Mayor-elect Katie Wilson sticks with Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes

Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes' emphasis on community policing and collaboration with other city departments convinced Mayor-elect Katie Wilson to keep him when she takes office next year.

In one of her first mayoral moves, Wilson on Wednesday announced she would retain Barnes, who was hired by incumbent Mayor Bruce Harrell earlier this year, along with Fire Chief Harold Scoggins, CARE Chief Amy Barden and Office of Emergency Management Director Curry Mayer.

Public safety as a shared responsibility requires police, other agencies, community leaders and businesses to work together, Wilson said in a statement. She added it is time "to build a coordinated, modern system that reflects that shared responsibility and helps us address our most difficult challenges," including gun violence, behavioral health and substance abuse.

Wilson's move drew praise from the Downtown Seattle Association, which during the campaign found that Wilson was "not aligned" with the pro-business DSA.

https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2025/12/11/mayor-katie-wilson-shon-barnes-police-department.html