Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu will be on the advisory committee helping Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson choose the city’s next police chief as the mayor launches a national search for the department’s next leader.
Mary Yu
Yu, who recently retired from the state Supreme Court after 25 years of combined judicial service on the Supreme Court and King County Superior Court, will co-chair the search advisory committee with Ian Warner.
Wilson announced the search on Tuesday, saying she wants the next chief to focus on both public safety and building trust with the community.
“I am looking for a leader who understands that public safety starts with public trust. It is a trust that is earned every single day,” Wilson said. “Seattle’s next Chief of Police must be visible, accountable, and present in our neighborhoods, listening to residents, workers, and businesses across our city.”
The advisory committee’s job will be to evaluate candidates, gather community input and recommend candidates to Wilson.
Yu said she wants the search process to give Seattle residents a meaningful voice in deciding what they want from their next police chief.
“As a Seattle resident, I am honored to serve our city as co-chair and support Mayor Wilson’s vision for a process that seeks extensive participation by all members of our community,” Yu said. “I am committed to ensuring that the search for the next Police Chief reflects the values of openness, transparency, and meaningful community involvement.”
Warner is the public policy director at Vulcan Real Estate. He previously served as senior public policy director at Zillow, legal counsel to the Seattle Mayor’s Office and a member of the monitoring team overseeing the Seattle Police Department’s implementation of the federal consent decree.
“Mayor Wilson understands how consequential this decision is for Seattle, and I appreciate the confidence she has placed in Justice Yu and me to help lead this effort,” Warner said.
The city plans to seek input from residents through a public survey, neighborhood listening sessions and public forums. The survey is open through Sept. 15.
The first public forum is scheduled for Sept. 26 from noon to 2 p.m. at Van Asselt Community Center in south Seattle. More forums are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
“The next Chief will play an integral role in shaping not just the department’s culture, but the future of public safety in Seattle,” Wilson said. “This is a pivotal moment to design a public safety system that matches our city’s values and priorities, and I intend to get it right.”
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