Carmen Best sworn in as Seattle’s new police chief
Aug 21, 2018, 1:57 PM
Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle finally has an official police chief to replace Kathleen O’Toole.
The first African American woman to hold the position, Carmen Best is traversing the Emerald City on Tuesday for a handful of swearing in events.
A great day being sworn in at City Hall and South Park and later today at the Northwest African American Museum. Thank you, Seattle, I look forward to being your Chief. pic.twitter.com/vgKj4PWTKU
— Chief Carmen Best (@carmenbest) August 21, 2018
The replacement process wasn’t without controversy. Best did not make the original list of three finalists for the job, which sparked outrage from fans of the longtime member of the Seattle Police Department. Former Councilmember Tim Burgess said the decision was largely because the committee felt an outsider would work well to enact change in the department.
Best stepped in as interim chief after O’Toole stepped down as chief in early 2018. With her history on the force and popularity among the Seattle community, many thought Best would at least make it to the final cut of police chief candidates.
Cameron McLay, a former police chief in Pittsburgh who also spent 29 years with the Madison Police Department in Wisconsin, withdrew on July 7 “following conversations on police reform” with the mayor, Durkan’s office told The Seattle Times.
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