Seattle City Council Confirms Carmen Best as Seattle Police Chief

Home » Seattle City Council Confirms Carmen Best as Seattle Police Chief

Today the Seattle City Council – by a unanimous vote – confirmed Carmen Best as Chief of Police for the Seattle Police Department during its regularly scheduled City Council meeting.

Councilmember M. Lorena González (Pos. 9, Citywide), chair of the Gender Equity, Safe Communities, New Americans & Education Committee, oversaw the confirmation process during the course of three committee meetings, including one public comment hearing. Through the Council’s confirmation process, Chief Best underwent an extensive examination of her experience and credentials, which included a thorough written questionnaire and several hours of questioning from councilmembers during public committee hearings.

The committee unanimously voted to recommend the appointment of Best as Seattle’s permanent Police Chief on August 8.

“Congratulations to Chief Carmen Best on her confirmation as the next Seattle Police Department’s Chief of Police,” said Councilmember González. “I want to thank Chief Best for her thoughtful and open engagement with community members and the City Council throughout the confirmation process. Her responses reaffirmed what many in the community already know about Chief Best: she is the right leader for the job of Chief of Police at this critical juncture of the police department’s reform process. Chief Best also has the experience necessary to meet the evolving public safety needs of the community and the Department’s police officers in a growing city facing big-city issues. I look forward to continuing to work with Chief Best on these complex issues.”

Mayor Jenny Durkan announced the nomination of Interim Chief Best on July 17, following a series of more than three dozen community meetings. More than 60 candidates applied to be Seattle’s Chief of Police.

“I have seen firsthand the love and compassion that Chief Best shows for both the community and the Seattle Police Department,” said Mayor Jenny Durkan. “Throughout her 26 years with the SPD, she has worked her way up the ranks gaining the respect of the community and rank-and-file officers. Without a doubt, I know that with her leadership SPD will continue to address the public safety challenges facing our City, implement meaningful and lasting reforms, and further establishing trust within all of Seattle’s communities.”

Best has worked in the Seattle Police Department for 26 years. She has been Seattle’s Interim Chief of Police since January 1, 2018. She previously served as the Deputy Chief, where she oversaw the Patrol Operations, Investigations and Special Operations Bureaus, and the Community Outreach section.

Resources:

Appointment Packet

Letter of Expectations

High Resolution Photo of Chief Carmen Best

Confirmation Hearing Videos

Website: seattle.gov/council/issues/police-chief

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