SPD criticized over bungled promotion of East Precinct Commander

https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2025/11/community-trust-is-built-
through-transparency-not-silence-lgbtq-chamber-of-commerce-calls-on-
seattle-police-to-address-bungled-promotion-of-east-precinct-commander/

Saying “community trust is built through transparency, not silence,” GSBA, 
the city’s LGBTQ+ chamber of commerce and a leading voice for many of 
Capitol Hill’s small businesses, has called on Chief Shon Barnes and the 
Seattle Police Department to address the recent promotion of a commander 
with a history of department violations to lead the East Precinct.

In a letter with the Lavender Rights Project, the organization has 
condemned the decision and is calling on SPD to provide “an update and 
timeline” for his replacement.

Barnes announced the promotion of Michael Tietjen to East Precinct 
Commander in September but said he would reverse the decision last month 
after a wave of backlash.

“GSBA, Washington State’s LGBTQ+ and Allied Chamber of Commerce and the 
Neighborhood Chamber for Capitol Hill, and Lavender Rights Project, are 
writing to express joint disappointment in the Seattle Police Department’s 
decision to appoint Captain Mike Tietjen to lead the East Precinct in 
Capitol Hill—a neighborhood that has long stood as the heart of Seattle’s 
LGBTQ+ community,” the letter begins. “This decision was made without 
meaningful community engagement or transparency, and it sends a troubling 
message to the residents and businesses of Capitol Hill.”

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Publicola reported in October that, despite a history of department 
violations, Tietjen was selected to replace Doug Raguso, a acting 
commander who had been active in improving the precinct’s relationship 
with Capitol Hill’s LGBTQ and nightlife business communities.

In August 2020, CHS reported as one of the incidents was caught on video 
when an SPD sergeant was placed on administrative leave after being caught 
driving an SUV onto a sidewalk and nearly striking a group of protesters 
and comparing them to cockroaches.

Publicola reports Tietjen was reassigned to a new precinct after that 
incident and details another incident in which Tietjen was disciplined 
after “four officers, including him, pulled up on a trans woman who was 
walking along the sidewalk and allegedly harassed her by asking her if she 
‘had a dick under’ her skirt.”

Responding to backlash last month, SPD provided a statement on the 
selection and reversal.

In the statement, Chief Barnes makes a pledge, promising “a full review of 
the person’s history” before future promotions.

The GSBA and the Lavender Rights Project are asking for more.

“Captain Tietjen’s record, which includes multiple sustained complaints 
for violent and discriminatory conduct—including the documented harassment 
of a transgender woman and acts of excessive force during the 2020 
protests—stands in direct conflict with the values of safety, inclusion, 
and trust that our community expects from its public servants,” the letter 
reads. “At a time when rebuilding relationships between law enforcement 
and marginalized communities should be a top priority, this appointment 
undermines that progress. As instances of bias against the LGBTQ+ 
community increase, it is essential that SPD provides leadership that can 
be trusted. Otherwise, people will become reticent to report issues to SPD 
if there is fear that SPD could perpetuate that harm or elect not to go 
out at all. The chilling effect this could bring would threaten the area’s 
dense business ecosystem and erode community.

In the letter, the groups say they are are especially concerned by the 
decision in light of a change of personnel in SPD’s LGBTQ+ Liaison 
position and SPD’s lack of transparency about the process to fill the role 
with a new person.

“We call on Chief Barnes and the City of Seattle to engage directly with 
community stakeholders, including LGBTQ+ organizations, before making 
leadership decisions that so profoundly impact our neighborhood’s sense of 
safety and belonging,” the letter concludes as the groups are demanding an 
update and public timeline on the Tietjen situation.

The letter from GSBA leader Ilona Lohrey and JaeLynn Scott, the executive 
director of the Lavender Rights Project, is directed to Chief Barnes, and 
SPD’s chief operating officer Brian Maxey, and director Mike Fields.

The Lavender Rights Project is a Black trans feminist organization with 
projects including its community work at the newly opened King County 
Health Through Housing Capitol Hill apartment building Sharyn Grayson 
House.

The GSBA, meanwhile, is an advocate for businesses across the city and on 
Capitol Hill where it has received funding for programs including a 
Capitol Hill Neighborhood Safety Coordinator dedicated to tracking and 
coordinating responses to public safety issues around the Broadway and 
Pike/Pine core.

Mayor Bruce Harrell has not publicly addressed the situation but his 
challenger in Tuesday’s election Katie Wilson has also leveled criticism 
at SPD over the bungled promotion.

“Capt. Tietjen has a long record of actions that diminish public 
confidence in SPD. We cannot afford that, full stop,” Wilson said. “I want 
to give the new chief the benefit of the doubt, but this decision reflects 
either bad judgment or a lack of due diligence. Neither will be accepted 
when I’m mayor. Our communities deserve better and we can’t get this 
wrong.”

Changes around SPD precinct commanders have been handled at various levels 
of public transparency of the years as promotions, resignations, and 
retirements have played out. CHS reported a decade ago on the high — and 
often quiet — turnover leading the East Precinct where we tallied ten 
leaders over the previous 15 years at the 12th and Pine headquarters.


-- 
November 5, 2024 - Congratulations President Donald Trump.  We look 
forward to America being great again.

We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that 
stupid people won't be offended.

Every day is an IQ test. Some pass, some, not so much.

Thank you for cleaning up the disasters of the 2008-2017, 2020-2024 Obama 
/ Biden / Harris fiascos, President Trump.

Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the 
The World According To Garp.  Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood 
queer liberal democrat donors.