KIRO 7 to interview final candidates for Seattle police chief

SEATTLE — KIRO 7 will be one-on-one with the final three candidates for chief of the Seattle Police Department Wednesday.

The candidates are also expected at community meetings around Seattle Wednesday night.

They are also being interviewed by Mayor Jenny Durkan this week.

The final three in the running are Eddie Frizell, the Deputy Chief of Patrol in Minneapolis, Ely Reyes, the Assistant Chief in Austin, Texas, and Interim Seattle Chief Carmen Best -- a surprise final candidate who has been with the force for 26 years.

Best was originally left off the top three list of candidates.

The Community Police Commission made a complaint and said the selection process was not transparent.

Best was added as a finalist after former Pittsburgh Chief Cameron McLay withdrew his candidacy on Saturday, saying he could better reform from the outside in an advisory role.

That led KIRO 7 to ask Durkan whether Best is a foregone conclusion for the position after community backlash for not originally being a top three candidate. And would the final candidate clash with a potential advisor role?

"Number one, there is only one chief of police regardless of who the new chief is, there will only be one chief of police,” said Durkan.

Durkan was also asked about a Seattle Times report that said Best is the likely choice.

“No. There's an old saying in Washington, D.C. that those who know aren't talking and those who are talking don't know," she said.

KIRO 7's Essex Porter will conduct interviews with the candidates Wednesday. We'll bring them to you tonight on KIRO 7 News at 5.

Cox Media Group