Seattle chief quits over budget cuts
SEATTLE — Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best announced her resignation Tuesday, a day after the Seattle city council cut the police department’s budget as part of reform efforts following mass protests against police violence.
“Out of this challenge will spring new hope for a better future for all,” Best said Tuesday at a press conference.
“I trust everyone will find a way to work together and put aside personal conflicts, political grandstanding and power plays.”
The surprise resignation came after months of calls to “defund the police” following the death of George Floyd, who was pinned to the ground by a Minneapolis police officer during an arrest on May 25. Floyd’s death set off protests around the country, some leading to clashes with police, including in Seattle.
Seattle’s council approved a budget reduction Monday for the police department of less than 1% after protesters demanded it defund the force. Councillors signalled deeper cuts might be on the way.
By a vote of 7-1, the council approved a revised 2020 budget that reduced the department’s share by $3.5 million US for the remainder of the year and invested $17 million US in community public safety programs.
Council president Lorena
Gonzalez called the cut a “down payment for future potential reductions” to the department’s budget.
Defunding advocates oppose the militarization of U.S. police forces and say officers are called on to deal with issues like addiction, mental illness and homelessness that could be better addressed by social services.
The city council’s decision Monday reduced Best’s salary by $10,000 US.
Mayor Jenny Durkan told a news conference Tuesday that she regretted Best’s resignation, saying the former chief, who is Black, understood “the lived experience of Black America.”