Originally posted in the June edition of Roll Call, the newsletter for the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention

Commander Todd Clark’s deep experience working for King County jails made him a wealth of institutional knowledge. At the end of April, Clark stepped down from the commander’s role for both the Seattle and Kent divisions.

He had been leading the Seattle Division since 2020, following Gordon Karlsson’s retirement. In the fall of 2021, he took on the added role as commander of the Maleng Regional Justice Center, after Ed Bautista retired.

Clark’s tenure as commander spanned unprecedented times, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the added challenges during the Omicron surge.

His career with the department began in May of 1982, shortly after completing his service in the U.S. Army. He was first assigned to the jail that was located inside the Courthouse, four years before the King County Correctional Facility opened.

As a sergeant in the 1990s, he assisted with opening the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, then returned to the Seattle Division years later as a captain and then major.

Interim Commanders Troy Bacon and Lisaye Manning are overseeing the Seattle and Kent divisions. The majors positions are being held open for now.