Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole will leave the department by the end of the year, Mayor Jenny Durkan announced Monday. Deputy Chief Carmen Best will serve as interim chief beginning Jan. 1.
In the more than three years that she led the Seattle Police Department, O’Toole has overseen major changes within the organization, particularly the reforms to get out from under a consent decree placed on the department for biased policing and excessive use of force. Judge James Robart is expected to issue a decision on whether SPD has met the requirements of the consent decree soon.
O’Toole said she considered resigning her post months ago, but stayed on to “usher the city through a difficult time,” The Seattle Times reported. Then-Mayor Ed Murray’s tenure was embroiled by allegations of sexual assault on minors.
Seattle City Light CEO Larry Weis announced his resignation Dec. 4.
Ashley Archibald is a Staff Reporter covering local government, policy and equity. Have a story idea? She can be can reached at ashleya (at) realchangenews (dot) org. Twitter @AshleyA_RC
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