WATCH: Seattle Police Chief Announces Retirement After City Council Defunds The Police (VIDEO)

Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best announced her retirement after the city council voted to cut the police department budget. Community members reacted with deep concern in response to Chief Best’s abrupt retirement.

Chief Best stated that the “lack of respect” for police officers was one of the main reasons she chose to retire during a press conference, and President Trump reacted after hearing about Chief Best’s abrupt resignation.

Chief Best also shared, “For me personally, this was a decision I wrestled with, but it was time. I will always be a police officer. It’s who I am. But ultimately, as I learned from my former boss, when you know it’s time to go, you know it’s time to go. After serving this department and this community for almost three decades. I can honestly say I have no regrets. There are things I would change, yes. But being a Seattle police officer and having the opportunity to be the police chief, it was a dream of a lifetime.”

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan stated, “I will admit, that’s why it has been so mystifying to watch the city council plow ahead without ever consulting her, talking to her, or listening to her pleas to be thoughtful. Not to set artificial targets, but instead to have a plan, a plan that focuses on duties, mission, and outcomes. And that’s why it was both infuriating and deeply disappointing that the day after the chief stood in this room and criticized the council’s approach, offered her own approach and vision. The very next day, they voted to slash her salary and the salaries of her whole team.”

Victoria Beach who is the chair of the African-American Community Advisory Council said she was devastated and stated, “I feel like it’s a death. It’s a huge loss. I mean, I think out community is in trouble. We are in big trouble without her.

Click below to watch the video!