Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has appointed Deputy Chief Andre Sayles as interim chief of the Seattle Police Department following the resignation of Chief Shon Barnes. The mayor’s office announced Thursday afternoon that Wilson had accepted Barnes’ letter of resignation, and Wilson confirmed at a City Hall news conference Friday that she had asked him to resign earlier in the week. Barnes had been appointed by former mayor Bruce Harrell in late 2024.
The change comes days after the mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle festival that left three people dead and four injured, and after sustained scrutiny of how the mayor’s office and the department communicated with the public and with reporters in the hours afterward. Reports go that the Office of Police Accountability had opened two investigations into Barnes before he resigned, one stemming from a public confrontation with a reporter and one concerning questions about his travel history.
Sayles brings more than twenty years in law enforcement, including a stint as chief of police in Beloit, Wisconsin, and joined SPD in 2025 as deputy chief of administration and investigations. Wilson said she chose him because he has held the job before and could start immediately, and that he had earned the respect of the force. Sayles said the Seattle Center shooting investigation remains a top priority, that officer numbers will increase at summer events, and that he is not seeking the permanent position.
The decision has drawn criticism. City Council President Joy Hollingsworth confirmed the mayor had asked for the resignation, and some critics questioned the timing so soon after the festival shooting. An attorney for Barnes said he was surprised by the request. A group led by Black community leaders has rallied in support of the outgoing chief. Wilson acknowledged communication gaps following the shooting and said she wanted to own her share of them
