Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is considering removing the city's police chief, Shon Barnes, following criticism of the department's response to a fatal shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival. Wilson asked Barnes to resign, but he declined, according to Sheley Secrest, president of the Washington state NAACP. Wilson's office has not publicly commented on the matter.
Barnes, who was out of town at a law enforcement conference when the shooting occurred last weekend, stated that his position as chief is "up to the mayor." The incident at the festival resulted in three deaths, including one suspect, and wounded four people, including a 2-year-old boy. Police are still seeking at least one additional suspect.
Both the Seattle Police Department and Mayor Wilson's administration have drawn criticism for what has been described as slow and confusing communication following the event. An initial social media post reported a shooting with multiple victims, but it took nearly five hours for police to release further information, including details about any ongoing threats. Wilson's earlier statement that two people had been taken into custody was later retracted.
An update was provided by Assistant Police Chief Tyrone Davis around 11 p.m. Sunday during a news conference attended by Wilson, Gov. Bob Ferguson, and U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal.
Barnes, Seattle's second Black police chief, was appointed in December 2024 by former Mayor Bruce Harrell. Upon taking office, Mayor Wilson, who had previously supported defunding the police, kept Barnes in his role, which was seen as a signal of continuity in public safety approaches.
Several prominent Black community organizations, including the Seattle NAACP and the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, have rallied in support of Barnes, advocating for him to remain chief. In an open letter to the mayor's office, these groups credited Barnes with improving community relations, contributing to a reduction in gun violence, and strengthening departmental operations. They argued that removing him now would disrupt progress in public safety and that he should not be blamed for complex public safety challenges, especially following the shooting at the Bite of Seattle.
Civil rights lawyer James Bible was part of a group of Black leaders who met with Wilson on Thursday. Bible stated that Wilson did not reveal her decision-making process but appeared to be considering their arguments for retaining Barnes. He expressed hope that Wilson would reconsider her decision and establish clear criteria for future leadership evaluations.
Political consultant Sandeep Kaushik commented that the uncertainty surrounding the chief's position has made Wilson appear "weak and vacillating."
Barnes has faced scrutiny for spending time in Chicago, where his family resides. A police department spokesperson confirmed that Barnes has made four trips to Chicago this year, totaling approximately 18 days, in addition to travel for police executive and recruitment conferences. Barnes was named chief of police in Seattle shortly after gaining national attention for his leadership during an investigation into a shooting at a Wisconsin religious school that resulted in fatalities.