Several Seattle City Councilmembers told KOMO News that Mayor Katie Wilson asked Police Chief Shon Barnes to resign Wednesday night, and the mayor confirmed to the council that there will be a “transition” in the Chief’s office.
The decision followed heavy criticism over the Police Department’s delay in sharing details about Sunday night’s shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle. At the time, Barnes was attending a law enforcement conference, which sparked more questions about how often he’s out of state.
Wilson said in an interview that she and Barnes made the decision together. In a statement through his employment lawyers, Barnes said Wilson asked for his resignation, which he gave voluntarily.
The mayor’s office released a statement announcing the resignation and named Deputy Chief Andre Sayles as Interim Chief of the Seattle Police Department.
Mayor Wilson: "Chief Barnes has served this department and this city with dedication, and I am grateful for his service... 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.”
So yeah, a DEI hire fails like usual.
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