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Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best and Mayor Jenny Durkan are expected to speak at 11am. We will carry it live on #Q13FOX once it begins. I will tweet updates here.
Chief Best: "For me personally this was a decision I wrestled with, but it was time."
Chief Best: "To the men and women of the Seattle Police Department sworn and civilian, you will always have my respect, you will always be in my heart. You are without a doubt the best police department in the country."
Chief Best: "I have an ask of our community. I am one part of the department. If you support me, you support the department. I trust that everyone ... will find a way to work together to put aside personal conflict, political power plays, and grandstanding."
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan: "We're facing unprecedented challenges with no end in sight ... it has been a hard, hard year and today is a hard day."
Mayor Durkan: "Carmen Best has been one of those leaders who has shown up and shown what she's made of." Mayor Durkan says Chief Best told her "it was time to resign" this past weekend.
Mayor Durkan: "I freely admit, I wish she was staying."
The clear emotion Mayor Durkan has over Chief Best leaving is quite the moment. Chief Best was not the mayor's first choice. In fact, she didn't even make a top three list. But the community demanded she be chief - and Mayor Durkan listened. That was two years ago.
Mayor Durkan: "Make no mistake about it. Carmen Best was the right person to help re-imagine policing in this city."
Mayor Durkan: "It has been so mystifying to watch the City Council plow ahead without ever talking to her, consulting with her, or listening to her pleas to be thoughtful."
