Today is a sad day for Seattle in a hard, hard year. For the past 30 years, Chief Best has been one of those leaders that has shown up and shown what she is made of. I will freely admit that I wish she were staying on, and that I asked whether she would.
I have no doubt that she will continue to lead, fight for what is right, be a voice for equity, and change policing and other systems that have perpetuated inequity. Unfortunately, she will not do it here in Seattle as our Chief of Police.
It’s an understatement to say that Seattle will never be able to thank Chief Best enough. I thank her for her humor in tough times and her steadiness and willingness to give me and the city her very best.
Carmen believes in this department. She believes in making it better every step of the way. She knows and understands the many communities in our city. She has visited them at their churches, in their homes and at too many events to count.
The cause to transform policing and reinvest in communities of color is urgent, the pain is deep and the need for ferocity is real. But the road is long, and the efforts must be sustained.
And this work will continue. It’s why I am appointing Deputy Chief Adrian Diaz to serve as Interim Chief beginning in September. Chief Diaz has spent his career elevating the voices of young people, and I am grateful for his willingness to meet the challenge.
