Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes stepped down on Thursday following a mayoral ultimatum and heavy public criticism over the city’s communication surrounding a deadly festival shooting according to KUOW. Mayor Katie Wilson announced the departure, making it official after hours of speculation and radio silence from the mayor’s office reported by The Guardian.
Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes Resigns Amid Festival Shooting Fallout
Barnes tendered his resignation Thursday after reports surfaced the previous night that Mayor Wilson gave him an ultimatum to either resign or face termination noted by KUOW. In a joint statement with the mayor, Barnes remarked, It has been an honor to serve the Seattle Police Department and this city.
Appointed by former Mayor Bruce Harrell in December 2024 after previously serving as chief in Madison, Wisconsin, Barnes was the second Black police chief in Seattle stated The Guardian.
Bite of Seattle Festival Shooting Triggers Leadership Crisis
The sudden leadership change follows a mass shooting on Sunday at the Bite of Seattle, an annual three-day festival drawing hundreds of performers, vendors, and visitors detailed by The Guardian. Gunfire erupted while Barnes was out of town at a law enforcement conference according to The Guardian. The shooting left three people dead—including one suspect—and four others wounded, including a two-year-old boy noted The Guardian.
City officials faced intense backlash over slow and conflicting communication in the aftermath of the violence reported by KUOW. After an initial social media post about multiple victims, police took nearly five hours to provide additional public updates or clarify whether an active threat remained stated The Guardian. Mayor Wilson also retracted a premature statement announcing that two individuals had been taken into custody reported by The Guardian. Assistant Police Chief Tyrone Davis finally delivered an update late Sunday night during a news conference alongside Mayor Wilson, Governor Bob Ferguson, and U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal noted The Guardian.
Mayor Wilson Appoints Deputy Chief Andre Sayles as Interim Chief
To stabilize the department, Mayor Wilson appointed Deputy Chief Andre Sayles as interim chief westseattleblog.com. Sayles is a law enforcement veteran with more than two decades of experience, which includes serving as police chief in Beloit, Wisconsin noted by The Guardian and westseattleblog.com.
Sayles joined the Seattle Police Department in 2025 as Deputy Chief of Administration and Investigations westseattleblog.com. Mayor Wilson expressed confidence that Sayles will prevent operational interruptions during the active investigation reported by KUOW. The mayor scheduled a press conference at City Hall to introduce Sayles and outline the search process for a permanent chief westseattleblog.com.
Community Reactions and Concerns Over Departmental Stability
Barnes’ departure drew swift pushback from community organizations and city lawmakers reported by The Guardian. Groups including the Seattle NAACP and the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle rallied to defend his tenure, praising his efforts to improve community relations, reduce gun violence, and strengthen operations stated The Guardian. In an open letter, supporters argued that Barnes should not be made a scapegoat for complex public safety challenges reported by U.S. News & World Report.
At least six City Council members voiced public support for Barnes usnews.com. Council President Joy Hollingsworth, Public Safety Chair Bob Kettle, Councilmember Dan Strauss, and Councilmember Debora Juarez released a joint statement emphasizing leadership continuity reported by KUOW. Having cycled through four police chiefs in just two and a half years, our priority must be stability, not further disruption,
the council members stated according to KUOW.
