Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan selected Carmen Best as the next police chief. The decision comes after a nationwide search that looked at more than 60 applicants and involved input from thousands of community members. Best still needs to be confirmed by the Seattle City Council.
Best, a 26-year veteran of the Seattle Police Department, was able to rise through the ranks since 1992. She has been serving as interim chief since Kathleen O'Toole stepped down at the end of 2017.
Community members gathered at Seattle City Hall for a meet-and-greet with Best Tuesday night.
"She is a celebrity here. I mean, 26 years of doing good for our city already, finally being recognized. So I think it is a great day for Seattle," said Louise Chernin, President and CEO of Greater Seattle Business Association.
Initially, Best was not included on the list of three finalists for the chief job and it created an uproar. The community spoke up, a candidate dropped out, and now Best has the Mayor's support.
"The Mayor heard the community and made a decision that I think reflects what the community wants," said Chernin.
It is definitely what 18-year-old Naomi Ashford wants.
"She's been very encouraging and a role model to me," said Ashford.
From a park bench outside the South Seattle community center where she works, Ashford talked about meeting Best at an event for the United Negro College Fund. Best is the Leadership Council Chair of UNCF.
"She told me that anything is possible. Just keep believing, and that's when she set me up with the connections to Seattle police and told me to keep in touch with her," said Ashford.
That conversation happened two years ago, and it left the teen inspired. Ashford joined the Seattle Police Explorers, a youth program she is still involved with today.
"This woman is doing a lot of great stuff that I want to see myself doing in a few years. It definitely feels great to just have that connection with her," said Ashford.
At City Hall, Best told the room, "I am going to get this job done. I am going to work for this community. And we are going to make Seattle the safest city in the country."
The next step for Best is confirmation from the Seattle City Council. The process involves opportunities for public opinion and discussion in the month of August. There should be a final decision from the city council no later than September 4th.
