In an announcement by Seattle police Chief Kathleen O'Toole March 11, SW Precinct Capt. Steve Wilske was named as one of four new assistant chiefs replacing four people in those positions. O'Toole also created a new position of Chief Information Officer.

The full team named includes: WIlske, Lesley Cordner, Robert Merner, Perry Tarrant, and Chief Information Officer Greg Russell.

Wilske has been a member of the SPD for more than 28 years in a variety of roles, including mounted patrol, homicide and crime scene and use of force investigation.

The other members have varied backrounds.

Cordner came to the SPD in 1989, serving in the domestic violence unit, north precinct operations, community policing and other work.

Merner came to Seattle from the Boston Police Department, where he served in that city's investigative bureau. He has experience in homicide, gangs, narcotics and forensics.

Tarrant headed Yakima’s gang free initiative and also served for 34 years as a patrol officer and later commander in the Tucson Police Department. Tarrant is also the vice president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.

Russell will lead the next phases of a number of tech-focused projects, such as the body-worn camera pilot and use of data to predict and prevent crime.

Russell previously worked for Amazon as a Corporate Applications vice president.