By Lindsay Peyton

King County Sheriff’s Office Major Bryan Howard has a vision. He wants to help build trust –and a rapport- between law enforcement and the residents they serve. 

The first step is simply about meeting and greeting in the neighborhood. “I want to walk up to anyone in White Center and ask them to name a police officer,” Howard said. “If they can’t do that, then we’ve failed as a police department.”

He wants every business owner and every school to feel like they can call an officer they know by name in case of an emergency. “That’s work we need to do,” he said. 

And that’s one of the goals he has set now that he has assumed a new position in the police force. 

Howard was recently promoted to “major” and Burien precinct commander, assuming the position formerly held by newly elected King County Sheriff Mitzi Johanknecht. He was the Burien Captain, serving as assistant police chief, from 2014 to 2017. 

Deputy Chief Lisa Mulligan, who has worked with Howard for many years, said he is an ideal fit for the position. “Major Howard is a smart, compassionate and tenured commander who understands that although fighting crime and the fear of crime are our primary goals, we will only meet them when we engage as partners with the communities we serve,” she said. 

In his new post, Howard will oversee all operations for White Center, South Park, Skyway and Vashon Island. He will work closely with Captain Rick Bridges.

Howard was born in Burien, and spent much of his childhood in White Center and West Seattle – and has fond memories of Steve Cox Memorial Park, Roxbury Lanes and Southgate Roller Rink. “I consider this my home precinct,” he said. “My very first shift was in White Center. I always seem to come back here. Some day, it will be where I’ll retire.”

Howard knew that he wanted to become a police officer for as long as he can remember. 

At one point, his mother signed him up for the Police Explorers program, where he learned more about the job from local officers. “That just solidified what I wanted to do,” he said. 

Howard said that, at the time, entering the force was highly competitive. He went to work obtaining his associate’s degree in business from Bellevue Community College, before going into the police academy for training. 

He now holds a bachelor’s degree in business from City University of Seattle and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Washington, as well as certifications from the Police Executive Research Forum, the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center and the School of Police Staff and Command, where he was class president. 

He launched his career in Burien, starting as a deputy in King County Sheriff’s Office in 1991 and then became Master Police Officer in 1998. In 2000, he moved to Motorcycle and Traffic Officer. When he first started, at age 22, he said that Burien was struggling with a crack epidemic and a surge in gang activity. 

“It didn’t take long to realize how dangerous this job could be–and how serious the mission,” he said. 

In 2002, Howard was promoted to Sergeant. He served as Police Chief and emergency preparedness director for the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe. Then, he returned to Burien to head the Field Training Program, before becoming the K9 unit supervisor for the Special Operations Section. 

In 2008, Howard was promoted to Captain, and he served as Police and Fire Chief at Boeing Field, then Police Chief of Maple Valley and Burien Precinct Captain. 

Howard said that law enforcement has continued to be a rewarding field. “It has to be a calling for you – the desire to serve and protect,” he said. “No one lasts in this field unless that’s why you’re here.”

Helping people is his biggest motivation, day in and day out. He feels particularly called to assist with those who are struggling the most. “Those are the people I want to help, whatever it takes,” he said. “That’s what it’s been about my whole career.”

Howard said that White Center and Burien are diverse communities, and that’s why he enjoys working in the area. “There’s so much to learn,” he said. “That’s how you grow and learn, by meeting people who are different than you.”

Howard said mentoring and guiding officers is another favorite aspect of his job. He also serves as an instructor at Highline College in the Faculty, Law and Justice Program, as well as North Seattle College’s Emergency Technician Program. 

He admits that while teaching he is always on the look-out for recruits and especially wants to add more diverse team members in Burien and White Center. “A community should be reflected in its police officers,” he said. “Residents should see people that look like them in the police force, and right now, they don’t.”

Howard said a more diverse police force should be a goal on a national level. “You’re trying to break diversity barriers,” he said. “That’s one of our biggest challenges.”

Another difficulty is making the best use of limited resources, while keeping response times quick and actions effective. “We have to be smart,” Howard said. 

At the end of the day, he wants to build a stronger relationship between police and the community. “The only way we can do that is through our actions, not our words,” he said. “Do the right thing for the right reason. The right thing is to respond to every 911 call. We go and we try to help.”

Taking care of his officers and serving the community to his best capacity can seem like a difficult job at times, but Howard said it’s one that he wouldn’t trade for anything. 

“I like a challenge,” he said. “It’s a challenging time for law enforcement. I say, ‘Challenge accepted.’”