King County Councilmember requests a ‘Chief Carmen Best Day’ in early September

SEATTLE — King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer is asking County Executive Dow Constantine to declare a day in early September “Chief Carmen Best Day.”

Police Chief Carmen Best on Tuesday officially announced her plans to retire Sept. 2 after 28 years with the Seattle Police Department. The announcement came less than a day after the Seattle City Council voted to cut her pay and her budget and restructure the department.

>> Seattle City Councilmembers issue statements on Chief Best retirement

The Tacoma native is the first African-American woman to ever serve as Seattle’s police chief. She rose through the ranks from a patrol officer in the East Precinct to sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and deputy chief.

Councilmember von Reichbauer officially made the request in a letter (see below) sent to Constantine on Wednesday afternoon.

“Carmen Best is more than the police chief of our county’s largest city,” Councilmember von Reichbauer said. “She has been a regional leader who has also been a trailblazer as an African-American woman in law enforcement.”

>> ‘Racism is racism’: Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County issues statement on Chief Best retirement

Councilmember von Reichbauer is also expected to introduce a King County Council recognition that honors Best’s service to the Seattle Police Department and the city of Seattle.

“Chief Best was instrumental in working with King County and my committee (Government Accountability and Oversight) to enhance the police presence around the King County Courthouse to protect staff, visitors and jurors,” he wrote. “Chief Best recognized the need for those frequenting the center of our judicial system to feel safe, and I appreciate the help she provided.”

Read the full letter to Constantine below:

“Dear Dow:

“I am writing to request that in honor of her retirement, September 2, 2020 (or other appropriate day around her retirement) be declared ‘Chief Carmen Best Day’ in King County.

“In her 28 year career serving the largest city in King County, Chief Best worked her way up through the ranks of the Seattle Police Department to become the first Black woman to head the department. While at the Department, Chief Best was tasked with helping to implement federally mandated reforms to address excessive force and biased policing, and she worked hard to cultivate relationships with communities of color.

“As Chief, she was also instrumental in working with King County and my committee (Government Accountability and Oversight) to enhance the police presence around the King County Courthouse to protect staff, visitors and jurors. Chief Best recognized the need for those frequenting the center of our judicial system to feel safe, and I appreciate the help she provided.

“With her retirement, the region is losing a strong, public proponent of diversity and representation in both the community and the police department, and I believe the least we can do is to recognize her for her 28 years of dedication to Seattle and King County.

“With best wishes,

“Pete von Reichbauer.”

Cox Media Group