‘This decision is out of my hands’: SPD Chief weighs in on Katie Wilson restricting police surveillance cameras ahead of FIFA World Cup

Following a directive from Mayor Katie Wilson, the Seattle Police Department (SPD) will not tap into closed-caption television (CCTV) cameras to monitor the hundreds of thousands of soccer fans expected to travel to the city during this summer’s World Cup, unless an incident is deemed a credible threat.

“But for an event that big, why not use every available tool that you have?” KIRO host Ursula Reutin asked SPD Chief Shon Barnes Tuesday morning.

“We’re operating off the mayor’s directive that we can proceed with the camera installation in the Pioneer Square stadium area. However, we’re not allowed to turn those cameras on unless there is a credible threat,” Barnes answered. “Obviously, we’re monitoring all of our channels. I’m speaking with the FBI almost weekly, looking at what threats we may have to the games. At the time that I think I need to make a case to the mayor on credible threats, I feel comfortable in doing so.”

According to SPD data, 10 homicides in 2025 were solved by using Seattle’s Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) CCTV cameras. The Real Time Crime Center is a police surveillance hub that uses both CCTV cameras and Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) to monitor areas with high amounts of crime.

“If those cameras solved murders, what potentially is the cost to the community for turning them off?” KIRO host Gee Scott asked.

“This decision is out of my hands at this particular time,” Barnes replied. “We’ve given all the information that we can give. We have made the case, and my instruction to folks is to follow our existing rules, and we will allow the decision makers, policy makers, people who will be guiding the future of what the Real Time Crime Center will look like here in Seattle.”

He additionally shared that the cameras assisted in 17 homicide cases.

Last week, protestors at City Hall demanded for Wilson to permanently dismantle the city’s entire surveillance camera network, including SPD’s Real Time Crime Center. Many fear camera footage can be used by federal agents for immigration enforcement or other uses.

Gee and Ursula share thoughts on Wilson’s decision after the interview

“Idea of not having cameras, I know that’s the new mayor’s position, but you’ve got so many people coming into this area from everywhere, and you’re taking away an important tool in one of the biggest events in this city in a long time,” Ursula said. “It makes zero sense.”

The World Cup, which officially starts on June 15 in Seattle with a match between Egypt and Belgium at Lumen Field, is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of fans from all over the globe. During the emergency operations tour, April Putney, the Chief Strategy Officer for Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026, said they’ve seen tickets for games at Lumen being purchased by people in 180 different countries.

SPD Captain Daniel Nelson shared with KIRO Newsradio that the city has successfully used CCTV at other large events in the past, such as Taylor Swift concerts and the MLB All-Star Game.

“First of all, that police chief was between a rock and a hard place. Boy. I mean, he’s like, ‘Hey, I’m just doing my job, right?’ He almost said the Marshawn Lynch, ‘I’m just here so I don’t get fined,’ right?” Gee said. “This is what law enforcement does, they know what it takes to solve crimes and what it takes to do a better job of keeping us safe.

“I got to tell you, Mayor Wilson’s office, I don’t like what you guys are doing,” Gee continued. “It reminds me, let’s go back to yesteryear. There was a group of people who were going around saying, ‘Defund the police.’ Hear me out for a sec. So the same folks that was saying ‘defund the police’ are here today talking about, we need to shut off some cameras. I’m so sick and tired of this. Here’s the crazy part: People who live in these neighborhoods would welcome these cameras.”

Contributing: Luke Duecy, KIRO Newsradio

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.