In Seattle, a Black police chief resigns over budget cuts

SEATTLE — Efforts to cut spending on police — a key demand of anti-racism demonstrators across the nation — have claimed an unlikely target: Seattle’s first Black police chief, who enjoyed deep support in its minority communities, is stepping down in protest. She noted that Best had established a “collaborative policing bureau” to focus on youth violence prevention and other issues, added mental health workers in precincts, brought back community service officers and sought ways to reduce the burden of 911 calls — all before the protests that erupted after George Floyd’s killing by Minneapolis police. “We want her at the helm.” Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County issued a statement demanding that the council “stop prioritizing performative action that solely suggests the appearance of change.” “It does nothing to further our fight for authentic police accountability and the safety of Black lives, that the first Black woman to hold the position of Chief of Police of the Seattle Police Department has been forced out of her job by the Seattle City Council,” the organization said. U.S. Attorney General William Barr also lamented Best’s departure: “This experience should be a lesson to state and local leaders about the real costs of irresponsible proposals to defund the police.” The council voted Monday to cut the department’s current $400 million budget by less than 1%, which advocates described as a down payment on more ambitious cuts — including removing 911 dispatch from the department and other changes. Separately, member Lisa Herbold called Best’s decision “a staggering loss to leaders of the Black and Brown community.” Herbold said she was sorry if Best felt targeted or disrespected by the council’s actions.