LOCAL · WA · 2018-2020
Carmen Best
Seattle PD Commissioner / Chief · Washington
On the record
First Black woman SPD chief; resigned during 2020 BLM protests + budget cuts
SEVERITY · RESIGNED
Background
Carmen Best (—) was Washington's Seattle PD Commissioner / Chief of Seattle 2018–2020 (2 years). Took office after Kathleen O'Toole; succeeded by Adrian Diaz. Departure context: First Black woman SPD chief; resigned during 2020 BLM protests + budget cuts. Same-year political environment (2018): Governor Jay Inslee; Attorney General Bob Ferguson; Secretary of State Kim Wyman.
Auto-synthesized summary from Officium's indexed fields (tenure, predecessor / successor chain, career arc, FEC matches). Treat as derived metadata, not primary source.
Others who held this office in Washington
- Shon Barnes (2025-present)
- Sue Rahr (2024-2024)
- Adrian Diaz (2022-2024)
- Kathleen O'Toole (2014-2017)
- John Diaz (2009-2013)
- Gil Kerlikowske (2000-2009)