Seattle Mayor Wilson accepts letter of resignation from Police Chief Barnes as council members slam decision: ‘This is unacceptable’

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson accepted a letter of resignation from Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes Thursday afternoon.

“It has been an honor to serve the Seattle Police Department and this city,” Barnes said in a statement. “The men and women of this department show up every single day with professionalism and dedication, and what they did in the aftermath of the Bite of Seattle tragedy reflects the very best of who they are. I am proud of them, and I have deep faith in the future of this department and in the vision for community-based policing that is taking root here.

“Seattle is committed to building a department that is truly connected to the communities it serves, and I believe in where that work is headed,” he continued. “I hope this transition gives the city and this department the opportunity to return full focus to what matters most, addressing youth gun violence and preventing more tragedies. That work is too important, and Seattle deserves nothing less.”

Wilson thanked Barnes for his service and said she shared his hope of returning the focus to addressing youth gun violence.

“Chief Barnes has served this department and this city with dedication, and I am grateful for his service,” she said in a statement. “The courage and professionalism that the officers of the Seattle Police Department showed deserves to be honored. I share Chief Barnes’ hope that we can return our focus to addressing youth gun violence and ensuring that every family can feel safe in their neighborhood and across the city.”

 

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Wilson appoints Deputy Chief Andre Sayles as Interim SPD Chief

Wilson has appointed Deputy Chief Andre Sayles as Interim Chief of the Seattle Police Department (SPD). Sayles brings more than 20 years of law enforcement experience, including serving as Chief of Police in Beloit, Wisconsin. He joined SPD in 2025 as Deputy Chief of Administration and Investigations.

Wilson’s office said she believes Sayles is the right interim leader as the city searches for a permanent chief.

“My vision for public safety in this city is grounded in transparency, trust, and genuine collaboration with the community,” Wilson stated. “Keeping people safe requires trust, and trust requires that this department shows up in neighborhoods every day, builds relationships with residents, community organizations, and small businesses, and is accountable to the people it serves.”

‘This action is reckless’: Seattle council president calls out Wilson’s decision

Seattle City Council President Joy Hollingsworth confirmed earlier on Thursday that Wilson asked Barnes to resign.

“I was informed by the police chief that he was asked to resign, and I know from the mayor directly he was asked to resign,” Hollingsworth said during a news conference Thursday.

Although Barnes was asked to step down, Hollingsworth said, at the time, that he was still serving as chief.

“He is still working; he is still acting police chief,” she said.

Hollingsworth pushed back on Wilson’s decision to dismiss Barnes, calling it “reckless.”

“This action is reckless,” she said. “I’ve seen the mayor deliver on some things this year that I support, continue to support. Whether it’s the bus lanes along Denny, or it’s the homeless legislation, shelter, we’ve partnered on a number of things. I think at this point in time, this is not the appropriate call that we need to be doing as a city, and it’s not sending the proper message to residents.”

Seattle council members push back against Wilson: ‘Her incompetence has led to poor decision-making’

Multiple sources confirmed to KIRO Newsradio Wednesday night that Barnes was fired from his position. Barnes was initially given the option to resign or be fired, according to sources.

Seattle City Councilmember Rob Saka, vice chair of the Public Safety Committee, released a statement Thursday, saying if the reports turned out to be true, he is “deeply disappointed” by Wilson’s decision.

“At a time when our police department needs stability, consistency, and strong leadership, this decision takes us in the wrong direction,” he stated.

Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck also expressed disappointment for Barnes’ removal and noted she did not receive any update or information from the mayor’s office until mid-morning Thursday.

“While I respect the distinct roles and responsibilities of each branch of government, in order to have a government that works, the city council, the mayor, and the city attorney must work together,” Rinck said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Seattle City Councilmember Maritza Rivera criticized Wilson’s leadership.

“It has been 24 hours since rumors started swirling about the firing of Chief Barnes, and we have not heard one word from Mayor Wilson. This is unacceptable,” she said in a statement. “If true, the impulsive and reckless decision to fire Chief Shon Barnes is the latest in a series of missteps, including her inadequate response to serious gun violence in our city. Her lack of experience and her incompetence have led to poor decision-making and put the safety of our communities at risk.”

Seattle council members, community organizations urge Wilson to reconsider

Rivera commended Barnes for his work on crime reduction and his efforts to build better relationships between police and the community.

“SPD’s and Fire’s handling of the tragic events at Seattle Center was stellar; I have heard that directly from people who were there,” she said. “Instead of commending Chief Barnes’ department for its swift and effective response, it is clear, and very unfortunate, that the mayor has decided to play politics and to pin her delayed and inadequate response to this weekend’s tragedy on a well-respected and effective police chief.”

Saka’s comments aligned with Rivera’s. He said under Barnes’ leadership, Seattle has made meaningful progress, as violent crime has declined and the department has continued to rebuild after years of staffing losses.

“The mayor’s decision completely undermines this progress,” he stated. “I have worked with Chief Barnes and have confidence in his ability to lead. He is a man of integrity, and I believe he is the right person for this job. He is also one of the few Black police chiefs to lead Seattle. Representation matters, particularly as we work to address gun violence and strengthen trust across all of our communities.”

A coalition of at least nine Seattle Black community organizations is attempting to meet with Wilson to urge her to reverse the decision, according to The Seattle Medium. Saka similarly called on Wilson to reconsider.

“I urge Mayor Wilson to reconsider this decision and explain why removing a chief who has overseen measurable improvements in public safety is in the city’s best interest,” he stated. “Seattle cannot afford another period of uncertainty at the top of its police department.”

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