Council committee confirms three new members to Seattle Community Police Commission

The Seattle City Council Public Safety Committee recommended confirmation Tuesday of three appointees to the Community Police Commission, sending the recommendation to the full council after a 4-0 committee vote.

The committee, chaired by Councilmember Robert Kettle, voted to recommend confirmation of appointments 3303, 3304 and 3322, which the clerk read into the record as Jennifer Carl, Jeremy Holmes and Rick Williams. The nominees introduced themselves and described commitments to community-driven police accountability and public safety.

Isiah May, executive director of the Community Police Commission, placed the commission in historical context: “The CPC was created because of the consent decree, and the consent decree was developed because of the killing of John t Williams,” he said, noting the commission’s continuing role now that oversight of reforms has moved into a post‑consent‑decree era. May described the commission’s permanence as established by the 2017 police‑accountability ordinance.

The three nominees spoke about their reasons for serving. Jen Karl said she was “called to public safety and serving in this capacity” after witnessing the response to Freddie Gray’s death in Baltimore. Jeremy Holmes said he hoped to “bridge the gap between law enforcement and community members” and represent perspectives shaped by his experiences as a Black man in the Pacific Northwest. Rick Williams, the brother of John T. Williams, said he sought to help “make a difference” so other families would not suffer the same loss.

Committee members praised the slate and asked about geographic connections and experience. Director May explained that commissioners are required to live or work in Seattle or have significant ties to the city but are not required by ordinance to live inside a particular council district. Members acknowledged the commission’s evolving role now that federal court supervision of the Seattle Police Department has ended.

Chair Kettle moved the recommendation to confirm the three appointees and the motion was seconded. The clerk called a roll call vote: Hollingsworth, Juarez, Saka and Kettle voted in favor; none opposed. The committee’s recommendation to confirm will be transmitted to the full City Council for final action.

The committee discussion highlighted the commission’s ongoing oversight role, the nominees’ diverse perspectives and the CPC’s intended function as a bridge between community voice, police operations and city governance.