>> WOW.
WELL, GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THIS WEEKEND, I DON'T THINK
IT'S ANY SURPRISE, BUT I
INFORMED THE MAYOR OF MY INTENT
TO RETIRE FROM THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
FOR ME PERSONALLY, THIS WAS A
DECISION THAT I WRESTLED WITH,
BUT IT WAS TIME.
I WILL ALWAYS BE A POLICE
OFFICER.
IT'S WHO I AM, BUT ULTIMATELY,
AS I LEARN FROM A FORMER BOSS,
WHEN YOU KNOW IT'S TIME TO GO,
YOU KNOW IT'S TIME TO GO.
AFTER SERVING THIS DEPARTMENT
AND THIS COMMUNITY FOR ALMOST 3
DECADES, I CAN HONESTLY SAY I
HAVE NO REGRETS.
THERE ARE THINGS I WOULD
CHANGE, YES, BUT BEING A
SEATTLE POLICE OFFICER AND
HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE
THE POLICE CHIEF, IT WAS A
DREAM OF A LIFETIM.
I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR, SIN
SINCERELY THANK HER FOR HER
SUPPORT.
I WILL CONTINUE TO DO ALL I CAN
OVER THE NEXT 3-WEEKS TO SET
THIS DEPARTMENT UP FOR A SMOOTH
TRANSITION.
I LOVE THIS DEPARTMENT.
I LOVE THIS CITY, AND I WILL
ALWAYS LOVE BEING A SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICER.
YOR THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT YOU
REMAINED COMMITTED TO BEING THE
BEST TO INNOVATEING AND CREATING
CREATING.
I KNOW THAT TIME ARE HARD RIGHT
NOW, AND I KNOW THAT WHEN
PEOPLE GET TO SEE YOU AND KNOW
YOU, THEY SEE WHAT AMAZING
PEOPLE YOU ARE.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEEP IN
THE CITY SUPPORT YOU.
YOU ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR
COMMUNITY'S SAFETY, AND I THANK
YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP EVERY
DAY COMMITTED TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
DAY-IN AND DAY-OUT, YOU SPENT
TIME AWAY FROM OUR FAMILIES TO
SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
EVEN DURING THIS COVID-19
PANDEMIC, YOUR COMMITMENT TO
THIS PROFESSION AND COMMUNITY
HAS BEEN UNMATCHED.
I AM GRATEFUL AND HUMBLED TO
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE
AS YOUR CHIEF.
I KNOW THIS DEPARTMENT AND CITY
IS WELL -- WILL HAVE AWELL-
DESERVED AND RESPECTED SPD
COMMAND TEAM.
WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE
AND EXPERIENCED TEAMS IN THE
COUNTRY.
MANY OF THEM ARE HERE RIGHT
NOW.
SOME MAY THINK THE QUALITY OF
TEAM DOESN'T MATTER, BUT I KNOW
BETTER.
I KNOW THE TEAM WILL KEEP IT
FROM MOVING FORWARD AS IT
REENVISIONS PUBLIC AND
COMMUNITY SAFETY.
AND I AM GRATEFUL TO THE DEPUTY
CHIEF FOR SERVING TO THE CHIEF
OF POLICE.
I KNOW HE WILL CONTINUE TO
ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY.
HE KNOWS HIS DEPARTMENT, AND HE
KNOWS HIS CITY.
I HAVE SEEN FIRST-HAND HIS
TIRELESS COMMITMENT TO THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
THE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THE
YOUNG PEOPLE OF OUR CITY.
HE'S MORE THAN READY FOR THIS
CHALLENGE, AND TO THE
COMMUNITY, THANK YOU.
YOU HELPED ME GET TO WHERE I
AM.
I THINK SO MANY OF YOU HAVE
JUST BEEN WONDERFUL, AND I
APPRECIATE YOU JUST LIKE
FAMILY, AND I CONTINUE TO.
I HAVEN'T ASKED OF MY
COMMUNITY.
I AM ONE PART OF THE
DEPARTMENT.
IF YOU SUPPORT ME, YOU SUPPORT
THIS DEPARTMENT.
I KNOW OUT OF THIS CHALLENGE
WILL SPRING A NEW HOPE AND
BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL.
I TRUST THAT EVERYONE, BUSINESS
OWNERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS
WILL FIND A WAY TO WORK
TOGETHER TO PUT ASIDE PERSONAL
CONFLICTS AND GRAND STANDING
AND POWER PLAYING.
SEATTLE HAS THE BEST AND THE
BRIGHTEST.
IF WE WORK TOGETHER TO OVERCOME
OUR CHALLENGES, IF WE LISTEN TO
ONE ANOTHER, NOT JUST THOSE WE
AGREE WITH BY THE WAY.
IF WE VALUE EXPERIENCE EQUALLY
TO PASSION, I KNOW WE CAN
CREATE SOLUTIONS THAT WILL
CARRY SEATTLE THROUGH THIS
DECADE AND THROUGH THE FUTURE,
LEADING THE WAY THROUGH THE
ENTIRE COUNTRY.
AND NOW I'M GOING TO SCARE AMY
BECAUSE I'M GOING OFFSCRIPT AND
BELIEVE SAY, FIRST AND JUST SAY
I WANT TO THANK THE PASTORS WHO
ARE HERE AND YOU'RE WONDERFUL.
AND THE PASTOR, IF YOU DON'T
REMEMBER HIM, HE'S THE ONE THAT
SAID CHIEF BEST IS THE BEST.
I LOVE THAT.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THAT.
I WAS CRACKING UP.
THAT WAS VERY FUNNY.
REVEREND, I DON'T HAVE WORDS
FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
YOU BEEN JUST WONDERFUL.
I CAN'T EXPRESS THE DEPTH.
IF YOU LOOK AT ME AND CRY, I'M
GOING TO CRY.
SO I CAN'T LOOK AT YOU.
YOUR HEART IS GOLD.
I WANT TO THANK YOU SO VERY
MUCH.
I WANT TO THANK TRISHA WHO IS
MY EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT AND
HELPED ME THROUGH EVERYTHING.
SHE KNOWS MORE ABOUT ME THAN MY
HUSBAND.
SHE KNOWS IT ALL, THE CREDIT
CARDS, THE BANK ACCOUNTS,
EVERYTHING.
SHE'S BEEN AMAZING AND
WONDERFUL, AND TO ALL OF THE
DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT ARE HERE,
YOU PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY
THE BEST.
I'VE TALKED TO EACH AND EVERY
ONE OF YOU ON DIFFERENT
OCCASIONS.
THEY'VE SENT ME E-MAILS AND
LETTERS AND BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE.
I DIDN'T EXPECT TO SEE YOU HERE
TODAY, AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW
OVERWHELMED AND GRATEFUL I AM
THAT YOU SHOWED UP FOR LITTLE
OLD ME.
IT'S VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK
EVERYBODY.
THIS HAS REALLY BEEN A JOB OF A
LIFETIME.
TOM, I FORGOT ABOUT YOU THERE,
ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS
WHO CAME IN AND HELPED ME TO
LEARN THE CULTURE OF OUR EAST
AFRICAN COMMUNITIES, HOW TO
BETTER CONNECT BECAUSE IT'S SO
IMPORTANT AND JUST SO MANY OF
YOU.
I CAN GO ON FOR HOURS AND
HOURS.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M SAD
TO LEAVE IN SOME WAYS.
BUT WHEN IT'S TIME, IT'S TIME.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HANDING THAT
TORCH OVER TO ADRIAN DIAS.
BUT FOR NOW, THE MAYOR.
>> NOTE TO FILE, NEVER FOLLOW
THE CHIEF.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE FACING
UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGED, A
GLOBAL PANDEMIC THAT'S GETTING
WORSE WITH NO END IN SIGHT, AN
ECONOMIC CRISIS THAT HAS
DEVASTATED WORKERS AND SMALL
BUSINESSES AND PUT A SPOTLIGHT
ON THE DEEP, DEEP INEQUITIES IN
OUR ECONOMY AND A CIVIL RIGHTS
RECKONING THAT HAS MADE OUR
CITY CONFRONT AND ACKNOWLEDGE
AND TRULY ADDRESS THE
GENERATION AL HARMS CAUSED BY
SYSTEMIC RACISM.
IT'S BEEN A HARD, HARD YEAR.
AND TODAY IS A HARD DAY, BUT IT
IS THE DIFFICULT TIMES THAT WE
SEE THE TRUE MEDAL OF A PERSON,
THEIR COURAGE, THEIR GRIT,
THEIR COMPASSION, THEIR
MEGAWATT SMILE.
CARMEN BEST HAS BEEN ONE OF
THOSE LEADERS WHO HAS SHOWN UP
AND SHOWN WHAT SHE IS MADE OF.
I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT CARMEN
BEST WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD,
CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR WHAT IS
RIGHT, CONTINUE TO BE A VOICE
FOR EQUITY AND CHANGING
POLICING AND OTHER SYSTEMS THAT
HAVE PERP ETWAITED INEQUITIES
AND RACISM.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE SHE WILL NOT
DO IT HERE AS OUR CHIEF OF
POLICE.
SHE TOLD ME IT WAS TIME TO
RESIGN.
WE'VE HAD MANY COVERINGS OVER
THE PAST 3-WEEKS.
MY HEART IS HEAVY TO LOSE HER.
I HAVE TO ADMIT, I'M SAD SHE'S
NOT STAYING.
I ASKED IF SHE WOULD, BUT
ANYONE WHO KNOWS CARMEN BEST,
SHE THINKS THROUGH CONSEQUENCES
AND OWNS AND STANDS BY HER
CHOICES AND DECISIONS, AND I
RESPECT HER DECISION, INCLUDING
THE ONE SHE'S MADE TODAY.
IT IS ONE OF THEROPIES THAT I
THINK SEATTLE AND MYSELF WILL
MISHER SO MUCH HER CANNEDR AND
INTEGRITY AND HER GRIT.
I THINK IT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT
TO SAY SEATTLE WILL MISS YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THE LONG HOURS
AND SACRIFICES THAT YOU HAVE
MADE FOR DECADES TO MAKE OUR
CITY SAFER, FOR YOUR ACTS OF
KINDNESS AND LOVE TO THE
COMMUNITY.
THANKS FOR YOUR HUMANTER
THROUGH TOUGH TIMES AND
STEADFASTNESS TO GIVE THE CITY
AND ME YOUR BEST EFFORTS, YOUR
VERY BEST EFFORT, VERY BEST
ADVICE AND VERY BEST OPTIMISM
AND PASSION AND DEEP BELIEF IN
HUMANITY.
SHE LOVES THE CITY SHE SERVED.
SHE LOVES THE DEPARTMENT AND
HER OFFICERS.
SHE HAS FOUGHT TO KEEP HER
OFFICERS SAFE AND HEALTHY AND
GET THEM THE RESOURCED THEY
NEED.
SHE'S BEEN A ROLE MODEL FOR SO
MANY WOMEN.
ESPECIALLY YOUNG BLACK WOMEN
AND GIRL.
SHE DOES IT ALL WITH GRACE AND
SUCH A GREAT HUMILITY AND DEEP
LOVE.
SHE HAS TAKEN ON AN ENORMOUSLY
CHALLENGING JOB IN THE BEST OF
TIMES AND DONE IT IN THE MOST
CHALLENGING TIMES.
WE'VE GROWN AS A LARGE CITY
WITH BIGGER ISSUES.
SHE LED OUR CITY THROUGH GUN
VIOLENCE INCLUDING A MASS
SHOOTING.
SHE HAS BEEN UNWAVERING,
UNWAVERING IN HER COMMITMENT TO
REDUCE THE USE OF FORCE AND TO
BETTER SERVE THE BLACK
COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR.
SHE BELIEVES DEEPLY IN MAKING
SEATTLE A LEAD FOR THE BEST
POLICIES IN THE COUNTRY, NOT
BECAUSE THERE'S A CONSENT
DECREE, BUT BECAUSE IT'S THE
RIGHT THING TO DO.
AND SHE CREATED A GREAT
LEADERSHIP TEAM OF DIVERSE
INDIVIDUALS WITH GREAT
EXPERIENCE.
OFFICERS OF COLOR, LGBTQ AND
WOMEN, COMMANDERS WHO HAVE
WORKED IN EVERY PART OF THIS
CITY, AND FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS,
SHE HAS RECRUITED THE MOST
DIVERSE OFFICERS WE'VE HAD IN
THE HISTORY OF THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SHE HIRES AND PROMOTES BECAUSE
PEOPLE ARE GOOD.
SHE RESPECTS THEM AND GIVES
THEM THE AUTHORITY THEY NEED
AND THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO
DO THE JOB.
AND SHE HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE
TO A VERY HIGH BAR.
SHE UNDERSTANDS DEEPLY THE NEW
CHALLENGES FACING OFFICERS,
LIKE,SO MANY MORE PEOPLE IN
CRISIS ON OUR SEATTLE STREETS,
PEOPLE WHO NEED SOCIAL SERVICE,
PEOPLE WHO NEED HOUSING, MEAL
ASSISTANCE, CHILDCARE OR A
COUNSELOR.
MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT.
CARMEN BEST WAS THE RIGHT
PERSON WHO HELP REIMAGINE
POLICING IN THIS CITY.
IN RECENT WEEKS, SHE AND I
OUTLINED OUR VISIONS FOR THE
FUTURE OF THE DEPARTMENT.
BUT THEY WERE BASED ON HER
EXPERIENCE OR EXPERIENCE AS A
POLICE OFFICER AND HER LIFE
EXPERIENCE.
CHIEF BEST, HER LEADERSHIP AND
MANY OF HER OFFICERS WERE
ENGAGED TRULY ENGAGED IN DEEP
CONVERSATION WITH COMMUNITY TO
MAKE BETTER CHOICES FOR THE
DEPARTMENT AND FOR THE CITY, TO
THINK ABOUT HOW THEY COULD DO
THEIR JOBS BETTER AND SERVE THE
CITY BETTER AND WHAT RESOURCES
WE NEEDED BESIDES POLICE.
CHIEF BEST I THINK INVENTED THE
PHRASE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.
SHE ALREADY HAD THE SHARED
VISION FOR MORE COMMUNITY
POLICING.
UNDER HER LEADERSHIP, SHE
CREATED THE COLLABORATIVE
POLICING BUREAU, BROUGHT BACK
COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS,
ADDED MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS TO
OUR PRECINCT, FOCUSED ON
STRATEGIES TO REDUCE 911 CALLS
THAT NEEDED A RESPONSE INSTEAD
OF AN ARMED POLICE OFFICER.
AND SHE DID THIS ALL BEFORE
GEORGE FLOYD WAS MURDERED IN
MINNEAPOLIS BECAUSE SHE ALREADY
KNEW THE NEED THAT POLICING WAS
BASED ON COMMUNITY NEEDS.
SHE KNEW IT BECAUSE IT WAS HER
LIFE EXPERIENCE.
SHE BELIEVES IN SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
SHE HAS TRIED TO MAKE IT BETTER
AT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, FROM
THE MOMENT SHE WAS AN OFFICER
TO EVERY DAY AS CHIEF.
NO OFFICER AND NO DUTY THEY
HAVE TO PERFORM TO HER WAS EVER
A LINE ITEM IN A BUDGET.
SHE KNOWS THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO
SERVE THE DEPARTMENT AS PEOPLE.
AND SHE THINKS OF THEM AS
FAMILY.
SHE ALSO KNOWS AND UNDERSTANDS
THE MANY COMMUNITIES IN OUR
CITY.
SHE HAS VISITED THEM IN THEIR
CHURCHES, AT THEIR HOMES AND AT
TOO MANY COMMUNITY EVENTS
PROBABLY TO COUNT.
SHE UNDERSTANDS THE WORK OF
EVERY UNIT AND EVERY PATROL
SHIFT OF THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT IN EVERY PRECINCT.
SHE KNOWS THE CHALLENGES THEY
FACE, WHAT THEY NEED TO DO
THEIR JOBS AND HOW THEY CAN
BEST SERVE THE PEOPLE IN A
APPROPRIATE, CONSTITUTIONAL AND
COMMUNITY-BASED WAY.
THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE HAVE BEEN
HER FAMILY TOO, AND THAT'S WHY
TODAY HURTS FOR SO MANY OF US.
WHEN MOST OF THE CITY WAS
ASLEEP, CARMEN BEST WOULD BE UP
AT 3:00 A.M.
ROLE CALLS OR CALLING ME AT
3:00 A.M.
WITH UPDATES.
THE LATE NIGHTS, THE MISSED
FAMILY OR SCHOOL EVENTS ARE
PROBABLY TOO MANY TO COUNT.
THOUGH RUMOR HAS IT, SHE WAS A
VUCIFEROUS FAN WHEN HER
DAUGHTERS PLAYED BASKETBALL,
AND HAVING BEEN TO THE GAMES, I
KNOW IT'S TRUE.
CHIEF BEST, MAKE NO MISTAKE
ABOUT IT, SET A VERY HIGH BAR
FOR EVERY POLICE OFFICER IN THE
FILE.
SHE EXPECTED FROM THEM WHAT SHE
EXPECTED AND DID FOR HERSELF,
COURAGE, INTEGRITY AND
HONORABLE SERVICE.
TO THE RESIDENTS AND
BUSINESSES, YOUNG PEOPLE AND
CITY COUNCIL, I HOPE WE CAN
FIND A BETTER PATH, A BETTER
PATH FORWARD THAN THE ABSOLUTE
BREAKDOWN OF COLLABORATION AND
CIVIL DIALOGUE WE HAVE SEEN IN
RECENT WEEKS.
OF ALL THE MAJOR CITIES IN
AMERICA, SEATTLE HAD THE CHIEF
THAT NOT ONLY UNDERSTANDS THE
LIVED EXPERIENCE OF BLACK
AMERICA BECAUSE IT IS HER
EXPERIENCE BUT HAS THE DEEP
EXPERIENCE IN POLICING NEEDED
TO CHANGE IT.
WE HAD THE CHIEF, THAT NOT ONLY
BELIEVEDS IN THE IMPORTANCE OF
REIMAGINING POLICING, SHE WAS
THE PERSON AND PROBABLY STILL
WILL BE THE PERSON THAT HELPS
LEAD THE WAY FOR OUR NATION.
WE HAVE THAT CHIEF THAT
UNDERSTANDS EVERY NEED OF THE
DEPARTMENT AND HOW YOU CAN GET
TO UNDERSTANDING SYSTEMIC
CHANGE.
EVEN IN THE MIDST OF A
PANDEMIC, I HOPE WE CAN FIND
COMMON GROUND.
I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT IT'S BEEN
MYSTIFYING TO WATCH THE CITY
COUNCIL TO PLOW AHEAD WITHOUT
TALKING TO HER AND LISTENING TO
HER OR LISTEN TO HER PLEAS OF
TARGETS.
NOT JUST TARGET BUT HAVE A PLAN
THAT FOCUSES ON DUTY AND
MISSION AND OUTCOME.
THAT'S WHY IT WAS BOTH
INFURIATING AND DEEPLY
DISAPPOINTING THAT THE DAY
AFTER THE CHIEF STOOD IN THIS
ROOM AND CRITICIZED THE
COUNCIL'S APPROACH, OFFERED HER
OWN APPROACH AND VISION, THE
VERY NEXT DAY, THEY VOTED TO
SLASH HER SALARY AND THE
SALARIES OF HER WHOLE TEAM.
THIS IS PROBABLY THE WORST
BUDGET CLIMATE OUR CITY HAS
EVER FACED, BUT IN REBALANCING
THE BUDGET, THE CITY COUNCIL
DID NOT CUT ANY OTHER
DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR'S SALARY.
THEY DID NOT CUT ANY OF THE
DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP TEAM'S
SALARY.
THEY DID NOT CUT THEIR OWN
SALARY OR THE SALARY OF ANYONE
WORKING FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.
THEY TARGETED ONLY CARMEN BEST.
THEY TARGETED THE TEAM SHE
ASSEMBLED, AND THEY DID IT
DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY KNOW
IT'S NOT ENFORCEABLE, IT'S NOT
LEGAL, AND SPOILER ALERT, THE
CHARTER ALLOWS ME TO HONOR THE
AGREEMENTS THAT CHIEF BEST HAS
MADE.
AND I PLAN TO DO SO, BUT IT'S
NOT ABOUT THE MONEY.
THAT WAS A FINAL STRAW.
IT'S ABOUT RESPECT.
IT'S ABOUT LISTENING TO SOMEONE
WHO IS THERE WITH SOME ANSWERS
AND WITH THE LIVED EXPERIENCE
TO HELP SEATTLE MOVE FORWARD.
SO MY MESSAGE TO THE CITY
COUNCIL IS I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN,
AND I REMAIN WILLING TO WORK
WITH YOU.
I PROPOSED A JOINT EFFORT TO
ENGAGE SEATTLE, ALL OF SEATTLE.
ENGAGE THEM IN DEEP
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FUTURE
OF POLICING, HOW WE IN SEATTLE
CAN BETTER LEAD AND LEAD THE
NATION AND NOT JUST ADMITTING
BUT ACTUALLY CHANGING THE
DEEPLY RACIST SYSTEMS.
THIS CONVERSATION MUST BE
CENTERED ON THE VOICES OF THE
DEEPLY IMPACTED COMMUNITIES.
THESE COVERINGS ARE HARD, BUT
THE WORK IS EVEN HARDER.
THERE IS NOT A QUICK FIX.
THERE IS NO ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL
SOLUTIONS.
THIS IS JUST HARD, PAINFUL
WORK.
BASED ON A WILLINGNESS TO SEE
AND TO TRUST IN OUR COMMON
HUMANITY.
THE CAUSE IS URGENT.
THE PAIN IS DEEP, AND THE NEED
FOR FEROCITY IS REAL, BUT THE
ROAD IS LONG, AND THE EFFORTS
MUST BE SUSTAINED.
WE MUST REACH BACK AND
ACKNOWLEDGE THE GENERATIONS OF
PAIN AND SUFFERING AND
INJUSTICE, BUT WE MUST LOOK
FORWARD TO A PLACE WHERE THAT
IS REPLACED WITH HEALING, TRUE
EQUITY AND LOVE AND RESPECT.
COUNCIL, IF YOU WANT TO GO FAR,
WE HAVE TO GO TOGETHER.
THE WORK WE ARE DOING IS FAR
TOO IMPORTANT.
AND I KNOW THIS WORK WILL
CONTINUE.
CHIEF, YOU HAVE LEFT BEHIND A
GREAT TEAM, AND ONE OF THE
GREATEST IS ADRIAN DIAS.
IT'S WHY I'M GOING TO BE
APPOINTING HIM AS THE CHIEF IN
SEPTEMBER.
HE SERVED NEARLY 2 DECADES IN
THE DEPARTMENT.
DEPUTY CHIEF DIAS HAS LED THE
POLICING BUREAU, AND WILL WORK
WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO
PROTECT THEM AND REIMAGINE
POLICING.
AND ANYONE WHO HAS SEEN ADRIAN
IN ANY COMMUNITY EVENT KNOW HOW
DEEP HIS ROOTS GO.
THEY ALL KNOW HIM, AND HE KNOWS
THEM, THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
I AM CERTAIN THAT HE WILL
CONTINUE THIS HARD WORK TO
REALLY HONOR AND CENTER BLACK
LIVES, TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS
DEPARTMENT CONTINUES AND
CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVES.
HE'S BEEN A CAREER ELEVATING
THE VOICES OF YOUNG PEOPLE, AND
I'M GRATEFUL HE'S WILLING TO
MEET THESE CHALLENGES IN
CHALLENGING TIMES.
MAKE NO MISTAKE, HE'S NOT CHIEF
BEST.
HE'S HIS OWN PERSON, BUT HE IS
COMMITTED TO THE SAME VALUES
AND MAKE SURE OUR RANKING FILE
IS HELD TO THE HIGHEST BAR AND
HAVE THE BACKING TO DO THEIR
JOBS.
AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK CHIEF
BEST AND ASK CHIEF DIASTO TAKE
THE STAND.
>> I HAVE TO GET MY GLASSES
OUT.
I KNOW I HAVE BIG FONT, BUT FOR
SOME REASON I'M STILL LEARNING
I CAN'T SEE VERY WELL, EVEN
MORE SO.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
FIRST I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
TO THE MAYOR FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I'VE BEEN BLESSED TO BE
SURROUNDED BY AND LEARN FROM
SOME OF THE BEST CRIMINAL
JUSTICE LEADERS IN THE COUNTRY.
BUT IT HAS BEEN THE HIGHEST
PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO SERVE
UNDER CHIEF CARMEN BEST.
SHE'S BEEN A GREAT MENTOR,
FRIEND AND CHIEF.
HER LEADERSHIP IS TRULY THE
BEST, AS YOU WOULD SAY.
WE ARE A BETTER DEPARTMENT AND
CITY BECAUSE OF HER SERVICE TO
THE COMMUNITY AND HER TIME AS A
CHIEF.
WE, AND I WILL CERTAINLY MISS
YOU.
YOUR LOVE FOR THIS DEPARTMENT,
YOUR CONNECTION AND CARING FOR
THE COMMUNITY, YOUR BALANCE
SUPPORT AS A FRIEND, YOU TRULY
PUT YOUR ENTIRE SELF INTO THIS
JOB, AND YOU'VE DEFINITELY
AROUND SOME TIME OFF.
SO THANK YOU.
OUR DEPARTMENT HAS HAD ROUGH
TIMES DURING MY CAREER.
BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS THE MOST
CHALLENGING TIME IN OUR
HISTORY.
REENVISIONING PUBLIC SAFETY,
DEFUNDING THE POLICE, AND A
DISCUSSION OF RURAL RACE PLACES
ALL OF OUR GOVERNMENTAL
SYSTEMS.
THESE ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF
OUR CURRENT CHALLENGES.
THIS COUNTRY HAS WRESTLED WITH
SLAVERY AND RACISM SINCE ITS
INCEPTION.
EVERY ASEXPECT OF OUR SOCIETY
INCLUDING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM CARRIES DISPARITIES
ROOTED WITH IT IN THAT RACISM.
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
IS COMMITTED TO TRANSFORMING
PUBLIC SAFETY INTO A MODEL THAT
IS EQUITABLE AND JUST FOR ALL.
THIS WILL NOT BE DONE IN A
VACUUM.
MY COMMITMENT TO YOU TODAY IS
TO INCLUDE THE COLLECT VOICES
IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS TO
COME.
DURING THE COURSE OF MY 23-YEAR
CAREER, THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT HAS AULDS EVOLVED.
THIS IS BECAUSE THE AMAZING
OFFICERS WERE DEVOTED TO MAKING
A DIFFERENCE.
KNOWING ALL OF THE TRAGEDY AND
UNPREDICT ABILITY INHERENT IN
POLICING, THE OFFICERS STILL
SIGN UP.
THEY DOESN'T TO PUT THEMSELVES
IN HARM'S WAY AND ALWAYS RUN
TOWARDS DANGER.
OUR OFFICERS ARE PLEDGED TO BE
PART OF THE COMMUNITY, AND
THEY'RE COMMITTED TO REFORM.
THEY'RE SECOND TO NONE.
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS
UNDER THE CONSENT DECREE, THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS
CONTINUED TO SERVE AS A MODEL
OF THE HIGHEST STANDARDS IN OUR
PROFESSION.
WE HAVE A SYSTEM OF ACCOUNT
ABILITY INCLUDING IN-CAR VIDEO
AND BODY CAMERAS.
WE HAVE THE MOST ROBUST SYSTEM
WHICH INCLUDES THE POLICE
ACADEMY OF ACCOUNT ABILITY AND
OFFICER INSPECTOR GENERAL AND
THE POLICE COMMISSION.
WE ALSO HAVE THE MONITORING
TEAM, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
AND THE HONORABLE JAMES.
OUR DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO
ENHANCE OUR TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNT ABILITY EFFORTS.
WE DEMONSTRATED THAT THE
FOREMIND SET IS BAKED IN HOW WE
DO OUR WORK, AND HAVING DE-
ESCALATION, CRISIS INTERVENTION
AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
DESPITE THESE ADVANCES, WE KNOW
MUCH MORE IS DEMANDED OF US.
THIS WORK WILL CONTINUE, AND IT
WILL NOT STOP.
I KNOW THAT WE NEED TO REBUILD
THE TRUST WITH MANY OF YOU.
WE ARE LISTENING TO YOU.
WE HEAR YOU.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO EVOLVE AND
IMPROVE.
WE WILL MOVE FORWARD DESIGNING
A PUBLIC SAFETY MODEL THAT HAS
THE RIGHT RESOURCES TO RESPOND
TO CRIME AND TO ALLOW US TO
NURTURE THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT
ARE NECESSARY TO SUPPORT A SAFE
AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO RIDE AND
EXSEAT THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE
PEOPLE WE SERVE.
WE MUST BE UNITED AS WE ADDRESS
OUR BIG CITY ISSUES.
WE ARE UNITED WITH THE BIG
THREE ON OUR PATCH, SERVICE,
PRIDE AND DEDICATION.
THANK YOU, AND I WOULD LIKE TO
TURN IT OVER TO THE MAYOR.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, AS
EVERYONE KNOWS, WE WOULD WE
WILL DO FOLLOWUP QUESTIONS
TODAY.
I WILL READ YOUR NAME, AND THEN
LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE A
FOLLOWUP.
OUR FIRST WILL COME FROM DID HE
DID HE AND FOLLOWED BY CHRIS
SANDERS FOR KING 5. DID DEE
DEE, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> WE LOST YOU DEE D ERSH E.
>> CAN YOU START OVER?
>> Reporter: YEAH.
IF CHIEF ASKED FOR YOUR HELP
NOW OR EVEN UP UNTIL THE LAST
DAY, WOULD YOU WORK WITH THEM,
AND WHAT KIND OF ADVICE WOULD
YOU GIVE NOW, AND I DO HAVE A
FOLLOWUP?
>> YEAH.
CONTINUE WOULD NOT BE THE RIGHT
QUESTION BECAUSE WE NEVER
STARTED THE DIALOGUE.
TURNING IT OVER TO THE CHIEF IS
HIS ROLE.
I LOVE THE CITY.
I LOVE THE DEPARTMENT.
I WOULD DO ANYTHING I CAN ON
THAT END.
>> DE, DEE.
>> Reporter: THANK YOU, CHIEF.
I THINK MY FOLLOWUP.
EVERYONE IS WONDERING IF IT WAS
SOMETHING SPECT OR THE DRAW
THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK.
WAS IT SOMETHING THAT REALLY
SEALED IT IN FOR YOU THAT
REALLY CONTRIBUTED TOWARDS YOUR
DECISION OF RETIRING?
>> NO.
THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I WASREFLECTING ON THE
DECISION.
IT'S A LOT OF THINGS, A
COMBINATION OF THINGS.
I THINK IT'S BECAUSE IT HAD
SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE
SALARY, BUT NO ONE JOINS THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT TO GET RICH.
I'M GOING TO SAY THAT RIGHT
NOW.
I WOULD HAVE CHOSEN A DIFFERENT
PROFESSION IF MONEY WAS THE
MOTIVATOR.
BUT THE THING FOR ME, AND I
SAID IT MULTIPLE TIMES, I THINK
WE NEEDED TO HAVE A PLAN MOVING
FORWARD.
IT WAS HIGHLY DISAPPOINTING TO
NOT SEE THAT.
I'M GOING TO READ AN E-MAIL
THAT I GOT JUST LAST NIGHT, THE
ONLY E-MAIL THAT BROUGHT TEARS
TO MY EYES.
BUT IT WAS REALLY SOMETHING, SO
THIS OFFICER SENDS ME THIS E-
MAIL.
THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE
FOR ME PERSONALLY AND FOR THIS
DEPARTMENT.
I'VE FINALLY BEEN HIRED AFTER
APPLYING FOR 5 YEARS.
AND I WAS ECSTATIC THAT IT WAS
UNDER YOUR COMMAND.
BEING AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALE
WITH YOU AS MY CHIEF MADE THE
FACT THAT I HAD SERVED MY
COUNTRY UNDER THE HONORABLE
BARACK OBAMA THAT MUCH SWEETER.
I REMEMBER MEETING HIM.
HIS NAME IS MARCUS JONES.
HE WAS DOING TEMPERATURE CHECKS
IN THE BUILDING, AND WE SHOOK
HANDS.
AND WE TALKED.
A GREAT YOUNG MAN, TALL, STOUT,
WONDERFUL AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAN.
AND HE IS ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO
PROBABLY WILL NOT KEEP A JOB
HERE.
AND THAT FOR ME, I'M DONE.
CAN'T DO IT.
SO THAT'S YOUR ANSWER.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
NEXT QUESTION WILL COME FROM
CHRIS DANIELS FOLLOWED BY CHRIS
CUT.
CHRIS, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> Reporter: CHIEF, I WANT TO
FOLLOW UP ON YOUR LAST ANSWER.
WOULD YOUR DECISION BE
DIFFERENT TODAY IF THE COUNCIL
DIDN'T APPROVE TO CUT YOUR PAY
BY 40% OR IF PROTESTERS DIDN'T
ARRIVE AT YOUR HOUSE?
WOULD YOUR DECISION BE
DIFFERENT TODAY?
>> CHRIS, I THINK I ANSWERED
THAT, BUT I'M HAPPY TO SAY IT
AGAIN AND REPEAT.
I MEAN, BE REAL.
I HAVE A LOT THICKER SKIN THAN
THAT.
IT REALLY IS ABOUT THE
OVERARCHING LACK OF RESPECT FOR
THE OFFICERS, THE MEN AND WOMEN
WHO WORK SO HARD DAY IN ASK DAY
OUT.
AND HONESTLY, THE IDEA OF
LETTING, AFTER WE WORKED SO
INCREDIBLE HARD, TO MAKE SURE
THAT OUR DEPARTMENT WAS
DIVERSE, THAT REFLECTS THE
COMMUNIT THAT WE SERVE, TO
JUST TURN THAT ALL ON A TIME
AND HACK IT OFF WITHOUT HAVING
A PLAN IN PLACE TO MOVE
FORWARD, IT'S HIGHLY
DISTRESSFUL FOR ME.
AND I REALLY, YOU KNOW, IT GOES
AGAINST MY PRINCIPLES AND MY
CONVICTION.
AND I REALLY COULDN'T DO IT.
I WAS HONESTLY REFLECTIVE ABOUT
IT.
BUT I CARE ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE,
AND THAT WAS REALLY HARD FOR
ME.
I'LL MISYOU TOO, CHRIS.
>> CHRIS, DID YOU HAVE A
FOLLOWUP?
>> Reporter: YES.
MY FOLLOWUP WOULD BE ALONG THE
LINES FOR THE MAYOR REGARDING
-- AND I REALIZE THAT CHIEF
DIAS IS STANDING TO YOUR LEFT,
BUT THERE IS TALK ABOUT A
NATIONAL SEARCH, SEARCHING FOR
A REPLACEMENT.
HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT THAT?
HOW DO YOU SELL SEATTLE WHEN
YOU HAVE A MASSIVE BUDGET GAP
AND YOU HAVE AN AGREEMENT THAT
THERE ARE GOING TO BE CUTS FROM
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
AND YOU HAVE FEDERAL OVERSIGHT.
I MEAN, HOW DO YOU SELL THIS
JOB TO PEOPLE RIGHT NOW?
>> SO THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT
QUESTIONS.
I THINK CHIEF BEST SAID IT BEST
THAT THIS JOB WAS A JOB AND
DREAM OF A LIFETIME, AND
LEADING THIS DEPARTMENT IS A
GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR
ANYONE.
THAT BEING SAID, I HAVE NO
PLANS TO BEGIN A SEARCH THIS
YEAR.
I THINK WE HAVE TO MAKE IT
THROUGH THE BUDGET SEASON.
WE HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE COUNCIL
IS WILLING TO DO FOR THIS
DEPARTMENT IN THE LONGREN
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, NO ONE WOULD
KNOW WHAT JOB THEY'RE APPLYING
FOR.
AS WE REIMAGINE POLICING, WE
HAVE TO BE HONEST THAT IT HAS
TO BE A ROLE FOR POLICE.
WE NEED THAT FOR COMMUNITY
SAFETY.
WE NEED THE OTHER THINGS TOO.
AND I HAVE BEEN SAYING IT, AND
THE CHIEF HAS BEEN SAYING IT.
WE BELIEVE IN THAT VISION WHERE
WE CAN HAVE DIFFERENT KINDS OF
RESPONSES TO HELP PEOPLE.
AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT
FOR 2 YEARS LIKE THE CREATION
OF HEALTH ONE.
BUT AT THIS TIME, IT WOULD NOT
BE WISE TO START A PROCESS TO
LOOK FOR A CHIEF BECAUSE NO.
1 THE CHALLENGES ARE GREAT,
BUT, AGAIN, WHAT JOB WOULD THEY
BE APPLYING FOR.
I HOPE COUNCIL WILL COME WITH
US, AND WE CAN COLLABORATE ON
WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE TOGETHER,
CENTERED ON THE VOICE OF
COMMUNITY, BUT THAT WILL BE
THEIR PART.
MY PART AS MAYOR AND WITH THE
CHIEF, WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
OR THANK YOU, MAYOR.
OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL COME
FROM DAVID AND FOLLOWED BY
SEATTLE TIMES DAVID, THE FLOOR
IS YOURS.
>> Reporter: CHIEF BEST,
CLEARLY YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT
THE DIRECTION OF THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
WHY NOT STICK AROUND AND
CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU
WANT THE DEPARTMENT TO LOOK
LIKE?
>> YEAH, DAVID.
I THINK THAT'S A VERY
THOUGHTFUL QUESTION.
YOU KNOW, AND I'M TRYING TO
EXPRESS THAT AS ELOQUENTLY AS I
CAN, BUT AT SOME POINT, EVERY
LEADER HAS TO RECOGNIZE WHEN
YOU'VE HIT THE POINT WHERE
YOU'RE MAYBE NOT ABLE TO MOVE
THE NEEDLE FORWARD FOR THE MEN
AND WOMEN OF THE ORGANIZATION.
I REALLY DON'T WANT THE ANIMUS
THAT HAS BEEN DIRECTED TOWARDS
ME TO EFFECT THE PEOPLE WHO
WORK FOR ME.
TARGETING MY COMMAND STAFF AND
THEIR PAY, YOU KNOW, IT JUST
FELT VERY VINDICATEIVE AND VERY
PUNITIVE.
AND I DON'T WANT THEM TO BE
AFFECTED BY THAT TYPE OF --
THAT TYPE OF ANIMUS.
SO I HAD TO MAKE SOME
DECISIONS.
AGAIN, I WAS VERY THOUGHTFUL
ABOUT IT.
I HAD A GREAT CAREER.
I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE LIKE A
WAKE.
IT'S BEEN 28 YEARS, WONDERFUL
THINGS, GREAT RELATIONSHIPS,
WONDERFUL COMMUNITY MEMBERS, A
GREAT ORGANIZATION, A WONDERFUL
COMMAND STAFF.
SO I DON'T WANT TO OVERREFLECT
ON THE COUNCIL.
THIS IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE
MOVE FORWARD.
AND IT'S JUST TIME TO PUT FRESH
EYES ON IT AND A FRESH
PERSPECTIVE.
SO I'M VERY COMFORTABLE WITH
THAT.
>> Reporter: YEAH.
YOU THINK IT HAS IN PART TO DO
WITH YOU?
>> YEAH.
I THINK I'M ON THE RECORD
SAYING THAT MULTIPLE TIMES.
THEY ASKED THE QUESTION OVER
AND OVER.
I SAID IT MULTIPLE TIMES.
I DEFINITELY THINK IT'S
PERSONAL, BUT I'M STEPPING OUT
OF THE WAY AND FOCUSING ON WHAT
WILL HELP THE ORGANIZATION AND
THE CITY MOVE FORWARD.
THAT'S WHERE I'M AT.
>> OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL COME
FROM DAN BEAKMAN AND FOLLOWED BY
SEATTLE TIMES.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> Reporter: THANK AS FOLLOWUP
FOR THE CHIEF IF POSSIBLE.
WHEN YOU SAID YOU COULDN'T DO
IT, IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU WERE
REFERRING TO LAYING OFF
OFFICERS AND NEW RECRUITS.
IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID WHEN YOU
SAID I COULDN'T DO IT?
>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I MEANT.
YOU KNOW, MY HEART HAS BEEN IN
THIS FOR A LONG TIME, AND SOME
OUR RECRUITSERS ARE HERE RIGHT
NOW.
WE WORKED SO HARD.
WE HAD A GOOD CAMPAIGN.
THE COUNCIL GAVE US 1.6 MILLION
$1.6 MILLION TO MAKE SURE WE
HIRED THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST
AND MOST DIVERSE AND BROUGHT
THEM ON.
AND LESS THAN A YEAR LATER,
WE'RE GOING TO TURN THEM ALL
AWAY.
IT FEELS VERY DUPLISITOUS, AND
I HAVE MY CONVICTIONS.
I CAN'T DO THAT.
>> Reporter: MAYBE YOU SORT OF
HINTED AT THIS WITH YOUR ANSWER
TO DAVID ON THIS APPEAL LIKE A
WAKE.
MAYBE I'M MISINTERPRETING, BUT
IT FEELS LIKE A WEIGHT HAS BEEN
LIFTED OFF OF YOU.
>> YEAH.
THAT'S ONE WAY TO PUT IT.
WHAT WILL I MISS?
I WILL MISS THE PEOPLE.
BUT I DON'T THINK I'LL MISS
PUTTING ON THIS HEAVY WOOL
UNIFORM EVER AGAIN.
I'VE DONE WHAT I CAN DO.
I'M LEAVING THE ORGANIZATION IN
A GOOD SPOT.
THE MAYOR WILL CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT US THE CHIEF IS GREAT.
THE COMMAND TEAM IS GREAT.
THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT IS
OUTSTANDING.
SO WE'RE IN A GOOD SPOT
OVERALL.
I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVER THAT.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL COME
FROM BRANDY CRUISE FROM Q13.
BRANDY, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> Reporter: HI, CHIEF.
MY FIRST QUESTION IS FOR YOU,
AND I WILL HAVE A FOLLOWUP FOR
CHIEF DIAS.
>> OKAY.
>> Reporter: IT SOUNDS LIKE
YOU'RE ON AN HONEST BLUNT KICK.
I WANT TO ASK, CHIEF, WHAT DO
YOU BELIEVE TRULY IN THEIR
HEARTS IS DRIVING THE DECISION
THAT THEY'RE MAKING?
>> YOU KNOW, BRANDY, I CAN'T
ANSWER THAT.
THE BEST THING FOR SOMEONE TO
ANSWER WHAT THE COUNCIL IS UP
TO IS THCOUNCIL.
I JUST REALLY DON'T KNOW.
>> Reporter: AND TO CHIEF DIAS,
TO YOU, WE JUST HEARD FROM
CHIEF BEST THAT SHE FELT LIKE
HER CONVICTIONS COULDN'T BEAR
TO SEE THE DEPARTMENT LET GO OF
SOME OF THESE YOUNG OFFICERS
AND TO HAVE TO BE PART OF THAT.
FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WILL
NOW FALL ON YOU.
AND THESE CUTS THAT THE COUNCIL
HAS SUGGESTED, AND THAT'S WHAT
THEY ARE, SUGGESTIVE IN TERMS
OF THE SPECIFIC CAUGHT AND
THINGS LIKE THAT.
THE CHIEF SAID SHE COULDN'T DO
IT.
HOW WILL YOU GO ABOUT DOING IT?
>> I GOT TO MOVE THE DEPARTMENT
FORWARD.
THESE WILL BE ROUGH TIMES.
LAYING OFF ANYBODY WITH A
FAMILY OR KIDS, IT WILL BE A
HARD TIME.
BUT WE'VE GOT TO PROVIDE
COMMUNITY SAFETY AND A SAFE AND
HEALTHY COMMUNITY.
SO RIGHT NOW, THAT'S WHAT MY
COMMITMENT IS.
WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE VERY TOUGH
DECISIONS.
WE HAVE THE RIGHT DEMAND STAFF
THAT IS AVAILABLE TO REALLY SIT
DOWN AND FIGURE OUT WHAT
THOUGHTFUL AND HOW WE CAN MOVE
THIS FORWARD.
AND WE ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER
THAT FOR THE CITY COUNCIL THAT
WHILE THEY CAN PROPOSE CERTAIN
POSITIONS BEING CUT OUT OF
CERTAIN UNITS, ULTIMATELY, IT
DOES FALL ON THE CHIEF OF
POLICE.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE WILL
HAVE TO EVALUATE MOVING
FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM
PAUL AND FOLLOWED BY MATT.
PAUL, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> Reporter: HELLO.
THIS IS FOR THE MAYOR,
ACTUALLY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
MAYOR, HOW WILL THE ABSENCE OF
A PERMANENT CHIEF IMPACT THE
NEGOTIATIONS OF SPA?
>> IT WON'T.
>> FOLLOWUP.
>> Reporter: ALL RIGHT.
SO THEN CAN YOU ELABORATE UPON
YOUR REASON FOR NOT BEGINNING
THE SEARCH FOR A NEW CHIEF
UNTIL SOMEWHAT, SOMETIME LATER
NEXT YEAR OR EVEN LATER THAN
THAT?
>> THE BUDGETING POLICE
DEPARTMENT RELATED TO THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS
BEEN NOT BASED ON COLLABORATION
AND VERY UNPREDICTABLE.
IF WE STARTED A SEARCH RIGHT
NOW, I DOUBT WE COULD ATTRACT
THE CANDIDATES THAT SEATTLE
DESERVES BECAUSE THEY DON'T
KNOW WHAT THEY'RE APPLYING FOR.
WE HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE BUDGET
IS LOOKING LIKE AND HAVE A DEEP
ENGAGEMENT TO SEE HOW POLICING
IS GOING TO LOOK THROUGH THE
NEXT GENERATIONS.
WE CAN LEAD THE NATION IN THIS.
WHEN PEOPLE CALL 911, WE DO IT
TO GET THEM THE HELP THEY NEED.
IF THEY NEED A SOCIAL WORKER OR
MENTAL HEALTHCARE WORKER OR
SOMETHING TO HELP THEM ON
COMMUNITY WELLNESS, WE WANT
THEM TO GET THAT.
BUT IF THEY NEED A POLICE
OFFICER AND IT'S 2:00 A.M.,
EVERY PART OF THE CITY DESERVES
THAT RESPONSE, AND WE'RE GOING
TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL COME
FROM MATT AND FOLLOWED BY
HANNAH SCOTT.
MATT, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
.
>> Reporter: THANK YOU,
ANTHONY.
THIS IS A QUESTION FOR THE
CHIEF.
I KNOW WE'RE IN SUCH A
CONTROVERSIAL AND DIFFICULT
TIME.
YOU'RE LY 2 YEARS INTO THE JOB,
AND I KNOW YOU SAID IT'S TIME
WHICH SOUNDS VERY CLICHE, AND
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING YOU
ABOUT THAT TIPPING POINT
DECISION, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE
THE COUNCIL HAS DEFEATED YOU
AND THAT YOU COULDN'T DO THE
JOB ANYMORE.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN?
>> YEAH.
THAT'S ALL A MATTER OF
PERSPECTIVE AND SEMAPTICS.
EVERYONE WILL CATEGORIZE IT THE
WAY THEY WANT TO.
I JUST STAND BEFORE YOU AND
TELLING THE TRUTH.
I REALLY DID SELF-REFLECTION.
I THOUGHT IT WAS TIME.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE
DEPARTMENT WAS IN GOOD HANDS
AND THAT WE COULD MOVE FORWARD
AND CREATE THE DIALOGUE THAT
NEEDS TO OCCUR, SO WE CAN HAVE
TRUE PUBLIC SAFETY AND
REENVISION HOW WE'RE DOING
THINGS AND MAKE SURE WE'RE
MOVING FORWARD.
AND I CAN WE CAME TO AN IMPASS
THAT WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.
THAT'S NOT BEING DEFEATED.
I THINK THAT'S LEADERSHIP AND
BEING SMART.
THE DEFINITION OF CRAZY IS
DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND
OVER AND THINKING YOU WILL GET
DIFFERENT RESULT.
I THINK WE NEEDED FRESH EYES
AND FRESH LEADERSHIP.
AND I'M COMFORTABLE WITH WHERE
I AM.
>> Reporter: THEY MADE
SUGGESTIVE CUTS.
YOU STILL HAD TO THE AUTHORITY
TO EXERCISE THE YOU WANT.
WHY DEPENDENT YOU STAY ON AND
DO WHAT YOU WOULD DO WITH THE
MONEY YOU'RE GIVEN.
>> IT WOULD STILL RESULT IN
QULAIFS.
I DIDN'T WANT TO GO DOWN THAT
ROAD.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO MOVE
FORWARD IN A WAY THAT BENEFITS
EVERYBODY.
I HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE.
I'M WALKING AWAY.
I WILL TELL YOU IT'S SO
IMPORTANT TO ME THAT THIS
ORGANIZATION AND THIS CITY HAS
GOOD LEADERSHIP AND THAT WE'RE
NOT POLITICAL GRANDSTANDING AND
POLITICS AND ALL OF THAT.
YOU KNOW, I'M DONE WITH THAT.
I REALLY WANT TO SEE THE CITY
MOVE FORWARD AND THINGS THAT
ARE REALLY BASED ON THOUGHTFUL
DIALOGUE, THOUGHTFUL DECISION-
MAKING, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE
PLAN, WHERE ARE WE GOING, HOW
ARE WE GOING TO GET THERE.
YOU CAN'T DO THAT IN A VACUUM.
IF I'M AN INHIBITOR TO THAT, I
WILL MOVE AWAY, AND I'M MORE
THAN HAPPY TO DO IT.
I MEAN THAT.
I HAVE HAD SO MUCH FUN.
I'M TOTALLY COMFORTABLE WITH
WHERE WE ARE.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM
HANNAH SCOTT.
HANNAH, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> Reporter: HERE WE GO. HI.
GOOD MORNING, CHIEF BEST.
THIS NEWS, AS I STARTED SHARING
IT LAST NIGHT OF YOUR
RETIREMENT.
I'VE HEARD FROM SO MANY PEOPLE,
ELDERS IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY
WHO DON'T FEEL LIKE THEIR
VOICES HAVE BEEN HEARD, TO THE
GIRLS WHO LOOKED UP TO YOU
DURING THIS PROCESS AND A
REALLY LARGE PORTION OF THE
CITY, IT SEEMS LIKE A
COLLECTIVE GUT PUNCH.
THEY BELIEVE YOU WERE THE CHIEF
TO LEAD THE CITY AND WHO GOES
HARD FOR EVERYONE.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO ALL OF
THOSE PEOPLE?
>> I WOULD SAY THAT THIS CITY
IS GOING TO BE JUST FINE.
THAT WE HAVE GOOD LEADERSHIP
HERE.
WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.
I'VE DONE WHAT I CAN DO.
I'VE TAKEN IT WHERE I THINK I
NEED TO.
I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVER AND HAVE
TOTAL CONFIDENCE IN CHIEF
DIASAND MY COMMAND TEAM AND THE
PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN THE
CITY TO SUPPORT HIM, TO SUPPORT
THE PLARM, TO MAKE SOUND
DECISIONS UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF
OUR MAYOR.
SO I'M WALKING AWAY IN MANY
WAYS FEELING GOOD ABOUT WHERE
WE'RE LEAVING IT AND REALLY
FEELING BRIGHT ABOUT THE FUTURE
AND WHERE IT CAN GO.
>> Reporter: AND I HAVE JUST A
QUICK FOLLOWUP, AND I WOULD
LOVE TO HEAR FROM ALL THREE,
CHIEF DIAS, CHIEF BEST AND THE
MAYOR AT THIS TIME.
AND WE'VE HEARD WHAT SEEMS TO
HAVE TRANSPIRED OVER THE LAST
36 COUNCIL FROM THE OF WHAT
TRANSPIRED.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THOSE
OFFICERS?
>> I WOULD SAY WHAT I SAID.
WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH GOOD TIMES
AND BAD, UPS AND DOWNS, ROUGH
SPOTS AND EASY SPOTS.
THIS IS A ROUGH SPOT, BUT WE'VE
ALWAYS GOTTEN THROUGH IT AND
ENDED UP IN A BETTER SPOT IN A
BETTER PLACE.
I REMEMBER HOW TERRIBLE WE
THOUGHT IT ALL WAS.
BUT WE WORKED THROUGH IT AND
COME OUT WITH AN ORGANIZATION
THAT JUST HAS LEAPS AND BOUNDS
UPON WHERE WE STARTED.
DE-ESCALATION, ROBUSTNESS.
WE WILL GET THROUGH IT.
WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE
HAVE STEADFASTNESS AND
RESILIENCE.
>> I THINK THAT'S A GREAT
QUESTION.
I SENT A NOTE TO THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL.
WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS AND BE
STRONG.
ANYONE WHO KNOWS CARMEN BEST
KNOWS SHE AIN'T A QUITTER.
THIS AIN'T ABOUT QUITTING.
SHE'S STEPPING OUT OF THE WAY
BECAUSE SHE'S DOING WHAT SHE
THINKS IS BEST FOR THE
DEPARTMENT.
AND PROVE THAT WE CAN GET
THROUGH THIS AND IMPROVE.
IT HAS BEEN HARD.
I'VE NEVER SEEN A TIME IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE WHERE WE HAVE
EVENTS WHERE SO MANY OFFICERS
GET INJURED, AND NO ONE ON CITY
COUNCIL CALLS TO ASK ABOUT THEM
OR ECPRESS REGRET.
WE HAVE TO CHANGE THAT AND SHOW
WHAT WE SAW TWO NIGHTS AGO WHEN
A GROUP OF DOZENS OF PEOPLE
CAME DOWNTOWN AND JUST STARTED
SMASHING WINDOWS WITH HAMMERS
AND BASEBALL BATS, THAT'S NOT
PROTEST.
THAT'S JUST UNLAWFULNESS, AND
WE HAVE TO GET TO A POINT WHERE
WE REIMAGINE POLICING, WE HAVE
TO BE HONEST, HONEST ABOUT WHAT
THOSE DIFFERENCES ARE.
WE HAVE TO HONOR WHAT THIS
CHIEF HAS TRIED TO BUILD AND
HAS BUILT OVER THE MANY
DECADES.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL COME
FROM JUSTIN CARTER.
FOLLOWED BY KATEFALL WALTERS.
JUSTIN, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> Reporter: THANK YOU.
QUESTION FOR CHIEF BEST.
SORRY, CHIEF BEST.
I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU BACK TO
THE CHOP.
I'M CURIOUS AS YOU'RE
REFLECTING ON ALL OF THIS, WHAT
HAPPENED WITH CHOP AND THE
PROTESTS ON THE HILL AND
ESPECIALLY THE ABANDONMENT OF
THE PRESINK AND THE WHAT ROLE,
IF ANY OF THOSE INCIDENTS MIGHT
HAVE PLAYED IN YOUR DECISION?
>> YEAH.
THANK YOU.
NO ONE HAS ASKED ME ABOUT THAT
BEFORE.
SO LET ME SEE IF I CAN FIGURE
OUT AN ANSWER HERE.
LOOK.
EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED.
THE CAPITAL HILL ORGANIZED
PROTESTS CAME INTO THE CITY.
WHERE IT STARTED AND WHERE IT
ENDED WAS TWO DIFFERENT PLACES.
IT WAS INITIALLY A PROTEST IN
THE AREA THAT DID NOT DEVOLVE
TO IT, THE LAWLESS THAT
OCCURRING, AND WE FOUND IT
NECESSARY TO REMOVE THE CHOP.
THAT WAS WHY.
IT WASN'T BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE
PROTESTING.
WE ALL RESPECT PEOPLE'S FIRST
AMENDMENT RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH
AND ASSEMBLE.
BUT WHEN LAWLESSNESS BEGAN, WE
HAD TO TAKE ACTION.
IT WAS UNPRECEDENTED.
I REMEMBER TALKING TO
BEHAVIORAL ANALYSTS, I SAID
WHAT'S THE ROAD MAP HERE AND
THROUGH HAS IT BEEN DONE BEFORE
. LUCKILY IT WAS ONLY SEATTLE
. I THINK THE TIMING OF IT WAS
WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN.
EVERYONE WAS ABLE TO LEAVE
RELATIVELY PEACEFULLY WITHOUT
ANY PROBLEMS.
AND IT WORKED OUT THE WAY IT
SHOULD HAVE WORKED OUT.
SOMETIMES IT TAKES PATIENCE AND
NEGOTIATIONS TO MAKE IT WORK
OUT THE CORRECT WAY.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE PRECINCT,
I'VE SAID IT MULTIPLE TIMES.
I WISH SOMEONE WOULD DO THEIR
HOMEWORK, BUT HONESTLY, THE
OFFICERS LEFT AFTER WE HAD A
THREAT OF FIRE TO THE BUILDING
AND TWO, OUT OF CONCERN FOR
SENSITIVE MATERIAL AND WEAPONS
THAT WERE A INSIDE THE BUILDING
TO TAKE THEM OUT OF THE
BUILDING.
UP FORTUNATELY, WE WEREN'T
ABLE, AS THE NUMBER OF FOLKS
ENDED UP CONVERGING ON THE
STREETS AND PUTTING UP
BARRICADES TO SAFELY GET BACK
IN.
ULTIMATELY, THROUGH PATIENCE
AND TIME, WE'RE BACK IN THE
BUILDING, AND OPERATIONS ARE
BACK TO NORMAL.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
JUSTIN, WOULD YOU LIKE A
FOLLOWUP?
>> Reporter: YES.
THANKS.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE
CATEGORIZING IT THEN AS A
SUCCESS AND NOT SOMETHING
THAT'S A FAILURE OR A
FRUSTRATION OR MAYBE EVEN A
REASON THAT THIS IS WHY YOU
DECIDED THIS JOB IS SOMETHING
YOU DIDN'T WANT TO DO ANYMORE.
IS THAT ACCURATE?
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
ABSOLUTELY DIDN'T HAVE A EFFECT
ON MY DECISION-MAKING.
LOOK.
NOBODY GOT HURT.
WE'RE BACK IN THE PRECINCT.
THINGS ARE OPERATIONAL.
I'M MOVING FORWARD, NOT
BACKWARDS.
WE'RE MOVING ALONG.
WE'VE BEEN THERE AND DONE THAT
AND REENVISIONING POLICING TO
MOVE FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
NEXT QUESTION IS KATE WALTERS
NEXT FOLLOWED BY KING.
KATE, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> Reporter: CHIEF, CAN YOU SAY
WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU, OR IS IT A
BREAK JUST A LITTLE BIT?
>> I'M GOING TO TAKE TIME FOR
SELF-REFLECTION.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO
DO IF I HAVE FREE TIME.
THIS JOB LITERALLY IS 4 HOURS A
DAY, 7-DAY A WEEK.
SO I STILL HAVE A FEW WEEKS
BEFORE I'M OFFICIALLY RETIRED.
AND THEN I'M JUST GOING TO TAKE
SOME TIME FOR MYSELF.
I THINK I HAVE AROUND IT.
>> KATE, FOLLOWUP?
>> Reporter: YES, PLEASE.
MY FOLLOWUP IS A QUESTION THAT
WAS ACTUALLY SUGGESTED BY A
COMMUNITY MEMBER.
AND THE QUESTION IS WHAT ARE
THE CHALLENGES OF LEADING THE
SPD AS A BLACK WOMAN?
>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S NO
POLICE CHIEF IN THE COUNTRY
THAT WOULDN'T SAY THEIR JOB IS
CHALLENGING, AND I THINK
THERE'S SOME UNIQUE THINGS I
BRING TO THE JOB THAT WOULD
HELP ME AND PROBABLY WORK
AGAINST ME IN SOME CASES.
BUT THE CHALLENGE OF POLICING
IN AMERICA IS GREAT NO MATTER
WHO YOU ARE.
WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY
THAT ISSUES LIKE SYSTEMIC
RACISM, AND BY THE WAY PEOPLE
TALK ABOUT JUSTICE.
BUT HEALTHCARE, AND ALL SYSTEMS
NEED TO BE REFLECTIVE ON WHAT
WE'RE DOING AND HOW TO MOVE
FORWARD BECAUSE WE RECRUIT FROM
THE HUMAN RACE.
SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE AS A
NATION, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON
THESE ISSUES.
I THINK I REPRESENT A
OPPORTUNITY.
THERE ARE FEW AFRICAN AMERICAN
WOMEN IN THIS FIELD AND
CERTAINLY NOT AS CHIEF.
AND SO I FEEL VERY PROUD OF
THAT, AND I HOLD IT AS A
CHALLENGE AND A RESPONSIBILITY.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL COME
FROM KING JOHNSON FOLLOW BY
NATALIE BRAND FROM THE
STRAENGEER.
>> Reporter: HI, CHIEF BEST,
YOU'VE HEARD THAT IT'S PERSONAL
ANIMIST THAT THE COUNCIL HAS
THAT IS MOTIVATING SOME OF THIS
CAN YOU COMMENT ON WHAT YOU
PERCEIVE AS THE ORIGIN OF THAT?
>> WELL, I WILL SAY THIS: AS
THE MAYOR POINTED OUT, NO OTHER
DEPARTMENT HAS ARBITRARILY HAD
THEIR SALARY CUT, AND THE
SALARY CUT OF EVERY SINGLE
COMMAND CHIEF OF THE STAFF.
IT DID SEEM PUNITIVE.
I'M NOT IN IT FOR THE MONEY,
BUT IT SEEMED PERSONAL THAT
THEY WOULD HAVE IT CUT.
WE HAVE THE MOST DIVERSE STAFF
IN THE COUNTRY, BLACK, WHITE,
LATINO, ASIAN, MALE, FEMALE,
PHD, JDS, WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE
STAFF THAT WE HAVE.
AND TO NOT CONSIDER THEM WAS
RIDICULOUS.
AND SO HOW ELSE AM I SUPPOSED
TO FEEL.
IT'S A WHOLE ROOM OF DEPARTMENT
HEADS, AND NOT ONE OF THEM WAS
NAMED, JUST ME.
SO, YEAH, I TAKE IT PERSONAL.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
FOLLOWUP.
>> Reporter: I MEAN WHAT DO YOU
BELIEVE IS THE ORIGIN OF THE
ANIMIST, WHY?
>> AGAIN, YOU HAVE TO ASK THE
COUNCIL.
I DON'T KNOW.
.
>> Reporter: MY QUESTION IS FOR
THE MAYOR AND THE CHIEF.
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE CHANGES
THE COUNCIL MADE TO THE
REBALANCED BUDGET WERE RACIST?
>> YEAH.
I'M NOT USING THAT HARSH WORD.
I WOULD JUST SAY THAT,
OBVIOUSLY I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE
FORWARD IN A WAY, AND I THINK
CHIEF DIASIS AS IS A PERSON TO
DO THAT.
AND MAKE SURE THAT THE POLICIES
ARE GOOD FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.
MAYOR.
>> SO I POINT OUT A FEW THINGS.
NO.
1, IT WAS THE CHIEF AND I WHO
STOOD IN THIS VERY ROOM, AND WE
THOUGHT THAT A 50% CUT WITH NO
PLAN WAS NOT FEASIBLE AND NOT
WISE.
AND WE PROPOSED WHAT WE THOUGHT
COULD BE CUT AND TRANSFERRED
FROM THE DEPARTMENT.
AFTER THINKING ABOUT IT AND
BEING THOUGHTFUL AND BASED UPON
THE CHIEF'S GREAT EXPERIENCE,
THE COUNCIL TOOK A DIFFERENT
ROUTE.
THEY PROMISED A 50% CUT.
AND YESTERDAY, THEY COULDN'T
DELIVER BECAUSE THEY FOUND OUT
WHAT THE CHIEF AND I CAUTIONED
WAS, IT WASN'T POSSIBLE.
IT WAS UNWISE, AND IT NEEDED
GREATER THOUGHT.
AND IN FACT, THE VAST MAJORITY
OF WHAT THEY PASSED YESTERDAY
WAS EXACTLY WHAT THE CHIEF AND
I PROPOSED.
THE $3 MILLION THEY ADDED, IT
WOULD BE ONE THING IF THEY JUST
ADDED $3 MILLION CUT AND JUST
SAID CHIEF, EXERCISE YOUR
CHARTER DUTIES.
DO WHAT YOU KNOW HOW TO DO AND
MANAGE AGAINST THIS.
BUT INSTEAD, INSTEAD THEY
WANTED TO MICROMANAGE AND PLAY
MINI POLICE CHIEF.
CUT HERE, CUT THERE, DO THIS,
DO THAT.
IT SHOWED A COMPLETE LACK OF
RESPECT, AND, FRANKLY, A
MISUNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE
DEPARTMENT EVEN OPERATE.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU, CHIEF.
NATALIE, FOLLOWUP?
>> Reporter: YEAH.
IS THAT TYPICAL IN THE BUDGET
PROCESS FOR THE CHIEF TO POINT
OUT WHEN SHE SHOULD DO HER JOB
AND EXERCISE WHERE SHE SEES
FIT, OR IS IT SOMETHING
DIFFERENT WITH THIS BUDGETING
PROCESS?
>> IT IS DIFFERENT FROM ANY
BUDGET I'VE SEEN WITH ANY
COUNCIL TRYING TO GET DOWN TO
THE LINE ITEMS OF PERSONNEL
DECISIONS THAT ARE CLEARLY
VESTED IN THE CHIEF OF POLICE
AND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
WE ARE ON OUR LAST THREE
QUESTIONS.
SO JUST THANK YOU ALL FOR
HANGING IN THERE TODAY.
OUR NEXT QUESTION IS COMING
FROM SIMONE FOLLOWED BY DEBRA
HORN.
SIMONE, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> Reporter: THANK YOU.
THIS IS ACTUALLY FOR CHIEF
DIAS.
I AM CURIOUS, CHIEF BEST SERVED
WITH THE COUNCIL AND
COMMUNICATING WITH THE COUNCIL,
HOW YOU ENDEAVOR TO MAINTAIN A
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL AS THEY GO THROUGH
THE PROCESS THIS FALL?
>> YOU KNOW, I LOOK FORWARD TO
THEM CONTACTING ME.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THESE
DISCUSSIONS.
I LOOK FORWARD AS WE ENTER THE
2021 BUDGET PROCESS TO HAVE
FRUITFUL DISCUSSIONS ON HOW IT
WOULD BE BEST FOR ME TO RUN THE
DEPARTMENT DURING THIS TIME.
WHAT PROPOSED IDEAS THAT THEY
HAVE, SO WE COULD FIGURE OUT
HOW WE ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, DO
SOME COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS.
BUT GIVEN THIS DISCUSSION WHERE
WE COULD ACTUALLY HAVE
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE BEST
APPROACH FOR THE POLICING
ENVIRONMENT.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
SIMONE, FOLLOWUP.
>> Reporter: AND THIS IS A
FOLLOWUP FOR THE MAYOR.
YOU KNOW, YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW
THE PROCESS HAS GONE ON AND THE
REBALANCING FOR THIS YEAR HAS
BEEN UNLIKE WHAT YOU'VE SEEN.
GIVEN THAT, WHAT'S GOING TO BE
YOUR APPROACH IN THE NEXT FEW
WEEKS AS YOU RULE OUT THE NEXT
BUDGET PROPOSAL?
>> SO THAT'S A FREIGHT
QUESTION, AND WE WILL CONTINUE
TO WORK AND COLLABORATE ACROSS
GOVERNMENT WITH COMMUNITY AND
WITH THE COUNCIL ON THE ENTIRE
BUDGET.
REMEMBER THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT IS JUST A PORTION OF
THE OVERALL BUDGET.
WE GOT VERY BAD NEWS THIS WEEK.
OUR FORECAST SAYS THAT WE ARE
25 $25 MILLION WORSE OFF THIS
YEAR THAN WE THOUGHT.
AND SO MAKING GOVERNMENT WORK
AND PROVIDE THE SERVICE TO THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE IS GOING TO
BE EVEN MORE CHALLENGING FOR
EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT.
SO WE ARE GOING TO WORK
DEPARTMENT BY DEPARTMENT TO SEE
HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE WE DELIVER
CORE SERVICE.
DON'T CUT THE SERVICE THAT
HELPED THOSE PEOPLE THAT NEED
THEM MOST IN THIS TIME.
WE ARE IN AN UNPRECEDENTED TIME
IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY NEED.
AND WE HAVE RESPONDED AS
GREATLY AS WE COULD, AND WE'RE
GOING TO CRAFT A BUDGET THAT IS
PEOPLE CENTRIC.
AND THE PROCESS, I WILL
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH AND REACH
OUT TO THE COUNCIL AND
COMMUNITY, AND POLICING ITSELF,
WE HAVE BEGUN A PROCESS IN
WHICH WE WANT TO DEEPLY ENGAGE
COMMUNITY TO HEAR FROM ALL OF
SEATTLE ON WHAT'S THAT NEXT
VISION, SO WE CAN ACTUALLY
ADDRESS BOTH THE REAL ISSUES OF
SYSTEMIC RACISM AND BRUTALITY
THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND
OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE FELT FOR
GENERATIONS.
BUT AS THE CHIEF SAID, TRUE
PUBLIC SAFETY DOESN'T COME
THROUGH POLICE.
IT COMES BY HAVING GOOD HOUSING
AND HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION,
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, ALL OF
THOSE THINGS THAT PROVIDE TRUE
EQUITY AND RESILIENCE FOR A
COMMUNITY.
SNOONG YOU, MAYOR.
OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM
AZURE.
>> Reporter: HELLO.
I HAVE A QUESTION FROM CHIEF
DIAS, OR ENTERS CHIEF DIAS.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO STRESS
ABOUT FUTURE OFFICERS AND THE
SPD?
>> RIGHT NOW I THINK CHIEF BEST
HAS ACTUALLY ANSWERED SOME OF
THIS.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOING
THROUGH A CHALLENGING TIME.
THIS IS NOT EASY TO GO THROUGH.
WHERE OFFICERS HAVE HAD A LOT
OF THINGS THROWN AT THEM, YOU
KNOW, NOT HAVING A PRECINCT,
HAVING TO DEAL WITH
DEMONSTRATIONS DAY IN AND DAY
OUT, ALSO RESPONDING TO CALLS,
SHOOTINGS, ROBBERIES, RAPES,
YOU NAME IT.
SO THE STRESS LEVELS ARE HIGH.
WE ARE GOING TO GET THROUGH
THIS.
WE ARE WORKING THROUGH A
PROCESS AND A PLAN TO MAKING
SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO
PROVIDE PUBLIC SAFETY FOR ALL
THAT WE WANT INEQUITYABLE IN
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.
SO RIGHT NOW IT'S HAUNABLE A
LITTLE BIT OF PATIENCE AS WE
GET THROUGH THIS TRYING TIME.
WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS.
>> FOLLOWUP.
>> Reporter: WELL, THEN, WOULD
YOU ACCEPT TRANSITIONAL JOBS
FOR OFFICERS?
WOULD YOU ACCEPT RETRAINING FOR
OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICE
COMMUNITY CENTER WORK IN THE
FUTURE?
>> YEAH.
OFFICERS HAVE BEEN IN
DISCUSSION WITH HOW THEIR ROLE
IS WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK IN
YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION WORK
AND ENGAGING YOUTH IN
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND A
VARIETY OF DIFFERENT OTHER
THINGS, SO YES, WE ARE OPEN TO
WHAT THOSE DISCUSSIONS COULD
LEAD TO.
ULTIMATELY, WE MIGHT HAVE TO
MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH
OFFICERS RESPONDING TO 911
CALLS, THAT THEY'RE HANDLING
AND INVESTIGATING PROPERLY
THESE TYPE OF CALLS AND
ROBBERIES AND HOMICIDES.
AND SO, YES, WE HAVE TO HAVE
THAT BALANCE OF MAKING SURE
WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE A SAFE
AND CRIME-FREE, AS MUCH OF A
CRIME-FREE COMMUNITY AS WE CAN.
BUT ALSO DEALING WITH SOME OF
THE SOCIAL CHALLENGES THAT WE
FACE IN OUR CITY.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF.
OUR NEXT AND FINAL QUESTION
WILL COME FROM DEBRA HORN FROM
KIRO7.
DEBRA, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> Reporter: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WANTED TO ASK THE NEW CHIEF A
QUESTION.
WE WERE TALKING TO SOME
BUSINESS PEOPLE AND PEOPLE IN
PIONEER SQUARE YESTERDAY, AND
THEIR COMPLAINT WAS THAT THEY
FELT THE POLICE WEREN'T DOING
THEIR JOBS ON 4TH, RIGHT IN
FRONT OF THE CITY HALL
YESTERDAY, A GROUP OF
PROTESTERS DECIDED NOPE, THIS
IS THEIR SPACE.
AND THEY TOLD US THAT THIS
PUBLIC SPACE WAS OFF LIMITS TO
US AS JOURNALISTS BECAUSE THEY
HAD TAKEN OVER IT.
WHAT WILL YOU DO TO REASSURE
THE PEOPLE HERE THAT THE POLICE
ARE REALLY ON THE JOB?
I HEAR THIS QUESTION A LOT.
WHERE ARE THE POLICE WHEN THEY
ARE NEEDED MOST?
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S ACTUALLY A
QUESTION THAT WE'RE ALWAYS
TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE ADEQUATE STAFFING AND
PATROL EVERY SINGLE DAY.
THIS IS SOMETHING OF A
CHALLENGE WHERE WE HAVE, YOU
KNOW, CLOSE TO ABOUT 100
OFFICERS ON ANY GIVEN WATCH
RESPONDING TO CALLS FOR
SERVICE.
BUT WHEN DEMONSTRATIONS ARE
TAKEN, HALF THAT PERSONNEL TO
BE ABLE TO HANDLE
DEMONSTRATIONS THAT ARE
PROPERTY DAMAGES OCCURRING AND
A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT OTHER
THINGS, PEOPLE PUT FIRES SET IN
DIFFERENT BUSINESSES, SETTING
TRAILERS ON FIRE, THAT IS NOT,
THAT IS NOT EASY FOR THE AMOUNT
OF STAFFING THAT WE HAVE ON ANY
GIVEN WATCH.
SO WHAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE IS
THAT WE'RE WE ARE TRYING TO
ENSURE THAT WE HAVE OFFICERS
THAT ARE RESPONDING TO THE
CALLS FOR SERVICE.
AND SO, YES, THAT ARE ONE OF
THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE
WHEN YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, A
GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING
TO AVOID, YOU KNOW, BEING
FILMED, CAUSING DISRUPTION AND
THEN TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE'RE BALANCING, YOU KNOW, THE
ABILITY TO RESPOND TO 911 CALLS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY AS WELL AS
BEING ABE TO HANDLE THE
DEMONSTRATIONS.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF. DEBRA,
FOLLOWUP.
>> Reporter: AND THIS ONE IS
FOR THE MAYOR.
SO, MAYOR, BOTH YOU AND THE
DEPARTING CHIEF.
>> DEPARTING THE JOB.
I'M IRISH, BUT THIS IS NOT A
WAKE.
>> Reporter: IT'S NOT A WAKE,
BUT SHE WILL GO ON TO GREENER
PASTTURES AND A TIME WHERE SHE
CAN RELAX MORE.
HOW WILL THIS CONVERSATION
YOU'VE BEEN HAVING TODAY,
TALKING IN SUCH HARSH TERM
ABOUT THE COUPS, THE CITY
COUPS, HOW WILL YOU BE ABLE TO
COME TOGETHER?
HAVE YOU DECIDED THAT YOU DON'T
HAVE TO BE NICE ANYMORE?
GET OUT THE BAT AND HIT THEM IN
THE HEAD?
WHAT WILL YOU DO TO TRY TO
BRING THEM TOGETHER TO DO WHAT
YOU SAY, AND THAT IS HAVE THE
ENTIRE COMMUNITY WORK ON THIS
VERY DIFFICULT PROBLEM?
>> SO DEBRA, I THINK THAT'S A
REALLY GOOD QUESTION.
I AM ALWAYS WILLING TO AND WILL
WORK WITH ANYBODY.
I MEET WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS TO
TALK ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS AND
LET THEM KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING
ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
AS I SAID WE NEED TO WORK
TOGETHER.
SEATTLE NEEDS TO SEE LEADERSHIP
COMING TOGETHER TO TURN THE
COURSE TOGETHER.
WE HAVE ENOUGH DYSFUNCTION IN
THE OTHER WASHINGTON.
IN THE MEANTIME, I WILL DO
WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT BUT FOR EVERY
WORKER IN THE SIT A OF SEATTLE.
WE KNOW IT'S CHALLENGING TIMES.
THERE'S NO MAYOR OF SEATTLE
THAT HAS NEVER FACED WHAT WE'RE
DEALING WITH WHAT WE'RE DEALING
WITH RIGHT NOW.
A GLOBAL PANDEMIC THAT IS
GETTING WORSE, AN ECONOMIC
CRISIS THAT WILL GET WORSE.
A CITY BUDGET THAT GETS WORSE
BY THE 10S OF MILLSIANS EVERY
QUARTER.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, A SILVER
RIGHTS RECKONING THAT REQUIRES
US TO DIG DEEP IN OURSELVES AND
THE GOVERNMENT TO ADMIT THE
GENERATIONAL WRONGS WE'VE DONE.
WE CAN ONLY DO THAT TOGETHER.
I WANT TO WORK WITH THIS
COUNCIL.
I THINK ALL OF US HAVE TO BE
WILLING TO LOOK FORWARD AND TO
JOIN TOGETHER TO DO THAT.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AND WITH THAT, THE QUESTION
PORTION IS CONCLUDED.
WE WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU,
MAYOR OR CHIEF BEST.
>> THANKS.
I'M GOING TO LET CHIEF BEST
HAVE THE FINAL WORDS, BUT THE
MAIN THINGS TO TAKE AWAY, WE
OWE A HUGE DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO
CHIEF CARMEN BEST, NOT JUST
WHAT SHE'S DONE AS CHIEF OF
POLICE.
I OWE HER A DEBT OF GRATITUDE,
BUT ALMOST 30 YEARS OF SERVICE
WHERE SHE PUT ASIDE FAMILY AND
FAMILY OBLIGATIONS AND WORKED
AROUND THE CLOCK.
AND SHE SHOWED WHAT SHE COULD
DO.
SHE IS A ROLE MODEL FOR EVERY
GIRL OUT THERE THAT YOU STICK
TO YOUR PRINCIPLES AND WORK
HARD, YOU CAN ADVANCE AND LEAD.
SHE IS AN INSPIRATIONAL LEADER.
YOU KNOW, YOU SAW IT HERE
TODAY.
THROUGH THE MOST DIFFICULT
THINGS WE HAVE DONE TOGETHER IN
THE LAST 2 YEARS, SHE WOULD
ALWAYS HAVE A OPTIMISTIC VIEW
ON HOW WE COULD MOVE THROUGH
IT.
SHE BELIEVES SO DEEPLY IN THE
GOODNESS OF HUMANITY AND THE
KINDNESS AND EMPATHY THAT WE
CAN SHARE, SHE LEADS WITH THAT
HERSELF.
BUT SHE IS ALSO STRONG.
SHE IS DETERMINED.
AND SHE MAKES DECISIONS THAT
SHE STANDS BY.
IT'S A RARE COMBINATION.
WE ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE HAD IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
I THINK WE ARE BETTER BECAUSE
SHE WAS HERE.
I WISH SHE WERE STAYING, BUT I
AM ALSO SO GRATEFUL THE CHIEF
IS STEPPING UP.
I'VE SEEN HIM IN THE COMMUNITY,
AND MANY OF YOU REPORTERS OUT
THERE, GO TO SOUTH PARK OR
RAINER BEACH AND TALK TO THE
FAMILIES AND KID DOWN THERE.
HE KNOWS THEM ALL BY NAME.
HE KNOWS WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT
AND THAT'S THE KIND OF CHIEF HE
WILL BE.
HE REFLECTS THE VALUES AND
PRINCIPLES OF CARMEN BEST, BUT
HE'S HIS OWN MAN.
AND I THINK WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE
HIM TOO.
WITH THAT, CHIEF, YOU GET THE
FINAL WORDS.
>> THANKS.
WELL, NO REMARKS.
JUST TO SAY I'M SO HONORED AS I
STARTED OUT.
IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL,
WONDERFUL CAREER.
I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT, AND
I WON'T MISS THESE PRESS
CONFERENCES.
I'LL TELL YOU THAT.
THAT'S THE NO.
2 THING I WON'T MISS, BUT BOY,
I AM SO APPRECIATIVE FOR ALL OF
YOU FOR BEING HERE, FOR ALL OF
THE SUPPORT WE'VE SEEN FOR
ALMOST THE LAST 3 DECADES, AND
I'M NOT ROSE-COLORED GLASSES
OPTIMISTIC.
I'M OPTIMISTIC BECAUSE I
ABSOLUTELY KNOW THAT THIS CITY,
THIS WONDERFUL CITY AND THE
PEOPLE IN IT ARE GOING TO DO
WHAT'S RIGHT AND SUPPORT THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND LOOK FOR
REENVISIONING AND HOW WE CAN DO
THINGS BETTER.
I WISH I COULD THANK YOU
INDIVIDUALLY AND HOW YOU'VE
SUPPORTED ME IN SO MANY
DIFFERENT WAYS.
I WANT TO END BY SAYING I'M
HONORED AND I'M PROUD.
AND I THANK YOU ALL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU ALL.