The NOPD announced today that Lt. Nicole Powell has been named the next Assistant Chief of Investigations for the Seattle Police Department.

A 23-year law enforcement veteran with a career spanning investigative, administrative, and patrol operations, Lt. Powell most recently served as lieutenant commander over the department’s Recruitment and Applicant Investigation Section. In this role, she oversaw the day-to-day operations of the section, worked to increase the section’s production in recruiting and in applicant investigations, increased the number of police recruits in the NOPD’s Training Academy and worked to increase the acceptance rate and applicant experience through the hiring process.

Prior to this position, Powell also served as a lieutenant and sergeant for the superintendent’s office; as a lieutenant and sergeant in the department’s Investigation and Support Bureau; as a sergeant in the Second District; as a field training officer; as a detective in district Homicide, Personal and Property Crimes divisions and in the Narcotics Division; and as a patrol officer.

Along with her NOPD work, Lt. Powell has also served as an adjunct professor of police community relations and behaviors at Loyola University of New Orleans and as a senior advisor to the Department of Justice’s International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program.

“Lt. Powell’s extensive training and service history with the NOPD has provided her with the tools necessary to lead and thrive in a career of law enforcement,” NOPD Superintendent Anne E. Kirkpatrick said. “An opportunity such as this shows that NOPD prepares its officers for vital leadership positions within the law enforcement community. We thank Lt. Powell for her many years of honorable service and dedication to the department and to the City of New Orleans. While we are sad to see her leave and will miss her greatly, we wish her all the success in this next chapter of her career.”