Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes has resigned following an announcement on Thursday by Mayor Katie Wilson after hours of speculation regarding whether the mayor would terminate him. Deputy Chief Andre Sayles, a law enforcement veteran with more than two decades of experience, has been appointed to serve as interim chief according to apnews.com.
Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes Resigns Following Festival Shooting
The abrupt leadership change follows a mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival at the Seattle Center on Sunday, July 26, 2026, which left three people dead and four others wounded. Among the injured victims was a 2-year-old boy. Barnes was Seattle’s second Black police chief, having been appointed in December 2024 by previous mayor Bruce Harrell after serving as the police chief in Madison, Wisconsin. When Mayor Katie Wilson won the mayoral race last year, she retained Barnes as chief.
Communication Failures and Public Scrutiny
Both the Seattle Police Department and Mayor Wilson faced intense scrutiny in the days following the shooting regarding communication strategies and delayed public information. Following an initial social media post announcing the shooting, it took nearly five hours for police to provide additional details to the public, including whether an ongoing threat remained. Additionally, the city did not send out emergency alert system notifications, and Wilson retracted a statement announcing that two people had been taken into custody.
Assistant Seattle Police Chief Tyrone Davis provided an update around 11 p.m. Sunday during a news conference attended by the mayor, Gov. Bob Ferguson, and U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal. In a video statement released Thursday afternoon, Mayor Wilson pointed to “real gaps” in the city’s communication strategies and stated that the city will work with the police department to ensure faster communications in future emergencies.
Community Backlash and Support for Barnes
Before his resignation was finalized, Barnes’ supporters and several Black community organizations rallied to save his job. Organizations including the Seattle NAACP and the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle issued an open letter to the mayor’s office defending the chief. Civil rights lawyer James Bible met with Wilson alongside a small group of Black leaders early Thursday to discuss the leadership situation.
The open letter stated, Chief Barnes should not be made a scapegoat for the complex challenges of public safety,
calling the removal the wrong decision at the wrong time.
Supporters credited Barnes with improving community relations, helping reduce gun violence, and strengthening department operations. At least six City Council members also issued supporting statements, with four signing a message emphasizing that stability should be prioritized over further disruption, noting that Seattle has had four chiefs in less than three years.
Transition of Leadership as Weekend Events Approach
Following private conversations that began when Mayor Wilson requested his resignation, Barnes offered his voluntary resignation through HKM Employment Attorneys LLP. In his statement, Barnes expressed gratitude to the department’s officers and staff, noting that the city’s focus should center on the investigation of the tragedy, justice for victims, and healing.
Interim chief Andre Sayles steps into the leadership role as Seattle heads into another major festival weekend, with the Seafair Weekend Festival 2026—encompassing a boating event, air show, and festival—scheduled to start on Friday. Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies continue to search for at least one other person connected to the festival shooting investigation.
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