Port of Seattle Police Chief Named President of Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs

WASPC's first female president was also state's first female police chief

On Wednesday, May 21, Port of Seattle Police Chief Colleen Wilson was sworn into office as incoming president of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) at a WASPC conference in Yakima. Governor Christine Gregoire was the featured speaker at the event, at which Chief Wilson will become the first female association president.

Wilson joined the Port of Seattle as Chief of Police in August 2007. During her tenure, she has worked to strengthen the department and increase its visibility within its airport and seaport communities. The Port of Seattle has 107 commissioned police officers, with a number of special teams, including explosive detection K-9s, bomb disposal unit, boat and dive teams, bicycle teams, and more. The department also participates in several multi-agency programs with Drug Enforcement Agency, FBI Anti-Terrorist Task Force and assigns members to the Valley Special Response Team.

"I'm deeply honored to serve as the president of this association," said Chief Wilson, who was president-elect in 2007. "WASPC is unique in the country; bringing chiefs, sheriffs, state, federal and local law enforcement together in one association. It is a resource that has come to be relied upon for public policy recommendations and expert collaboration. I look forward with enthusiasm to the coming year! "

Wilson has a 32-year career in law enforcement. When she was appointed Chief of Police in the City of Monroe, in 1993, she became the first female police chief in this state. From 2002 to 2007, she was the Chief of Police in the City of Sumner.

She is a member of the Western Regional Institute for Community Policing Executive Leadership Board. She chairs the Domestic Violence Committee for the WASPC and has been a law enforcement representative to Domestic Violence and Child Abuse task forces appointed by the Attorney General, the Governor, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. She has chaired the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission and was appointed by Governor Gary Locke to blue ribbon panels conducting reviews of two other state agencies.

Wilson attended Gonzaga University, University of Southern California's Delinquency Control Institute and University of Washington's Cascade Program for Executive Excellence as well as the FBI National Academy. Her husband, Jerry, is a retired schoolteacher and they have two grown children.