Chief of Police

Ed Holmes

Ed Holmes began his law enforcement career in 1994 with the Mercer Island Police Department. He worked through the ranks in a variety of assignments to include serving as a Patrol Officer, School Resource Officer, Detective, Patrol Sergeant, Personnel and Training Sergeant, Special Operations Team member, Operations Commander, and in 2006 he was appointed to serve as the Chief of Police. Prior to working for Mercer Island he worked as a counselor for incarcerated youth.

Education

Bachelor of Arts, Seattle Pacific University
Teaching Certificate, Seattle Pacific University
Master of Public Administration from Seattle University

Professional Memberships and Affiliations

Mercer Island Rotary Club
King County Police Chiefs’ and Sheriff’s Association (Current Chair)
WASPC - Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (Past President)
Law Administrators of Washington
PERF - Police Executive Research Forum
SACOP - State Association of Chiefs of Police (Past WASPC Representative)
IACP - International Association of Chiefs of Police

What do you enjoy most about leading your department?

I am very fortunate to lead a department of such highly qualified and dedicated public servants. I enjoy being part of a team that focuses on community safety, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and ensuring a high quality of life for Island residents. I also appreciate the commitment our officers make to ensuring everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

What do you enjoy most about working for the City of Mercer Island?

Despite being situated in the middle of a large urban area, Mercer Island continues to enjoy a very low crime rate. Our low crime rate is due in part to the proactive stance our officers take on keeping this community safe, and the strong partnerships we have with our community. We have many wonderful residents who are happy to spend their time and resources to help us in our efforts to keep everyone safe and prepared for emergencies. We also have strong relationships with the other City Departments who help us effectively address safety concerns. Collectively, our efforts help to keep this one of the safest communities in the region.