Police Chief overhauls department after Native American shooting

Following the controversial fatal shooting of a Native American man, Seattle Police Chief John Diaz on Wednesday announced an overhaul of his department.

Nine commanders will assume a new job to help build the community, reduce fear in the city and fight crime, Diaz said.

Authorities also said after Seattle police complete their own probe into last month's fatal shooting, they are prepared to allow two outside police agencies to conduct a "peer review." The review would be finished before any inquest. City Councilman Tim Burgess, chairman of the Public Safety committee and a former police officer, had called for an independent probe of the Williams shooting.

Diaz said Assistant Chief Nick Metz has been promoted to deputy chief of operations and community relations, tasked with building relationships.

Investigators say officer Ian D. Birk, 27, shot 50-year-old John T. Williams Aug. 30. Police say Williams was armed with a knife when he was shot four times after the officer ordered him to drop the weapon. However some witnesses have said Williams, a Native American wood carver, did not appear threatening. His family has said he was deaf in one ear.

Williams' death was the second officer-involved shooting fatality in a month and third officer-involved death this year. Police had promised a transparent investigation into the latest incident. Authorities said Williams had "a decades-long history of misdemeanors and gross misdemeanor violations." Birk, a two-year veteran, was not equipped with a Taser.

On Wednesday Diaz said the department would increase its number of Tasers; there are now about 300 available for use by the approximatley 1,250 officers in the city.

As part of the department's revamp, which will be effective Oct. 1, Capt. Steve Brown will take command of the training section to review and revise what officers are taught. Diaz and other police officials said de-escalation training, in which officers are taught to tamp down a volatile situation, would be reemphasized.

"What it really comes down to is skillful decision-making," Diaz said at a City Hall news conference. "Our job is to bring peace. Our job is to make things better."

Authorities also said the internal investigation into the Williams shooting was "within days" of concluding. When it's done, it will go to the Firearms Review Board, the King County Prosecutor, and two comparable police agencies for review.

Mayor Mike McGinn and Diaz were questioned about why it could be weeks or months before the public is allowed to review the investigation materials. McGinn said the city was following a legal process, but stressed accountability was his top concern.

Ultimately the department will decide whether Birk should be returned to duty, assigned different tasks within the department, or fired.

"We will make a decision and we will be held responsible. I will be held responsible," McGinn said.