Local

Seattle City Council confirms Carmen Best as next SPD chief

Update: The Seattle city Council confirmed Carmen Best as the Chief of Police for the Seattle Police Department during a regularly scheduled meeting on Aug. 13.

“Congratulations to Chief Carmen Best on her confirmation as the next Seattle Police Department's Chief of Police,” said Councilmember González. “I want to thank Chief Best for her thoughtful and open engagement with community members and the City Council throughout the confirmation process. Her responses reaffirmed what many in the community already know about Chief Best: she is the right leader for the job of Chief of Police at this critical juncture of the police department's reform process. Chief Best also has the experience necessary to meet the evolving public safety needs of the community and the Department's police officers in a growing city facing big-city issues. I look forward to continuing to work with Chief Best on these complex issues.”

Previous Coverage: 

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan will name Interim Chief Carmen Best as the next chief of the Seattle Police Department.

"I have no question that Carmen Best is the person to lead our City's police department. Chief Best has a passion for her job, for our officers, and for our City," Durkan said in a statement earlier today.

Best's nomination is pending confirmation by the City Council.

Best also put out a statement after the announcement was made official during a press conference Tuesday morning. The statement read:

"I want to thank Mayor Durkan for this opportunity. She and I share the same public safety vision for moving Seattle forward, and making this the best city it can be for everyone. I'd also like to take this moment to especially thank the men and women, both sworn and civilian, of the Seattle Police Department who serve this city everyday with service, pride and dedication. Trust me when I say, the Seattle Police Department is one of the premier agencies in the country, and that I look forward to being your Chief. Thank you."

While Best was not selected as one of the original three finalists for the position, she moved into one of the three spots because an earlier selected finalist, former Pittsburgh Police Chief Cameron McClay, formally withdrew from consideration, a spokesperson for Seattle Mayor Durkan's office said.

Durkan said after McClay's withdrawal, Best was selected as the additional candidate by a team of assessors.

Best joined Eddie Frizell, a deputy chief of patrol in Minneapolis, and Ely Reyes, an assistant chief in Austin, as a finalist for the position.

Best has spent 26 years with the Seattle Police Department, working her way up from patrol officer.

The city of Seattle announced the three finalists back in May.

More news from KIRO 7

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE NEWS APP