Todd Morrell has been chosen as the next captain of the Burien Police Department, the city announced this week.
Morrell joined the Burien Police Department on December 1, 2021.
Former Burien Police Department captain Troy Smithmeyer has joined the SeaTac Police Department. Smithmeyer joined the Burien Police Department in 2020 after Captain Jessica Sullivan retired from the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO).
“Captain Morrell is an exceptional leader and will be a great partner in continuing the policing model of the Burien Police Department in our community,” said Burien Police Chief Theodore “Ted” Boe.
Captain Morrell began his law enforcement career with the Seattle Police Department in 1998 patrolling the Rainier Valley neighborhood. He joined the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) in 2003 and in Ward 4, including several rotations in Burien, both as a Uniformed Police Officer and later as a Crime Detective of street. His professional accomplishments include serving as a Field Training Officer, Senior Police Officer, and King County SWAT Team (TAC-30) member, until his promotion to Sergeant in 2015.
As a Sergeant, Captain Morrell gained extensive experience leading KCSO’s involvement in the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program as he was appointed Supervisor of the Police Cycling Team of METRO public transport.
Upon his promotion to Captain in 2020, Captain Morrell was appointed both Operations Captain and Administrative Captain of KCSO’s Sound Transit Division.
Prior to his law enforcement career, Captain Morrell served in the United States Marine Corps and attended Central Washington University. He is an avid biker who serves as a motorcycle instructor in his spare time.
