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Forced Resignation of Chief Shon Barnes Triggers Seattle Police Leadership Shake-Up; Andre Sayles Named Interim Chief
Though officially announced as a voluntary resignation on July 30, 2026, all indications from City Hall point to a forced departure for Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes, who stepped down under heavy pressure from Mayor Katie Wilson’s administration. The departure follows intense public fallout over the city's communication response to a fatal shooting at the Bite of Seattle festival. Mayor Wilson subsequently appointed Deputy Chief Andre Sayles as interim chief while the city prepares for a national executive search.
