Command Staff

Chief Adrian Diaz has been a dedicated member of the Seattle Police Department for more than two decades. His work building relationships that bridge race, ethnicity and every flavor of humanity can be seen across the Department and in every neighborhood in Seattle.

Chief Diaz began his career in Patrol, the Mountain Bike Unit, and the Anti-Crime Team before joining the Investigations Bureau. He is also a Master Defensive Tactics instructor at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission. He served as Assistant Chief of a newly created Collaborative Policing Bureau prior to being promoted to the Deputy Chief. Chief Diaz is now serving as the Chief of Police.

Chief Diaz holds a B.A. in criminal justice from Central Washington University and a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Washington. He has completed the Major Cities Chiefs Associations Police Executive Leadership Institute, the Cascade Executive Program and the Senior Management Institute of Policing. Chief Diaz has authored numerous national publications in community policing, misdemeanor justice and juvenile justice.

Deputy Chief Eric Barden has served with the Seattle Police Department for 36 years. He began his career in patrol, working in the West and South Precincts. D/C Barden was a Field Training Officer and one of the founding members of the original Mountain Bike Squad. In 1993, he was promoted to Sergeant and supervised the Property Inspection Unit, East Precinct patrol squads, Community Police Team, Narcotics Investigations and served as both the lead Defensive Tactics instructor and Field Training Coordinator. 

In 2008, D/C Barden was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and was assigned the Criminal Intelligence Section where he was responsible for investigations related to Organized Crime, Public Corruption, Cyber Crimes, Threats to Public Officials, Crime Analysis, Murder for Hire and Dignitary Protection.  During his tenure in the Section, D/C Barden proposed, developed, and piloted the units responsible for Cyber Crimes Investigations, Technical and Electronic Support, in addition to creating the Department's Real Time Crime Center (RTCC).  

D/C Barden was assigned to the Narcotics Section in 2017 and helped further the Department's collaboration with local, state, and federal partners to combat unprecedented overdose deaths, primarily related to the proliferation of Fentanyl.  D/C Barden led several large-scale, multi-agency drug investigations resulting in record-setting seizures of drugs and guns.  He has also helped coordinate the Department's response to many high-profile events across the city.   

In 2021, D/C Barden was promoted to Assistant Chief and was the commander of the Special Operations Bureau, responsible for the Department’s K9, SWAT, Hostage Negotiations, Harbor Unit, Arson/Bombs Squad, Mounted Unit and Traffic Sections.  In July of 2023, he was promoted to Deputy Chief.

D/C Barden is a graduate of the University of Washington, earning a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.  He has completed leadership training from the DEA Commanders Academy and Seattle PD's own Command Leadership Program.  D/C Barden is the son of immigrants and is proud of his Lebanese-American heritage.  He is a long-time martial artist and a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He's also an accomplished competitive equestrian and youth sports coach.

Brian G. Maxey serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the Seattle Police Department, overseeing Professional Standards, Budget and Finance, Administrative Services, Information Technology, and Intergovernmental Relations. Previously, he worked as a Supervising Assistant City Attorney at the Seattle City Attorney’s Office, where he was lead attorney for the Police Action Team, specializing in 42 U.S.C. 1983 litigation and general advice to the Seattle Police Department; as an Assistant City Attorney in Government Affairs; as Assistant Corporation Counsel in the Special Federal Litigation Unit of the New York City Law Department, representing the New York City Police Department; and as Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Justice Division of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, representing WA Department of Corrections and the Criminal Justice Training Commission. Brian also previously served on Federal monitoring teams in Cleveland and Baltimore and worked as a consultant driving best policing practices nationally.

Brian also worked for the Vera Institute of Justice, concentrating on jury and juvenile court reform; as Director of the Citizens Jury Project at the Fund for Modern Courts; and as Executive Director of Friends of Hudson River Park.

Brian holds a JD from Fordham University, an MPA in Policy from New York University, and a BA from Occidental College, and attended the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police. He is licensed to practice law in Washington, New York, and California.

Assistant Chief Todd Kibbee joined the Seattle Police Department in 1993. A/C Kibbee spent the first part of his career on patrol in the North Precinct, where he served as an Officer and a Sergeant. In 2013, He transferred to the Human Resources Section, where he was the Early Intervention Coordinator and worked on SPD's response to the DOJ Settlement Agreement. A/C Kibbee was promoted to Lieutenant and served as a watch commander at the West Precinct. He later became Commander of the West Precinct Bike Unit, where he coordinated and led the Bike Unit's response to demonstration management, narcotics enforcement, and special events. Upon promotion to Captain in 2019, A/C Kibbee became Commander of the South Precinct, where he worked diligently to ensure collaboration between SPD and the community.

In 2021, he was promoted to Assistant Chief and oversaw the Metropolitan Bureau, which includes the Traffic Section, the Seattle Police Operations Center, homeland security functions and federal grant administration. In July 2023, A/C Kibbee became Patrol Operations Chief, overseeing five SPD precincts and all uniformed personnel responsible for 911 call response and crime reduction.

A/C Kibbee has served as Incident Commander for a variety of parades, rallies, and demonstrations within the City of Seattle. A/C Kibbee has worked extensively on city events including Seafair, Bite of Seattle and as the overall incident commander for the 2023 MLB All-Star Game. 

A/C Kibbee holds a B.A. in International Studies from Norwich University and has completed the Department of Homeland Security Leadership Academy, (DHSLA). He is a graduate of SPD's Command Leadership Program and the Senior Management Institute for Police. (Boston, MA)

A/C Kibbee is an avid golfer, a long-time youth sports coach, and currently serves on the managing board of a non-profit Little League Baseball complex.

Assistant Chief Tom Mahaffey joined the Seattle Police Department in 1992. He started his career working with the many diverse communities of the East Precinct as a Patrol, Mountain Bike, Anti-Crime Team, and Field Training Officer. As a Sergeant, he served in the Southwest Precinct before moving on to Investigations Bureau assignments. A/C Mahaffey served in Narcotics and later Criminal Intelligence Sections where he supervised the investigations of complex criminal organizations, to include working in cooperation with local, State, and Federal Law Enforcement partners.

On promotion to Lieutenant, he returned to the Patrol Division in the West Precinct. There he served as a Watch Commander, Bike Squad Commander and the Operations Lieutenant. He planned and lead numerous crime reduction initiatives, response to significant protest, and large festivals and events while serving at the West Precinct.

In 2017, he was promoted to Captain, and remained at the West Precinct, working diligently with our community, businesses and city leadership to address some of the most critical issues in one the busiest precincts. This included an initiative to address property crime in the precinct that led to a significant reduction in Car Prowls and addressed organized retail theft in the Central Business District. As West Precinct Commander, he served on numerous community councils and committees such as the West Precinct Advisory Council and Chinatown/International District Public Safety Steering Committee. As Captain, he championed the involvement of district patrol officers in engagement and problem solving with community stakeholders.

Assistant Chief Mahaffey is a graduate of the University of Washington. He has also completed the Senior Management Institute for Police, DEA Leadership Academy and Washington State Law Enforcement Leadership Course.

Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis joined the Seattle Police Department in 1999. He began his SPD career at the East Precinct, where he worked assignments in Patrol, Pro-Act Bicycle Squad, Community Police Team, and Anti-Crime Team.

In 2014, A/C Davis was promoted to Sergeant and spent three years as an investigator with the Office of Police Accountability. In 2017, he was assigned to the Domestic Violence and Elder Abuse Unit. In the Summer of 2020, he worked as an Acting Lieutenant responsible for operations in the Special Operations Center, during an extended mobilization period, in response to large scale demonstrations.

A/C Davis was promoted to Lieutenant in 2021 and served as a Watch Commander at the South Precinct. In 2022, he was assigned to the Community Service Unit where he managed the Community Service Officers focused on community engagement, juvenile outreach, and patrol support.

During his tenure as a Sergeant and Lieutenant, A/C Davis served in secondary roles focused on police reform, compliance, and accountability. He worked as an Adjunct Tactics Instructor in the Education and Training Section where he taught patrol tactics, rapid intervention, and de-escalation. He served as standing member on the Force Review Board and was a panelist during the Office of Inspector General’s Sentinel Event Review.

In 2023, A/C Davis was promoted to Assistant Chief of the Special Operations Bureau, which includes SWAT, Hostage Negotiations Team, Arson/Bomb Squad, Harbor Unit, Canine Unit, and CBRNE. He also remains active in the community, attending community meetings, events, and advisory councils in support of building trust and community engagement.

A/C Davis is a US Navy veteran and served on the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) while deployed during Operation Southern Watch. Prior to joining SPD, he worked three years as a Patrol Deputy with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Hillsboro, Oregon. A/C Davis completed the Department of Homeland Security Leadership Academy and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy Session 282.

Assistant Chief Lesley Cordner commands the Professional Standards Bureau.

Lesley Cordner joined the Seattle Police Department in 1989.  She has worked a variety of assignments in Patrol, Community Policing, the Domestic Violence Unit, the Office of Professional Accountability, Traffic Collision Investigations Squad, North Precinct Operations, and most recently as an Aide to Chief O'Toole.

Cordner is originally from Ireland, and has lived in the greater Seattle area since emigrating to the United States. She graduated from Seattle University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. Upon graduating, she worked for the Boeing Company and Seattle City Light as a mechanical engineer before joining the department.

Bio coming soon

Mike Fields serves as Executive Director of Human Resources. Reporting directly to the Chief of Police, Director Fields leads all human resource initiatives for the department, including recruiting/hiring, labor and employee relations, leadership development, performance management, EEO investigations, classification/compensation, benefits and payroll.  In addition, Director Fields will advise the Chief on aligning strategic human resource efforts with the overall mission of the department.

After working as a litigator in the private practice of law, Director Fields joined the Seattle Police Department in 2002 as the Employment Risk Manager, where he provided legal advice on a wide range of employment matters. In 2004, he became the Department's labor negotiator, serving as chief spokesperson in all negotiations involving the department's labor organizations. In 2014, he was promoted to Human Resources Director. Director Fields received his law degree from The University of San Diego.

Rebecca Boatright serves as General Counsel to the Chief of Police and as the Executive Director of Analytics and Research.  She oversees units responsible for audits, litigation support, public disclosure, performance analytics, research, and data-driven policing.   

Becca received both her Ph.D. (Psychology, 1999) and J.D. (2002) from the University of Washington. She has completed executive leadership courses in driving government performance at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and is a 2018 graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum's Senior Management Institute for Police.  She is a member of the Legal Officers Sections of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and Major Cities Chiefs Association and chairs the Legal Advisors Section of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.  She also serves as a member of the steering committee for the Law Enforcement Knowledge Lab, a program sponsored by the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, that assists law enforcement agencies, communities, and researchers in improving constitutional policing, public safety, and trust in communities by providing access to policies, training, research, and best practices. 

Angela Socci serves as Executive Director of Budget and Finance leading a team focused on budget development and monitoring, program management, fleet and facility administration and jail coordination. Prior to her current role, Angela spent over 7 years in SPD Finance and Planning, advising Command Staff on issues related to finance, strategic planning, intergovernmental affairs, project management and program development. She first joined the department in 2010, working as a paralegal on civil litigation, risk management, labor relations and other employment matters. Angela graduated from the University of Washington with a B.A. in Political Economy.

Valarie Anderson is the Executive Director of Administration and oversees the Fiscal, Property and Fleets, Research Grants & Corporate Support, and Records & Public Requests Sections.

Valarie Anderson began her career with the Seattle Police Department in September 1990 as the Fiscal Manager where she managed accounts payable, accounts receivable, grants accounting, forfeiture accounting, cash accounting, and departmental purchasing. In May 2001, she was promoted to Director of Fiscal Property & Fleet where she continued her leadership and management role in all aspects of accounting and purchasing and worked closely with the departmental budget.

In addition, she was responsible for the effective and efficient management of all departmental vehicles and motor pool operations; as well as for the provision of logistical support, equipment, and supplies for all departmental employees during routine and special events. Valarie was promoted to CAO effective April 2008.

Education

Valarie graduated from Northeast Louisiana University with a BA in Accounting in 1979 and from City University in 1998 with a Masters of Public Administration. She has been a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Washington since 1985 and is a current member of the Washington State Society of Certified Public Accountants. Valarie is an alumnus of City of Seattle's Advanced Management Program and a 2010 graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police at Boston University.

Heather Marx serves as Executive Director of Strategic Initiative, focused on City Council relations, Tribal relations, surveillance ordinance compliance and strategic planning for the department. Prior to her current role, Heather served as the Program Director for SDOT’s West Seattle Bridge Safety Program and the Downtown Mobility Division.  She lives in West Seattle with her spouse and two children. She joined the department in late 2022. Heather graduated from Beloit College with a B.A. in Government and Women’s Studies.

Bio coming soon