Burien City Manager Adolfo Bailon announced on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024 that Tom Calabrese has been selected as the city’s new Police Chief.

Calabrese, who has been serving as interim chief, will officially step into the role this Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. He replaces Ted Boe, who resigned on June 11, 2024 after disagreements with Bailon over the enforcement and constitutionality of Ordinance 832. It is unknown if Calabrese’s views of that ordinance are any different (his boss is Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall, who decided that ordinance might be unconstitutional).

“I would like to vouch for Chief Calabrese as a great choice for the Burien Police Department,” Boe said on Facebook. “I hand selected him to be the assistant chief in 2023 and know the city is in great hands!”

As we previously reported, the new chief was chosen through a series of stakeholder panels with City leadership staff, councilmembers, community leaders and hand-picked members of organizations serving the Burien community.

Calabrese, a 24-year law enforcement veteran, has been with the Burien Police Department (BPD) since April 2023, where he served as captain before taking on the interim chief position. His long-standing ties to Burien include the first 16 years of his career spent with the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) in Precinct 4, which serves Burien and White Center.

Calabrese began his career in 2000 as a patrol deputy in Burien and later rose through the ranks, serving as a master police officer, a Special Emphasis Team (SET) detective, and a patrol sergeant. He was promoted to captain in the Sound Transit Division in 2021 before returning to Burien.

“I came back to Burien and Precinct 4 because this is where I got my start as a young deputy and spent the first 16 years of my career here,” Calabrese said. “It has always been home to me and when this opportunity presented itself, I couldn’t say no. I also came back because I hope and want to have an impact on the current generation of officers that are working in Burien. I would want the community to know that I truly care for Burien and want to see it flourish.”

City Manager Bailon praised Calabrese’s commitment to the community.

“Tom Calabrese has demonstrated an exceptional dedication for serving the Burien community, and his genuine care and passion for the job are undeniable,” Bailon said. “We are thrilled to continue working with Tom and look forward to his continued service in Burien.”

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10 replies on “City Manager names Tom Calabrese as Burien’s new Police Chief”

  1. As before, I would like to see proof that Ted Boe left entirely due to disagreement with the City Manager. He was certainly entitled to seek advancement in his career, possibly didn’t care for Dow or Patti and/or got tired of the drama. To continually see it blamed on the City Manager is unsubstantiated gossip until proven otherwise. Also, congratulations on the new Chief who needs to enforce the laws and bring improvement to Burien.

    1. Do a public records request for Bailon’s emails. You’ll see it’s not unsubstantiated in the slightest.

  2. Hand picked by City Manager.

    Bailon has driven this process to be under his control the entire time. Hand picking “community members” that he know will support the same things he does. No public insight, no public oversight, no public input.

    When did Burien turn into such a dictatorship?

  3. hello lawman. saw your boy’s today,…..twice….good deal….license plate readers…..yep….Good Luck To Us ALL. Robert 🙂

  4. If this is his “home” clean it up! Does he have litter and drug dealers, rapists, murders in his “home”? He has big shoes to fill and will NEVER match up to Police Chief Boe. Burien, you are dead to me!

    1. It was Boe’s home also, those issues predated the new Chief so share the blame correctly. P.S. Don’t visit Burien then if you haven’t moved far away already.

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