Police prefer being waved at with all five fingers, nominated chief says

Carmen Best, the Seattle mayor’s nomination for the next police chief, believes in accountability. After all, it’s better to have someone wave at you than make a more obscene gesture.

“I’ve been in a patrol car. It feels a lot better to drive down the street and have people wave at you with all five fingers and smile than it does to have something else happen,” Best told the city council’s Gender Equity, Safe Communities, New Americans, and Education Committee on Wednesday.

Can’t argue with that. But what prompted that response during Best’s first confirmation hearing?

The long-term employee of the Seattle Police Department was asked to explain what police reform and ongoing accountability meant to her. In response, she said the city was “lucky” to have an inspector general who will oversee the department. Ditto for the Office of Police Accountability and Community Police Commission.

Inspector General Lisa Judge, the first in city history, was hired following legislation approved by the city council that will increase the amount of external oversight of the department. She will act as a permanent monitor of the department as it moves forward with reform following a consent decree with the Justice Department over a “pattern” of excessive force.

The Office of Police Accountability investigated cases of misconduct and ensures the actions of officers remain constitutional and in compliance with the law. The office makes recommendations for individual cases. Most recently, Best upheld the results of an investigation that found two officers failed to follow policy when they fired a “barrage” of bullets at a fleeing car.

The commission represents the community and suggests improvements related to the consent decree.

Best says all of this will “help us legitimize the police department because people will now have a second set of eyes looking into what we’re doing.” Holding officers accountable, while also allowing them to do their jobs, is critical, she added.

Still, Best said the department needs to get more people to buy into this new era of accountability, rewarding those that do, and punishing those that don’t.

“By doing that, you can change the culture of the organization,” Best said.

Follow @http://twitter.com/Mynorthwest