Katie Wilson has ‘no plan now’ for public safety: Seattle Councilmember Kettle demands charter compliance from the mayor

Seattle City Council’s Public Safety Committee is demanding Mayor Katie Wilson provide a written explanation for why former Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes was asked to resign.

Bob Kettle, a member of the Seattle City Council since 2024, joined “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio to say the unanswered letter is one of several unresolved questions testing whether Wilson will follow the City of Seattle charter.

“We have to protect the equities of the legislative branch of government. We have to protect the integrity of our city charter,” Kettle said. “If we start excusing or not following the city charter in different ways, then why have the city charter?”

When asked what would happen if Wilson doesn’t provide the written explanation for why Barnes was asked to resign, which is required under the city charter, Kettle said the council would respond but stopped short of naming a specific consequence.

“Then we call it out, and then we take whatever actions that we can do,” Kettle said. “It shows whether she does respect her oath.”

Seattle City Council upset with Wilson’s public safety strategy

Kettle also criticized Wilson’s public safety approach more broadly, saying the city lacks a single, coordinated strategy.

“There is no plan now,” Kettle said. “Contrary to the mayor’s position, we have to have a single overarching plan that shows the leadership, shows the direction, shows the true north of what we’re trying to accomplish in public safety. Right now, the mayor does not have an overarching, comprehensive, North Star type of public safety plan.”

Kettle said he opposed Barnes’ removal and believes the former chief had the qualifications the city should look for in his successor.

“Yes, he did,” Kettle said, when asked if Barnes had the qualities he wants in the next chief. “He had a strong background in policing. He had the reform piece far and away.”

Asked directly whether the council and mayor’s office are cooperating, Kettle didn’t dispute the premise that the two sides are working separately.

“Right now, as it seems from the outside, it is fraught right now. I could not say it any other way,” Kettle said. “There are issues between the seventh floor and the second floor, particularly in the area of communications.”

Kettle said an Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigation into the city’s response to the Bite of Seattle shooting is examining the mayor’s office directly, not just the police department.

“The OIG investigation into the Bite of Seattle is not an investigation of SPD,” Kettle said. “It is an investigation of the executive. It includes SPD, also OEM, Fire, SDOT, but also the mayor and the mayor’s office.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

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