Mayor Jenny Durkan’s office has announced that Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole will step down from her office by Dec. 31. Deputy Chief Carmen Best will serve as interim chief the Mayor said in a press release.

O’Toole became Chief in June 2015. Prior to coming to Seattle she served as Boston’s first female police commissioner from 2004 to 2006.

In an press conference held at City Hall Durkan said that the search for a new chief will begin in January led by four co-chairs:

• Jeff Robinson, deputy legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union and director of the ACLU Trone Center for Justice.
• Tim Burgess, former cop, city council member, and interim mayor. 
• Colleen Echohawk, executive director of Seattle Chief Club.
• Sue Rahr, former King County Sheriff and current executive director of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission.

The mayor said she hopes to have the process completed as soon as possible in 2018.

Chief O'Toole who was on hand for the announcement said, "This has been a very difficult decision, difficult because I love this city, difficult because I care deeply about the Seattle Police Department, and more than anything, I love being a cop."