City Attorney Blasts 'Leadership Void' At Seattle Police

Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes issued a searing statement aimed at the city's interim police chief on Thursday, urging Mayor Mike McGinn to "rectify the leadership void at SPD."

“We have an excellent police force and it is time the department had leadership worthy of its ranks," Holmes said.

WATCH IT: City Attorney Says Change Needed In Police Department

The statement is about the videotaped incident in which a Seattle police officer is seen punching a woman during a scuffle. Holmes said he watched the entire video with King County Prosecutor Dan Satterburg and that SPD leadership "planned to fail because it failed to plan."

More information, video of officer punching incident

The statement lays blame for Monday's incident with interim Police Chief John Diaz, one of two remaining finalists for the permanent police chief job.

"SPD leadership at the very top must insist that its members also undergo … training for the good of our entire City -- civilian and officer alike," Holmes wrote. "Incidents such as these underscore the void in leadership at the top."

"I urge the Mayor as commander in chief to act promptly to rectify the leadership void at SPD," he concludes. "We have an excellent police force, and it is time the Department had leadership worthy of its ranks.

KIRO 7 reporter Michelle Millman had an interview scheduled with Mayor Mike McGinn at 2:30 p.m. Thursday to talk to him about what the city attorney had to say and about his choice for police chief. At 2:25 p.m. the interview was canceled.

A short time later, the mayor's office sent a statement: “The mayor is considering the two candidates carefully and appreciates the City Attorney joining the discussion on this important issue.”

Thursday afternoon, the president of the Seattle Police Officer's Guild, Sergeant Rich O’Neill, said in a statement that it is "highly inappropriate for a city attorney to publically criticize the leadership of the Seattle Police Department at any time, but especially, when there is an ongoing selection process for the office of the chief."

O'Neill said interim Seattle Police Chief John Diaz has "led a very large department through the worst of times" that include the capture of two cop-killers and the Greenwood arsonist.

O’Neill said that if Diaz is not selected as Police Chief, the Officers Guild would want the selection process be re-opened.

Seattle City Council is also in discussions about whether to ask the mayor to re-open the search for the new police chief.

The final two police chief candidates are Diaz and Chief Ron Davis of East Palo Alto, Calif.