Sacramento police chief Rick Braziel has withdrawn his name from the running for Seattle Police Chief.

Braziel, a popular chief who had received a dual endorsement (along with current interim police chief John Diaz) from the Seattle police officers' union, told Mayor Mike McGinn last night that he planned to stay in Sacramento, where he has served as chief since 2007.

Braziel told the Sacramento Bee , "I know what I have here. I'm comfortable. I just didn't see the same level of satisfaction up there."

"It had to be a good fit to leave Sacramento," Braziel said. "I'm very happy here."

In a statement, McGinn said, “I am disappointed Sacramento Police Chief Rick Braziel withdrew his name today from consideration for our city’s next police chief.  He was a strong candidate. I appreciated meeting him and learning about the remarkable things he has accomplished in Sacramento.  I was impressed with his candor and the thoughts he shared during the candidates’ public forum last week in Seattle.  The people of Sacramento are lucky to have him."

City council public safety committee chair Tim Burgess called Braziel's withdrawal "disappointing."

"He was a very strong contender, so that's unfortunate," Burgess said, although "it's probably unlikely that he would have been appointed."

Braziel was widely regarded as the most qualified of the three candidates. However, McGinn has reportedly been impressed with East Palo Alto chief Ron Davis, who has pitched himself as a national expert on racial profiling and a "passionate" advocate for social justice. Davis, who currently manages just 40 officers, is widely viewed as the riskier of the two remaining candidates. Diaz, in contrast, is seen as the safer choice. McGinn's choice will ultimately have to be confirmed by the city council.

McGinn's office declined to comment further on Braziel's withdrawal from consideration.