Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole to step down

KGMI News

SEATTLE (AP) – Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole, who has helped guide the department’s changes under a consent decree with the U.S. Justice Department, is stepping down at the end of the year.

New Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan made the announcement in a news release Monday. Durkan said Deputy Chief Carmen Best will serve as interim chief beginning Jan. 1.

Former Mayor Ed Murray hired O’Toole, a former Boston police commissioner, in 2014. She was the first woman to run Seattle’s department.

Durkan scheduled an 11 a.m. news conference to further discuss the announcement.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.