John Diaz, who has served as Seattle PD's interim chief since March 2009, was picked by Mayor Mike McGinn to lead the force, SeattlePI.com reports.
Diaz is the first internal candidate to be chosen for chief since the mid-1970s. He must be confirmed by the City Council.
City Councilman Tim Burgess said the department "needs strong leadership in light of the financial cutbacks coming this year and next. It must rebuild public trust in the professionalism of all of our officers. It needs to embrace new innovations in policing. It must retool officer deployment strategies. The council must carefully evaluate these and other factors and make a reasoned judgment about Mayor McGinn's appointment."
Diaz has worked in gang and violent crime sections, narcotics, and the Internet crimes against children unit. Before becoming interim chief, Diaz was a deputy chief overseeing the operations bureau.
