SEATTLE (KOMO) — Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson confirmed during a news conference at City Hall on Friday to introduce Interim Chief Sayles that she asked Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes to resign earlier this week.
Wilson appointed Deputy Chief Andre Sayles as Interim Chief of the Seattle Police Department (SPD) and introduced Sayles at the news conference, while sharing details on the process for a permanent chief.
A copy of the resignation letter:
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WATCH: Seattle mayor gives update on police chief transition after Shon Barnes resigns
During the briefing, both Interim Chief Sayles and the mayor took questions from reporters. Sayles reassured the public that, “the ongoing investigation in the Seattle Center shooting remains a top priority.” Sayles also said that there will be an increase in officers at all events this summer.
Sayles thanked Mayor Wilson, who said she had confidence in Chief Sayles’ leadership.
The search for a permanent police chief will follow the process of the city charter and focus on moving forward with urgency, the mayor said. “We will build real community engagement into every stage of this search,” said Wilson.
Former Chief Barnes will get a lump sum of around $600,000, plus he will keep the $50,000 signing bonus and the $60,000 relocation benefit.
A copy of the resignation settlement:
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The mayor went on to say that Seattle communities need to be a part of choosing the search committee so residents can help shape it.
Wilson listed multiple things she is looking for in a new chief, including someone who keeps “travel to an appropriate minimum,” and is able to “navigate the inevitable criticism that comes with the job and who can course correct with grace when needed.”
The comments were pointed towards former Police Chief Shon Barnes, who came under scrutiny this week for his travel and that he was not in town on the night of Sunday’s mass shooting. Barnes also had a heated confrontation with a reporter that was caught on camera when asked about his travel calendar.
“We are looking for an effective leader from top to bottom, listening to and building relationships with those leading officers across the city,” the mayor said.
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When asked about the reason for former Chief Barnes’s resignation, the mayor mentioned it was a combination of multiple factors and failures, and they are “effectively moving forward with this change,” the mayor said.
“I asked him to resign,” Wilson at the end of the press conference and walked off.
Former Chief Barnes faced criticism for traveling out of the city, and not being present on the day of the Bite of Seattle mass shooting that left three dead and four others injured.
Interim Chief Sayles said he is friends with former Chief Barnes, acknowledged the work Barnes had done over the past year, and said he is not yet seeking the permanent position of Chief.
RELATED: Seattle police chief resigns amid fallout from mass shooting, mayor names interim chief
Mayor Wilson also mentioned the communication gaps all around following the Bite of Seattle shooting, and wanted to own her part. Communication between Seattle police and the Mayor’s office needs improvement, the mayor acknowledged.
Sayles has more than 20 years of law enforcement experience, including serving as Chief of Police in Beloit, Wisconsin. Sayles joined the SPD in 2025 as Deputy Chief of Administration and Investigations.
“Under his oversight, SPD’s Gun Violence Reduction Unit and homicide detectives have continued to close difficult cases, including the arrest of a suspect in the fatal shooting of two teenagers near Rainier Beach High School,” a press release from the Mayor’s Office said Thursday.
“The mayor believes he is the right Interim leader for SPD in this moment and to ensure continuity while we conduct a thorough search for a permanent chief,” the release stated.
