Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best
(Getty Images)
In a letter to the Seattle, Washington City Council on Sunday, Police Chief Carmen Best asks the council to denounce the targeting of elected officials by protesters.
In her letter posted on the Seattle Police blogger, Police Chief Best says that her home was targeted Saturday by “a large group of aggressive protesters” who were thwarted in their efforts to trespass by her neighbors
Seattle station King 5 reports that the local police department has promised to deploy “any resources necessary” to protect Chief Best’s home.
Elected officials shouldn’t be targeted by mobs, Chief Best says, calling on the City Council to “forcefully call for the end of these tactics” before the practice of mob rule becomes “the new way of doing business.”
Police Chief Best’s letter appears below:
Dear President González, Chairwoman Herbold, and Seattle City Council Members:
I wanted to update you on recent events, particularly those that occurred late last night.
A residence of mine in Snohomish County was targeted by a large group of aggressive protestors late last night. My neighbors were concerned by such a large group, but they were successful in ensuring the crowd was not able to trespass or engage in other illegal behavior in the area, despite repeated
attempts to do so. Currently, the local sheriff (not SPD resources) is monitoring the situation.I urge both of you, and the entire council, to stand up for what is right. These direct actions against elected officials, and especially civil servants like myself, are out of line with and go against every democratic principle that guides our nation. Before this devolves into the new way of doing business by mob rule here in Seattle, and across the nation, elected officials like you must forcefully call for the end of these tactics.
The events of this summer were initiated in a moment of grief and outrage over the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers and so many other Black and Brown people suffering at the hands of injustice. All of us must ensure that this righteous cause is not lost in the confusion of so many protestors now engaging in violence and intimidation, which many are not speaking against.
Sincerely,Carmen Best
Chief of Police
Seattle Police Department
