2: How Holistic Policing is Improving Communities w/ Chief Carmen Best

The role of a police officer in the United States is more complex than it has ever been.

That’s because these officers are being asked to be more involved in their communities by focusing on engagement rather than enforcement.  

Carmen Best is the Chief of the Seattle Police Department and she describes this approach as “holistic policing.”  Best has always felt a calling towards public service and she believes firmly that policing isn’t worth anything if it’s not about service to the community.  

Best was enlisted in the Army for 3 years where she was committed to representing her country well.  The pillars of leadership she learned translated well into her current role as she learned how to leverage teamwork and camaraderie into establishing a good, fair, and safe society.  

Best joined us for this episode of the podcast to talk about her department’s current initiatives, the idea of holistic policing, and the importance of transparency.