Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes Discusses Youth Violence and School Resource Officers
After two Rainier Beach High School students were shot and killed last week, Seattle Police Department (SPD) Chief Shon Barnes held a press conference, followed by a conversation with The Big O at the Northwest African American Museum in Seattle’s Central District. The Chief discussed youth violence, the evolving challenges of public safety, and the role of police officers in schools.
Addressing Group Violence in Seattle
While Chief Barnes reported significant crime reduction across the board in 2025, he acknowledged these statistics were “not a victory lap" but "the first lap in a long marathon toward public safety.”
"We have group violence here in Seattle. Whether they are organized gangs where they give money to a hierarchy, I don't know. But we do have organized group violence here and it is a problem,” Barnes said.
The Chief shared data that SPD gathered on individuals who had been arrested or caught with a gun more than four times in the last 18 months. This search produced a list of about 90 people, many of whom are juveniles. While SPD cannot release juvenile information, Barnes said there needs to be a way to connect with community members and organizations to get these children on the right path.
Reflecting on the "fractured" nature of modern neighborhoods, The Chief stressed the need for community engagement to support young people and activate spaces, suggesting street fairs and block parties as ways to re-establish a sense of community.
"We all know it takes a village to raise a child, but the second part to that is, 'The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down just to feel the warmth,’” he said.
Support for School Resource Officers (SROs)
Addressing the debate over School Resource Officers (SROs), Barnes drew on his background as a former educator and officer to advocate for their presence as a preventative resource to ensure student safety. He stated that his position on SROs is “unchanged,” advocating for their presence as a preventative resource to ensure student safety.
As a former SRO, SRO supervisor, and school teacher who navigated a school shooting, Chief Barnes said he understood the role of the police in schools. He emphasized that everyone can play a part and that the police department is ready to partner with the community or encourage philanthropists and the city to get involved.
"I hope that we can reach some type of compromise with our community because, quite frankly, our kids' lives are at stake and I want to do everything within my little scope of authority to help."
Reporting an Overall Reduction In Crime
During the press conference, Chief Barnes reported a significant reduction in crime in 2025, including a 36% reduction in homicides. He said the homicide clearance rate Improved dramatically from 57% in 2024 to 86% in 2025. The clearance rate means closure was brought to 32 of 37 families affected by homicide.
Additionally, he reported that the number of people struck by gunfire decreased by 36%, and reports of shots fired fell by 12%. Officers recovered over 1,500 firearms, an increase of 74%. Stolen vehicles reduced by 24%, burglaries decreased by 18%, and car prowling decreased by 7%.
Initiatives Driving Progress:
Barnes attributed SPD's success in 2025 to several initiatives:
Increased Workforce: The department hired 167 officers and saw a net increase of 94 officers.
Police Neighborhood Resource Officer (PNR) Program: A pilot program placing officers in specific communities—including Magnuson Park, Third and Pine, and 12th and Jackson—to dedicate efforts to community concerns and crime reduction. A 90-day pilot with two volunteer officers in the Magnuson Park area resulted in a 4% decrease in 911 calls and a 9% decrease in property crime, Barnes said. This pilot is now a permanent assignment in the North Precinct.
Enhanced Crime Pattern Analysis: The department created an automatic trigger for action: four "significant incidents" within a quarter-mile radius over seven days will trigger a crime bulletin, special emphasis patrol, increased patrol activity, community education, and investigative action.
Summer Park Safety Plan: A comprehensive plan involving other city departments, including Parks, SDOT, Fire, and Lights.
Looking ahead to 2026, Chief Barnes said the department plans to expand the neighborhood officer program to include Third and Pine, Belltown, and 12th in Jackson. It will also continue the Summer Park Safety Plan and preparations for the FIFA World Cup.
Do you support independent Black Media? Then consider donating to Converge and supporting our mission here.
