Seattle police chief Shon Barnes resigns after criticism of response to Bite of Seattle shooting
Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes resigned July 30 after criticism of the city’s response and release of information following a fatal shooting at the Bite of Seattle festival. Deputy Chief Andre Sayles has been appointed interim chief of the Seattle Police Department.
The change puts Sayles in charge while the city begins the process of recruiting a permanent chief. Mayor Katie Wilson said the permanent-chief search would begin soon, though the available reporting did not provide a timetable for selecting a candidate.
Mayor says decision involved multiple factors
In a July 31 follow-up, Wilson said multiple factors informed the decision involving Barnes. The controversy over communications connected to the festival shooting was among the issues, but Wilson said the decision was not based on that matter alone.
Barnes resigned. The available reports do not fully disclose the terms of his departure, so they do not establish that he was fired.
The leadership transition comes as the Seattle Police Department faces scrutiny over its handling of the shooting and the information released afterward. The department will operate under Sayles’s interim leadership while the city recruits a permanent chief.
Fatal shooting occurred during festival weekend
The shooting took place during the weekend of Bite of Seattle, a three-day food festival. It was fatal, and a 2-year-old boy was among those injured, according to Associated Press reporting.
Court documents cited by the AP identified a 15-year-old suspect in connection with the shooting. The available reports do not provide a complete casualty count or a full account of the events at the festival.
The case highlights the immediate public-safety and communications questions surrounding a major Seattle event while the city navigates a change in police leadership. The confirmed next step is the permanent-chief search announced by Wilson; no deadline for completing that search was disclosed in the available reports.
What happens next
Sayles will lead the department on an interim basis as the search proceeds. Wilson has said the search will begin soon, but the reporting available does not specify how candidates will be selected or when a permanent chief will be named.