Council President M. Lorena González, Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda and Councilmember Tammy J. Morales issued the following statement in response to Seattle Police Department Chief Carmen Best announcing her plan to retire:
“Together we want to thank Chief Carmen Best for her dedication to the people of Seattle during her twenty-eight years of public service. Throughout her career, we know that Chief Best overcame tremendous personal and professional barriers to rise through the ranks of the Seattle Police Department to become our Chief of Police. Like many Seattle residents, we are saddened to hear of her sudden departure from the SPD. We understand and respect Chief Best’s decision to step down from her position.
“On Monday, the City Council took short-term emergency budget actions to address the economic crises and we took initial steps towards establishing a long-term budget planning process in response to calls for transforming our public safety model.
“The Council will remain focused on the need to begin the process of transforming community safety in our City. This historic opportunity to transition the SPD from reform to transformation will continue.
“The work to transform public safety will require leaders from across our city to work together collaboratively and transparently over the coming months. We look forward to working with community leaders, Mayor Durkan, Chief Best and Interim Chief Diaz on building a new community-based public safety model together.”