BREAKING: Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes resigns after Bite of Seattle shooting

The development came after The Post Millennial obtained records from Cook County, Illinois, showing that the Internal Revenue Service filed a Notice of Federal Tax Lien against Barnes and Stephanie Dance totaling $86,841.14. The lien, recorded on March 11, 2025, states it applies to "all property and rights to property belonging to this taxpayer" and lists Barnes' residence in Park Ridge, Illinois, where his family has continued to live during his tenure as Seattle police chief.

According to reports, Mayor Wilson asked Barnes to resign on Wednesday, just hours after his office was contacted regarding the federal tax lien.

"It has been an honor to serve the Seattle Police Department and this city," Barnes said in the statement. He praised Seattle police officers for their response following the recent Bite of Seattle tragedy and said he hoped his departure would allow the city to "return full focus" to addressing youth gun violence and preventing further tragedies.

Wilson thanked Barnes for his service, saying he had made "substantial contributions to public safety in Seattle" and expressing hope that the city could now focus on public safety priorities.

The mayor also announced the appointment of Deputy Chief Andre Sayles as interim chief of the Seattle Police Department while the city conducts a search for a permanent replacement.

Sayles brings more than two decades of law enforcement experience, including serving as police chief in Beloit, Wisconsin. He joined the Seattle Police Department in 2025 as deputy chief of administration and investigations, where he oversaw the department's Gun Violence Reduction Unit and homicide detectives.

"My vision for public safety in this city is grounded in transparency, trust, and genuine collaboration with the community," Wilson said. "Keeping people safe requires trust, and trust requires that this department shows up in neighborhoods every day, builds relationships with residents, community organizations, and small businesses, and is accountable to the people it serves."

Former Seattle interim police chief and retired sheriff Sue Rahr praised the decision, saying Wilson had acted decisively to rebuild leadership within the department.

Wilson is scheduled to hold a press conference Friday at 11 am at Seattle City Hall to introduce Sayles and provide details on the search for a permanent police chief.

Full statement:

SEATTLE, WA – Today, Mayor Katie B. Wilson accepted a letter of resignation from Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes. Chief Barnes was appointed by Mayor Bruce Harrell in late 2024 and has made substantial contributions to public safety in Seattle.

"It has been an honor to serve the Seattle Police Department and this city," said Chief Barnes. "The men and women of this department show up every single day with professionalism and dedication, and what they did in the aftermath of the Bite of Seattle tragedy reflects the very best of who they are. I am proud of them and I have deep faith in the future of this department and in the vision for community-based policing that is taking root here. Seattle is committed to building a department that is truly connected to the communities it serves, and I believe in where that work is headed. I hope this transition gives the city and this department the opportunity to return full focus to what matters most, addressing youth gun violence and preventing more tragedies. That work is too important, and Seattle deserves nothing less."

"Chief Barnes has served this department and this city with dedication, and I am grateful for his service," said Mayor Wilson. "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."

The mayor is appointing Deputy Chief Andre Sayles as Interim Chief of the Seattle Police Department. Deputy Chief Sayles brings more than 20 years of law enforcement experience, including serving as Chief of Police in Beloit, Wisconsin. In 2025, Sayles joined the Seattle Police Department 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. The mayor believes he is the right interim leader for SPD in this moment and to ensure continuity while the city conducts a thorough search for a permanent chief.

"My vision for public safety in this city is grounded in transparency, trust, and genuine collaboration with the community," said Mayor Wilson. "Keeping people safe requires trust, and trust requires that this department shows up in neighborhoods every day, builds relationships with residents, community organizations, and small businesses, and is accountable to the people it serves."

"This situation is very difficult, and I admire the mayor for acting decisively to move forward and rebuild strong and engaged leadership inside the department so SPD members can build trust with the communities they serve," said Sue Rahr, former SPD Interim Chief and retired Sheriff.

The mayor will hold a press conference tomorrow morning at 11:00 a.m. at City Hall to introduce Chief Sayles and provide information on the process for selecting a permanent chief.

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