East Precinct Commander Paul McDonagh’s boss’ boss John Diaz will be the acting Seattle Police Chief following Gil Kerlikowske’s departure to become the nation’s drug czar. Diaz announced his priorities in the interim period will be improving neighborhood patrols and reducing gang violence in the city. Seattle PI reports that the department plans to add six detectives to its gang unit and apply for federal stimulus money to pay for more officers at schools in central and south Seattle.

Central District News notes that Diaz was the East Precinct Commander from 1995 to 2000. In 1999, the WTO violence shook Seattle as protesters and police battled in the streets of the city and Capitol Hill.

Diaz’s org chart when he served as Deputy Chief