In a media briefing this afternoon in California, Sacramento Police Chief Rick Braziel explained his decision to drop out of the running to become Seattle's top cop.

"I've got a great spot here," Braziel told the assembled Sacramento press corps. Braziel said he made his decision Tuesday night to stay because "it needed to be a good fit in Seattle." Apparently it wasn't.

Braziel said getting a $15,000 per year raise didn't sway him. "I needed to find out what Seattle was about," he said.

"I haven't asked for a single dime," Braziel said. "Seattle didn't prompt me to ask for anything additional out of the City of Sacramento."

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson said the decision to give Braziel more money was based on an agreement first forged when he was promoted to the job two and a half years ago.

Braziel was clearly ready to move on and be done with the job hunt process. "I've asked command staff, if I ever do this again, to smack me," Braziel said.

Braziel was also asked if Seattle's budget woes made him second think a move to the Pacific Northwest. "It's not a financial issue at all," Braziel said, noting Seattle's relatively huge quarter of a billion dollar city budget compared to Sacramento's $132 million.