Michael Teeter

I rose through the ranks of the Seattle Police Department, where I served for nearly 30 years before retiring in 2022 as a captain. I have a broad range of experience, which has prepared me to serve others as a consultant and expert, and to teach current and aspiring criminal justice professionals. I led the Seattle Police Department’s force investigation team, education and training section, policy section and human resources section and chaired many of Seattle's use of force review boards. In addition, I commanded the Seattle Police West Precinct, leading a team of 200 sworn officers providing frontline police services to a daytime population exceeding 260,000 in the heart of Seattle's downtown and tourist core.

In addition to my work at Salve Regina, I continue to serve as a police practices expert providing training, consulting and expert witness services related to leadership, use of force, policy, significant incidents, accountability, human resources and training.

I have been teaching for most of my career in one form or another. Early on, it was as a field training officer and impaired driving instructor, teaching impaired driving enforcement and drug recognition throughout the state of Washington. More recently, I led the Seattle Police Department’s education and training section, where I was responsible for all in-service training for our 1,300 officers, new officer pre- and post-academy training and field training for the approximately 100 new officers we hired each year. I currently teach a leadership program called 21CPL, which covers many leadership topics, emphasizing emotional intelligence, effective communication and cultivating culture. I teach this virtually and in person to police leaders across the country, from corporals through chiefs of police. I love building teams and mentoring, I love the study of leadership, I love teaching and I believe that the role of criminal justice professionals is to serve our communities. It was a natural fit for me to join Salve Regina and the University’s mission to work for a world that is harmonious, just and merciful.