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'Darker Times Are Ahead' in Seattle After Police Chief Resigns
Townhall ^ | 08/11/2020 | Leah Barkoukis

Posted on 08/11/2020 7:20:03 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Carmen Best will step down as Seattle’s Police Chief—a decision that comes after the City Council voted to cut the police department’s budget by nearly $4 million.

"I want to thank Mayor Durkan for her continuous support through good times and tough times," Best said in a letter sent to members of the department Monday night. "I am confident the department will make it through these difficult times. You truly are the best police department in the country, and please trust me when I say, the vast majority of people in Seattle support you and appreciate you."

The funding reduction did not end up being as drastic as the 50 percent some wanted, though deeper cuts may come in the future.

By a vote of 7-1, the council approved a revised 2020 budget that reduced the department’s budget by $3.5 million for the remainder of the year and invested $17 million in community public safety programs.

The cut to the department’s $409-million annual budget fell way short of the 50% demanded by protesters following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in police custody on May 25. […]

The rebalanced budget reduces executive pay and eliminates 100 police officers. It also reduces the budget for travel, public affairs, training and recruitment and makes cuts to specialized units like SWAT, harbor patrol, homeland security, mounted patrol and officers in schools.

The budget also removes officers from the city’s homeless outreach team. More than a dozen business and neighborhood groups signed a letter from the Downtown Seattle Association opposing that move. (Reuters)

Best's retirement is effective Sept. 2. She will hold a press conference Tuesday at 11 a.m.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Oregon; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: antifa; civilunrest; crime; oregon; policechief; portland; resignation; riots; seattle; washington
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To: Old Retired Army Guy

That is not happening. If they were going to get rid of them, they would not have elected them in the first place. It is like all the bs excuses an addict gives for getting high. They get high because it feels good. And they like it.


21 posted on 08/11/2020 7:44:34 AM PDT by sport
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To: Pearls Before Swine

I hope you are wrong. I just tend to believe that the Urban City Dwellers of those cities are basically Liberal Democrats like most of the Big Cities in the West and Northeast. Those that watch news live and breath CNN, MSNBC and the 3 Networks. Unfortunately, the majority don’t watch any news and vote the Democrat Slate without having any ides who or what they are voting for.


22 posted on 08/11/2020 7:45:38 AM PDT by Old Retired Army Guy
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To: I want the USA back
"Betting they replace her with someone who is more compliant, and who believes police should be in the service of America-hating anarchists and separatists."

Yeah.. That's a good bet, I'll but my money with yours..

23 posted on 08/11/2020 7:45:43 AM PDT by unread (A REPUBLIC..! if you can keep it....)
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To: SeekAndFind
I initially figured her to be an AA hire. She has greatly exceeded my expectations.

Listening to the local FOX affiliate now. Brandi Kruse is the political reporter there and she's a gem. Her comment..."She's had enough."

Next story regards a business moving from the city. Some comments from the owners:

"Open drug deals, harassment, assaults outside the store. Lack of action by city to correct."

"Actions of City Council to defund police more detrimental than Covid 19. Best resignation last straw."

"Business people who are friends also making plans to leave city, but afraid to speak up."

Embrace the suck, Seattle!

24 posted on 08/11/2020 7:47:38 AM PDT by gogeo (It isn't just time to open America up again: It's time to be America again.)
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To: SeekAndFind

The Big city is obsolete. It was needed to concentrate people who needed to do business with each other. The laptop computer now makes business possible from anywhere.


25 posted on 08/11/2020 7:48:55 AM PDT by lurk
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To: SeekAndFind

Wasn’t planning to go to Seattle. Now I’m planning to never set foot there.


26 posted on 08/11/2020 7:49:30 AM PDT by windsorknot
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To: Old Retired Army Guy
I hope you are wrong.

I hope I am wrong, too.

27 posted on 08/11/2020 7:51:49 AM PDT by Pearls Before Swine
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To: SeekAndFind

People living in high-crime areas of Seattle are not calling for elimination of the police - only white liberals living in safe neighborhoods who’ve never once needed a cop in their lives would come up with an idea this idiotic.


28 posted on 08/11/2020 7:52:29 AM PDT by AnotherUnixGeek
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To: Dilbert San Diego
The only political opposition in these cities is within the Democrat party itself, where sometimes a Democrat who isn’t a radical lefty can get elected.

Unfortunately, in Seattle it's a rush to crazy. Each new Council member more left than the other. Sawant used to be the most left. Two years later she's a 'moderate.'

29 posted on 08/11/2020 7:52:40 AM PDT by gogeo (It isn't just time to open America up again: It's time to be America again.)
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To: Old Retired Army Guy
Those that watch news live and breath CNN, MSNBC and the 3 Networks.

People who listen to NPR and subscribe to the NYT, and believe them.

30 posted on 08/11/2020 7:55:04 AM PDT by gogeo (It isn't just time to open America up again: It's time to be America again.)
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To: SeekAndFind
'Darker Times Are Ahead' in Seattle After Police Chief Resigns

Racist???

31 posted on 08/11/2020 7:57:00 AM PDT by Don Corleone (The truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth)
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To: Jim W N

Why does her departure mean “darker times” for Seattle? I thought she was part of the problem.”

Chief Best all through the Seattle riots kept begging the mayor and city council to let her do her job but they refused and let the riots continue.

There is also a federal judge Richard Jones who made a ruling that the police could not use tear gas or rubber bullets.


32 posted on 08/11/2020 8:01:18 AM PDT by angry elephant (My MAGA cap is from a rally in Washingon state in May 2016)
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To: SeekAndFind

Why do Police Chiefs think they are four star flag rank?


33 posted on 08/11/2020 8:07:22 AM PDT by ASA Vet (Make American Intelligence Great Again. Bring back ASA.)
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To: SeekAndFind

If I remember right, Carmen Best had no real problem with the anarchists and rioters — until they showed up at her house one night. From then on, she tried to stand up to them. So, sorry, I have no sympathy for her — or Seattle. They get what they voted for.


34 posted on 08/11/2020 8:09:13 AM PDT by falcon99 (qu)
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To: angry elephant
a federal judge Richard Jones who made a ruling that the police could not use tear gas or rubber bullets.

That's the kind of baseless ruling that you reject, defy, and nullify.

35 posted on 08/11/2020 8:09:14 AM PDT by Jim W N (MAGA by restoring the Gospel of the Grace of Christ and our Free Constitutional Republic!)
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To: Huskrrrr

I look at this from the POV of what we see occurring, so I view her as a completely incompetent, affirmative action hire.

But I understand I could be wrong, she might be good and have her hands tied...do you have any input on what the rank and file or anyone else might think.

I don’t have anything else, but if you live in the area or are privy to info, I would be open to listening.

Admittedly, one of the most odious aspects of affirmative action is the fact that people are hired not only without regard to their actual ability, but are actually hired because they fit into a color/sex/cultural box, and no matter how good or capable they might be, the stink of being an affirmative action hire sticks to them like glue, fair or unfair.

In this case, she might be simply incompetent regardless of her sex and color, which many people are, but that is the curse of Affirmative Action.

If you are good with occasional mistakes like we all make, that is the brush you may be painted with, our your success will be attributed to those under you.

But if you are incompetent, that is the tar that will be poured over your exposed skin...an affirmative action hire.

People will always be left to wonder, good or bad.


36 posted on 08/11/2020 8:10:42 AM PDT by rlmorel ("Truth is Treason in the Empire of Lies"- George Orwell)
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To: SeekAndFind
Pretty much every layer of government is overspending leading to a debt crisis, they cut the police budget by less than 1%, nothing at all is mentioned about renegotiating retirement pensions which we've been told for decades are way too generous, they increase overall spending by adding $17 milion to some goody two shoes community effort.

So what is the crisis again? Not enough police or way too much government?

37 posted on 08/11/2020 8:11:05 AM PDT by who_would_fardels_bear
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To: ammodotcom

“You truly are the best police department in the country...”

Gee, I thought the NYPD claimed that title? At any rate, how can you tell which big city police department is best since none of them have been doing any real policing?


38 posted on 08/11/2020 8:14:42 AM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: ammodotcom

“Its denizens’ politics aside..”

Can’t put it aside...that’s why it’s collapsing. Couldn’t happen to nicer folks...oh wait, I already said that about Portland, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, St.Louis etc.


39 posted on 08/11/2020 8:20:37 AM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: SkyDancer

“(I don’t use the liberal labels of Homeless)”

Stew bums.


40 posted on 08/11/2020 8:29:35 AM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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