Patti Jackson was interim chief for a year and is now in her first week on the job. Her priorities include growing the agency, continuing to build community trust.
TACOMA, Wash — After nearly a year as interim chief, Patti Jackson has officially begun her tenure as chief of the Tacoma Police Department.
The Tacoma City Council confirmed her unanimously last week, and her first day in the official role started on Monday.
Chief Patti Jackson, who worked for more than 35 years with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and ran for sheriff in 2024, said she views her new role as both a privilege and a profound responsibility that she doesn’t take lightly.
“I take it as a privilege that I’ve been trusted to continue to steer this agency,” Chief Jackson said in her first interview since officially assuming the position. “There are lives at hand, the community at large, and the men and women that are putting on this badge every day.”
During her time as interim chief, Jackson focused on fostering trust between the department and Tacoma residents through community engagement.
“I call it getting to know us before you need us, so getting out in the community and really showing this is who we are as an agency,” Jackson said.
Maintaining that trust remains a top priority for Jackson.
She has held open houses at police headquarters, inviting residents to the facility to engage with officers.
“People who have never stepped foot in here, have come in, and they’ve joined us,” said Jackson. “I think they feel valued, so it’s working.”
Last year, Tacoma saw a 15% increase in homicide deaths compared to the year before, with 26 victims, at least five of whom were teenagers.
To help prevent youth crime, Jackson believes it is important to put officers back in schools to engage with students.
“What happens when you have an officer in there, you’ve got somebody that sees a real person, and so they say, ‘Okay, if I have a problem, I can trust you, I got to know you, I can come to you,’” said Jackson.
As Tacoma continues to grow, Jackson said the police department must expand as well. When she started as interim chief, there were about 40 vacancies. That number has dropped to five.
“That’s huge you know; we haven’t seen single digits in decades,” said Jackson.
Seventeen of those new hires came through a temporary incentive program offering $50,000 bonuses to experienced officers. The program that started in September is funded for 20 officers.
“We were able to bring responders out to the street much quicker than when you bring a new entry-level officer in, that’s made a difference,” said Jackson.
Jackson hopes to secure state grant funding to hire 12 more officers this year, saying she doesn’t want to grow too fast, to make sure they are hiring the best people for the job.
With additional staffing, she hopes to restore certain units and programs, like a dedicated traffic unit, which she says the department hasn’t had in years.
They recently utilized a program that’s helping them get two dedicated police cars for DUI and traffic enforcement.
“People are always calling, ‘Hey, we want more enforcement out there, you see speeders, stop them,’” Jackson said. “So, it is something that we really try to do our best with, working with what we have.”
Jackson also said maintaining high morale within the department is essential and a top priority for her. She emphasized the importance of making sure officers feel heard and prioritizing officer wellness, as well as making the department a place they look forward to coming to each day.
“Hold me accountable, right? To what it is that you need to do your job and do it well,” said Jackson.
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