On November 6, 1968, Seattle Mayor Dorm Braman (1901-1980) and Police Chief Frank Ramon (d. 1986) announce a sweeping reorganization of the Seattle Police Department. Four bureaus -- Operations, Inspectional Services, Technical Services, and Administrative Services -- replace the prior arrangement of North, Central, and South Precincts. Braman states that the purpose of the reorganization "is not only to bring new, young men into line command who will be valuable to the city over many years, but to increase the efficiency of many important police functions."
The reorganization was pursuant to recommendations in a survey by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, which found that the number and quality of supervisors were poor, that there were too many two-man patrol cars, and too many officers walking foot patrols. It also found "a permissive attitude toward certain types of vice, including prostitution and gambling."
The largest bureau was Operations, which included 850 officers, 75 percent of the department, and covered patrol, traffic, investigations, and special operations. The Inspectional Services Bureau handled internal investigations and auditing. A separate Research and Development Division reported directly to the Chief of Police, inasmuch as the existing planning and research effort "was ineffective."
