No decision yet on investigation into Seattle Chief Adrian Diaz for allegedly hiring romantic partner

Seattle’s police watchdog agencies haven’t yet decided if they will launch a formal investigation into whether Police Chief Adrian Diaz hired a woman he was allegedly romantically involved with into a top-level advisor role.

Diaz denied the allegations last year through his attorney Ted Buck.

It's been more than 180 days since four complaints were made to the Office of Police Accountability — the typical timeline for a police investigation to be completed. But unlike other complaints, those filed against the chief of police aren’t bound by timelines.

To the public, the investigation appears to be stagnant, stuck at the "preliminary" level.

But behind the scenes, a city council member asked for answers, while members of the mayor’s office have called the rumor salacious and a ploy to upend a progressive chief. City sources told KUOW that if the police watchdog agencies decide to investigate, it could harm the chief’s reputation among the rank and file.

Gino Betts, director of the Office of Police Accountability, wrote by email that "OPA’s commitment to public trust and transparency drives it to evaluate (complaints) as efficiently as practical.”

Betts said another watchdog agency, the Office of the Inspector General, “oversees this process to ensure complaints are reviewed without unnecessary delay.”

Meanwhile, the Office of Police Accountability has requested the advisor’s hiring records, but the department’s head of human resources has so far refused arguing that the department hasn't turned over background information for non-cop employees before.