New police chief greets city with multiple swearing-in ceremonies

SEATTLE — Connection was the theme as Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best held multiple swearing-in ceremonies.

Members of the Seattle Police Horse Patrol spoke with children outside the South Park Community Center while Best took her oath of office in front of the people she promised to serve.

There were cheers and hugs as she promised to “faithfully conduct myself as Chief of Police, of the Seattle Police Department.”

Best was initially passed over, but the community relationships she built over 26 years on the force put her back in the running.

“I mean, we were very, very disappointed," said Paulina Lopez, of the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition. Lopez swore Best in at the South Park ceremony. “But we are happy with the end result and here we are. Always, justice remains.”

For the young people in the crowd, Best had a message born of her experience. “Keep working hard. Take care of each other. Chase your hopes and your dreams. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do anything because, let me tell you, you can.”

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Children we met were inspired to see Seattle’s first African-American woman Police Chief

“I feel happy about that because, you know, not a lot of things like that happen around the world,” said 14-year-old Doa Abdin.

At Seattle City Hall. former Police Chief Kathleen O'Toole conducted the swearing in, and Mayor Durkan talked about her faith in her new police chief.

“This a woman who loves this city and lives this department in a way that I don't think everyone appreciates. It's remarkable and I thank you for that Chief Best.”

Best has support from many rank-and-file officers, but they haven't had a union contract since 2014.

‘It means more when you thank me by giving me a contract. Thank me by respecting me enough that we do is difficult,” said Kevin Stuckey, President of the Seattle Police Guild.

Retired Seattle police Maj. Joe Tolliver was one of the first African-Americans on the police force. Tolliver never thought he’d see a black woman on the force, let alone as chief.

“I can sit back in my retirement years and gently smile. It represents a day that was beyond sight in my early years,” he said of seeing Best sworn in.

Cox Media Group