Key facts
- Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes resigned on Thursday.
- The resignation follows criticism of the police department's response to a fatal shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival.
- Mayor Katie Wilson appointed Deputy Chief Andre Sayles as interim police chief.
- Three people were killed and four wounded in the shooting at the food festival.
- Community organizations advocated for Barnes to remain chief, citing his positive impact on community relations and public safety operations.
Seattle's police chief, Shon Barnes, resigned on Thursday amid criticism of the department's response to a fatal shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival last weekend. Mayor Katie Wilson announced the resignation, stating she was appointing Deputy Chief Andre Sayles as interim chief.
Barnes was reportedly out of town at a law enforcement conference when the shooting occurred, which resulted in three deaths and four injuries, including a 2-year-old boy. Police have stated that at least one 15-year-old suspect was quickly apprehended, but they are still searching for at least one other individual.
Both the Seattle Police Department and Mayor Wilson faced criticism for slow and confusing communication in the aftermath of the shooting. An initial social media post announcing the shooting was followed by nearly five hours before police provided further information, and a statement about two people being taken into custody was later retracted.
Despite the criticism, several Black community organizations, including the Seattle NAACP and the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, rallied to support Barnes, crediting him with improving community relations, reducing gun violence, and strengthening departmental operations. They argued in an open letter that Barnes should not be made a scapegoat for complex public safety challenges.
Civil rights lawyer James Bible met with Mayor Wilson early Thursday, expressing hope that she would reconsider the decision. Barnes was appointed by Seattle's previous mayor, Bruce Harrell, in December 2024, after serving as chief in Madison, Wisconsin. Wilson, who won the mayor's race last year, had kept Barnes on as chief, signaling a continuity in public safety approach.
Barnes has also faced scrutiny for his travel to Chicago, where his family resides, making four trips this year totaling approximately 18 days. He was named Seattle's chief of police five days after demonstrating "impressive leadership capabilities" during an investigation into a shooting at a religious school in Wisconsin.