Yakima Gang Free Initiative Head Takes Seattle Police Job

SEATTLE, WA - Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O'Toole has promoted two assistant chiefs within the department and looked outside for two others in a major overhaul of her command staff.

Within the department, O'Toole promoted Capt. Steve Wilske, a 28-year veteran, to head patrol operations, and Lt. Lesley Cordner, who joined the department in 1989, to head compliance and professional standards.

Two chiefs were hired from outside Seattle. Robert Merner, currently with the Boston Police Department, will head investigations.

Perry Tarrant, a former Tucson, Arizona, police official who is currently serving as coordinator for Yakima's gang-free initiative.

Tarrant will lead the Special Operations Bureau, which includes Homeland Security.

The department also hired a former Amazon executive, Greg Russell, as the new chief information officer.