Seattle Mayor Defends Ousting Police Chief, Names Andre Sayles Interim After 1 Fatal Shooting
Updated
Updated · The Urbanist · Aug 1
Seattle Mayor Defends Ousting Police Chief, Names Andre Sayles Interim After 1 Fatal Shooting
3 articles · Updated · The Urbanist · Aug 1
Summary
Mayor Katie Wilson said replacing Chief Shon Barnes after last weekend’s deadly Bite of Seattle shooting will help Seattle “move forward more effectively,” and named Deputy Chief Andre Sayles interim chief.
Wilson tied the move to the shooting response and broader leadership concerns, citing communication lapses, the need for steadier crisis management, stronger internal relationships and a chief more consistently present in Seattle.
Barnes, hired in early 2025, will receive more than $590,000 in a settlement and agreed not to sue the city; Sayles, whom Barnes brought to SPD last year, said he keeps a home in East King County.
The decision drew criticism from councilmembers and Black community leaders, with several officials saying they were not adequately briefed before rumors spread and questioning Wilson’s transparency.
Wilson said the permanent-chief search will follow the city charter, include community engagement and a diverse search committee, though the process is expected to take months.