After a six-week trial, the former head of the Port of Seattle’s police department has been awarded $24.2 million in damages as part of a legal case under which he sued the port for unlawful firing, according to a July 22 Seattle Times report. Ex-chief Rod Covey was removed from his post in September 2021, several months after being placed on administrative leave. An internal investigation found that he had violated the port’s code of conduct and human resources policies after a port police officer filed racial discrimination complaints against Covey and other superior officers. Covey sued the port in late 2022,…

The two finalists for the chief of police position at the Port of Seattle are expected to field questions from the public during a virtual community forum scheduled for June 27. Eric Sano, a captain with the Seattle Police Department, and Michael Villa, deputy chief and acting chief with the Port of Seattle Police, are vying for the opportunity to lead a department of more than 115 commissioned police officers and 40 non-commissioned personnel responsible for providing law enforcement activities at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and seaport properties. The port is gathering questions from the public to present to the finalists…