The Community Police Commission has voted to designate Bessie Marie Scott as its interim executive director.
Current CPC executive director Fé Lopez has decided to step down to pursue an opportunity promoting racial equity in the legal field.
This is the first time the CPC has transitioned to a new executive director since being made permanent under the 2017 Accountability Legislation.
“I’m excited to continue the important work of the CPC. Like no other time in Seattle’s history, the community has a way to make their diverse voices heard in this process. It’s an incredible responsibility that has been entrusted with the CPC, and I’m ready to get to work meeting it.
Bessie Marie Scott, CPC Interim Executive Director
The CPC is in a time of transition. We just welcomed eight new commissioners. I look forward to working with them and the rest of our commissioners to lift their voices up in this process.
I thank Fé for her hard work and know she’ll continue to be an invaluable partner in this work going forward.”
“This job has been the greatest honor and greatest challenge of my career. The CPC is in a critical transition period where it will have the opportunity to enhance its advocacy for issues most important to our Communities, build relationships, and innovate how it addresses reform. Bessie is a brilliant and passionate individual, and I believe she is an excellent choice to serve as the interim director.”
Fé Lopez , Outgoing CPC Executive Director
Bessie Marie Scott was previously the Policy Director for the CPC. Prior to that, she served as the Strategic Advisor to the Housing Choice Voucher Program at the Seattle Housing Authority where she worked with a team of Housing Counselors who helped families locate housing units to lease with a Section 8 Voucher, and worked with Bailey Gatzert Elementary to assist homeless families access stable housing in the area, in addition to other special programs and strategic initiatives.
Bessie has been working on policy related issues such as healthcare disparities issues affecting women and communities of color and enforcing the Fair Housing Act by conducting secret shopping in the rental market, to include conducting some of the first sexual orientation and transgender housing testing on the West Coast. She is an experienced program and project manager, with a focus and background in systems, public administration, equity work, and social justice.
