Carmen Best
Chief, Seattle Police Department
Chief Carmen Best assumed the role of Chief of Police of the Seattle Police Department on August 13, 2018. She has served with the Seattle Police Department for 28 years; prior to becoming Chief, she served as Deputy Chief, overseeing the Patrol Operations, Investigations, and Special Operations Bureaus, as well as the Community Outreach section.
Chief Best has completed several law enforcement executive management programs, including the Senior Management Institute for Police, the FBI National Academy, the Criminal Justice Executive Leadership Academy, and the Major Cities Chiefs Association Police Executive Leadership Institute. She also serves on a number of local and national boards and committees dedicated to human and civil rights, education and professional development. Chief Best is a recipient of the “Newsmaker of the Year” award from the Seattle Black Press, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and the Vision from the Mountaintop Award from Urban Impact.