Lt. Hayes to leave East Precinct

A Seattle PI article about Police reorganization notes:

The department also created a new position of director of community relations, which will oversee media relations, community outreach and the community police teams that tackle specific problems in neighborhoods, and report directly to Kerlikowske. Taking that new position is Lt. John Hayes, an officer well regarded by the community in the East Precinct, the chief said.

Many thanks to CD News for pointing out the PI article, and for its report on Lt. Hayes' departure.

A Central District neighbor commented:
The last paragraphs of the story from Saturday's P-I speak of changes in the responsibilities of the East Precinct's highly respected Lt. John Hayes. I'm sure he is the perfect person for his new job as director of community relations, but we will miss him sorely. It is not clear to me who will replace Lt. Hayes as Captain McDonagh's Operations Chief.

I hope you will all join me in thanking John Hayes for all his hard work in our neighborhood, and in wishing him all the best in his new position.

Join us behind the Prince of Wales apartments (big brick building, 20th & Denny) about 9:45 AM this coming Saturday for our monthly MaDCAP neighborhood cleanup: Lt. Hayes may be able to stop by to bid farewell. From there you could go on to 23rd & Union to help with the Central Neighborhood Association's cleanup of the "cop shop" (10 till noon) and then on to the grand opening of the African-American Museum ( 11 AM to 4 PM). And after all that excitement you'd better go home for a rest, or perhaps get a drink at the Bottleneck Lounge, which opens at 4 PM. But don't expect a quiet time there, because they're celebrating their first birthday on Saturday (complimentary appetizers and champagne from 8-9PM, and other specials: see website). If you don't find John Hayes at one of those events, you'll just have to zip on to the next one to catch him there.