Chief of UW Police Department reassigned to new role

SEATTLE — John Vinson, the police chief for the University of Washington Police Department, has been reassigned and will serve as the assistant vice president for student life: campus & community safety, according to an email sent by vice president for student life Denzil Suite.

Vinson previously had a combined role of assistant vice president for student life and chief of the University of Washington Police Department and is expected to start his new role May 1.

The university is expected to begin the process of searching for a new chief in the coming days.

Deputy Chief Randy West is expected to serve as interim director until the process is complete.

After sergeants with UW Police complained to the Board of Regents and asked for an external investigation, Chief John Vinson is being reassigned in May. He will focus on his role as assistant VP of Student Life. @KIRO7Seattle pic.twitter.com/y1efBEH0ZV
— Alison Grande (@AlisonKIRO7) April 19, 2019

In September, KIRO 7's Alison Grande reported that police sergeants at the University of Washington asked the board of regents to place Vinson on administrative leave.

"We're here to submit a letter of concern regarding our lack of confidence in Chief John Vinson's continued leadership of the UW Police Department," Sgt. Anthony Stewart said at the meeting.

The sergeants told KIRO 7 they felt they needed to draw attention to problems in the Police Department and feared retaliation, so they did it as a group. Click here to read more.

In response to the letter, the University of Washington hired an independent investigator to conduct a comprehensive review of the UW Police Department operation, structure, and culture.

KIRO 7 will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.

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