About the Captain

I began my career with the Seattle Police Department in 1981.  As a police officer, I worked in all four precincts, as a Field Training Officer, in Inspections and Planning and as an instructor in the Advanced Training Unit.  When I was promoted to sergeant in February of 1989 I was assigned as the supervisor of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Academy and subsequently served as a patrol sergeant in the East Precinct in addition to serving as the ACT Team supervisor and the Community Police Team supervisor in the West Precinct.  I was promoted to lieutenant in July of 1992 and served in the East Precinct as a Watch Commander and as the Operations Lieutenant.  I subsequently spent five years as a Commander in Vice and Narcotics. 

I was promoted to captain in October of 2000 and have been assigned as the commander of the Deployment Unit, Traffic Section and the Metropolitan Section.  I began my assignment as the Commander of the Southwest Precinct in March of 2008.  I was born and raised in Seattle, graduating from O’Dea High School and the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Society and Justice.  I have completed numerous advanced management courses such as the Senior Management Institute for Policing at Boston University and the West Point Leadership Program. 

Captain Joe Kessler has commanded the Southwest Precinct since 2008.