USA30 July, 20262 min read
Mayor Katie Wilson Asked Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes To Resign, Appointed Andre Sayles Interim
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Mayor Katie Wilson asked Chief Shon Barnes to resign. There is conflicting reporting on whether Barnes was fired or resigned.
Resignation After Bite of Seattle
Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes resigned after Mayor Katie Wilson asked for the change, appointing Deputy Chief Andre Sayles as interim chief, according to the mayor’s office announcement Thursday afternoon.
“Yesterday, Seattle Police Chief Dr. Shon Barnes met with Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson who requested his resignation.”
In a statement issued after the mayor’s request, Barnes said, “Yesterday, Seattle Police Chief Dr. Shon Barnes met with Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson who requested his resignation.”
Barnes’ resignation followed days of scrutiny tied to the Bite of Seattle mass shooting at Seattle Center, where Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis addressed the media around 11 p.m. nearly five hours after gunfire, and where police later asked the public to direct tips to 206-233-5000.
The Seattle Times reported that Barnes declined to say whether he was still chief when reached by phone Thursday, adding, “It’s her responsibility as the city’s executive.”
Rally, Dispute, and Quotes
As rumors swirled late Wednesday and into Thursday, Black community organizations rallied at Seattle City Hall in support of Barnes, with KUOW describing uncertainty as the mayor’s office had not released an official statement as of noon Wednesday.
KUOW reported that officials close to Wilson told them the mayor planned to ask Barnes to resign or be fired, while a police source said Barnes was asked to resign, offered a severance package that was "disrespectful," and declined.
At the rally, Sheley Secrest, president of the regional NAACP, said, “That she [the mayor] is going to change the leadership without talking to any of the Black stakeholders for police reform — all of the work that we’ve done, we can’t get a courtesy heads up? It’s insane,” according to KUOW.
The Seattle Times also reported that Barnes, when asked about his job being in jeopardy, said, “This is a time for all of us to come together,” and added, “We should be thinking about the victims and their families.”
What’s at Stake Next
City leaders and community groups framed the leadership change as a question of stability and public safety during an active investigation into the Seattle Center shooting, with KUOW noting the department was four days into an investigation and that at least one suspect was presumed to be at large. Councilmember Rob Saka told KOMO News that it was “not a decision I would have made, especially amid a tragedy,” and he added, “We're still in the middle of a crisis.”
KOMO News also quoted Mayor Wilson’s statement that, “Chief Barnes has served this department and this city with dedication, and I am grateful for his service,” while saying the mayor’s office confirmed a “transition” and named Andre Sayles interim chief. Meanwhile, the Downtown Seattle Association said in a statement that “Seattle had been on a positive course on public safety with police hiring trending up and crime trending down, particularly in the downtown core,” and urged that the next chief “maintain progress that's been made and instill confidence in our community.”