The position of Marshall was created by the 1869 City Charter, a position with traditional policing duties. The first time the word "police" was used in legislative language may be Ordinance 66 ("In relation to Police powers"), passed between November 13th, 1874 and January 22nd, 1875. The 1875 amendments to the City Charter gave the city power "to establish and maintain a day and night police" and provided that the city could elect or appoint as many police officers as deemed necessary. Concurrently, however, the language about a City Marshall was maintained. Ordinance 97 ("An ordinance concerning offenses and disorderly conduct"), passed March 3rd, 1876, still referred to a City Marshall and a Deputy Marshall. The City Charter Amendments of 1883 included a house cleaning section, stating that any reference in the Charter to the Marshall should be construed to mean Chief of Police, who had the authority to hire police officers. This amendment was the first time the term Chief of Police appeared in the Charter:

"The Chief of Police shall be the peace officer of the city, and must execute all process issued by the police justice […]. He shall execute vigilant control over the peace and quiet of the city; shall be the keeper of the city prison, […]. Wherever the word marshal occurs in said act the same shall be taken to mean Chief of Police […]." Until 1890, the Chief of Police was elected by voters of the City for a one-year term. The Freeholders City Charter of 1890 created a five-member Board of Police Commissioners to oversee and administer the operations of the Police Department. The Commission, chaired by the Mayor, had the authority to appoint the Chief of Police and appoint officers:

"The Police Department shall be under the management of a Police Commission, to consist of the mayor, who shall be chairman of the commission, and four (4) police commissioners [… who] shall hold the office for four (4) years."

Following allegations of corruption, the Board of Police Commissioners was abolished by the new Freeholders City Charter of 1896. The Chief of Police, appointed by the mayor, served as administrator of the Department:

"There shall be a police department, which shall consist of a Chief of Police and as many subordinate officers, detective officers, and regular and special policemen as the city council shall from time to time by ordinance prescribe. […] The mayor shall appoint the Chief of Police […] and may remove him in his discretion […]. The mayor shall prescribe rules and regulations […] for the government and control of the police department."

A City Charter Amendment in 1936 provided for the Chief of Police to be appointed for a five year term of office. A new Freeholders City Charter was adopted March 12, 1946. Under its provisions, the term of the Chief of Police was not specified.

In 1962, the Department assumed authority for policing the harborfront, formerly a function of the Harbor Department.

The Planning and Research activity of the Seattle Police Department is believed to have originated in 1961 when Chief F.C. Ramon assigned a police supervisor to the City's Century 21 Worlds Fair on a full-time basis. It was stated that the presence of this officer (located in the Staff Division) gave the Police Department considerable insight into the projected activities of the Fair and enabled police planning to be incorporated into such things as physical structure, security procedures, personnel handling, and other matters of vital concern.

In 1962 the unit was renamed Planning and Inspection but reverted to Planning and Research in 1963 which held through 1968 when it was again renamed the Planning and Research Bureau, reporting directly to the Deputy Chief of the Staff Division, C.A . Rouse. In 1969, an Inspectional Services Bureau was formed under Assistant Chief A.C. Gustin with an lnspections Division under Captain Larry Mccready. During this period of time the International Association of Chiefs of Police conducted a detailed analysis and review of the Department's operations. This report suggested a number of reorganizational moves that were implemented over the next few years.

In 1970, the Administrative Services Bureau under Assistant Chief Eugene M. Corr, contained an Inspections Division and a Research and Development Division. In September of 1970, a Management and Analysis Team was appointed, headed by Calvin C. Clauson. The Research and Development Division continued in 1971 through 1972 under Captain C. R. Connery.

In 1973, Research and Development was renamed the Research and Inspections Division, now under Major C.R. Connery, reporting directly to the Chief of Police. In 1974, the Division was renamed the lnspectional Services Division (ISD), where it continued substantially intact, reporting to the Chief of Police for the next 20 years.

A detailed study of the Inspections and Planning functions between the years 1968 and 1976 was undertaken by Randy Tibbs in 1976. Notes were accumulated but no formal report was located (ISD Job No. 77-146).

The Commanders of the Inspectional Services Division were:

Ray Connery: Nov. 1973 - Dec. 1975 Don Kelsey: Jan. 1976 - Sep. 1977 Larry Mccready: Oct. 1977 - May 1978 Ray Connery: Jun. 1978 - May 1979 Dave Grayson: May 1979 - Mar. 1981 Dale Douglas: Apr. 1981 - Jan. 1982 Herb Johnson: Jan. 1982 - Jan. 1986 Mike Brasfield: Jan. 1986 - July 1990 Jim Deschane: July 1990-Apr. 1992 John Pirak: Apr. 1992 - Mar. 1995

In 1994 the ISD was completely restructured. Revised activities began in 1995 with: 1. Research and Grants reporting to the Community Policing Bureau. 2. The PCAM project reporting to the Special Deployment Section of the Operations Bureau. 3. The Finance and Planning functions (including review, coordination, and response to Environmental Impact Statements) reporting to the Support Bureau. 4. The Inspections and Operational Procedures functions reporting to the Training, Procedures and Audit Section of the Professional Responsibilities Bureau.