(The Center Square) – The head of the Seattle Police Officers Guild says the chaotic events this week in the wake of the Sunday evening shooting at the Bite of Seattle may have “presented an opportunity for the mayor’s office” to force out former Police Chief Shon Barnes.
“I think the mayor maybe wanted him out for a bit,” said SPOG President Kent Loux in a Friday morning interview with The Center Square.
On Thursday afternoon, Mayor Katie Wilson announced that she accepted a letter of resignation from Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes. The move came following growing criticism of the city’s response to a deadly mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle last Sunday evening that left three people dead and several wounded.
The Seattle Police Department and city officials faced criticism after waiting several hours to hold a news conference about the shooting. Barnes did not attend as he was out of town attending the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives Conference, hosted in Dallas.
On Monday morning, Barnes was present for a news conference and following that event Barnes was captured on video in a confrontational interaction with a reporter.
The Center Square asked Loux why he thought Wilson forced Barnes out and what the rank-and-file thought of their former chief.
“I think that this presented an opportunity for the mayor’s office, potentially. That outburst with that reporter didn’t help, and obviously, the optics of that weren’t good. I think we all have our moments where we don’t shine the way we want to,” said Loux.
“I do think it was a bit rushed,” he said noting that with the week they’ve all had and the fallout since the shooting, he wishes the mayor had given some time to let everything settle down before deciding about the chief.
Barnes had been in the police chief’s position for less than 19 months. He was the choice of former Mayor Bruce Harrell in January 2025. After Wilson defeated Harrell in November 2025 for the position, she decided to keep Barnes on as chief.
Loux said Barnes seemed to understand the importance of working with union members.
“I think he was good for us from a labor perspective. And running things by the union…from my perspective…he was a good partner. Again, I think the decision was made maybe a little rushed. I was developing a good relationship with him,” said Loux.
He said union members also have a good relationship with Interim Chief Andre Sayles.
“I really do like him,” he said. “I think he’ll also be good for our members. There’s still going to be a lot of turmoil there. I mean, they’re still conducting the nationwide search. We’ll have to see what that renders.”
Loux expressed disappointment that with all the attention on the failed communications from the city after the shooting, and then the police chief fallout, the heroic efforts of officers Sunday night were overlooked.
“We had such a fantastic response that it got quickly overshadowed by a delayed press conference. And it really wasn’t talked about. So that was a little bit of a disappointment. I mean every video you see; officers are running towards gunfire with complete disregard for their own safety, saving the lives they could save,” Loux said.
At Friday morning’s press conference, Wilson thanked Barnes for his service and discussed in general why she asked for his resignation Wednesday night, but did not offer specific details beyond saying “multiple factors” such as communication failures following Sunday’s shooting lead to her decision.
“So I think there’s a lot of things we can learn from how Sunday unfolded, and we’re really committed to moving forward in a better way, and this leadership change I think will facilitate that,” Wilson said at the press conference.
Reporters asked several questions seeking more details on the timing and thoughts behind Wilson’s decision but did not receive any additional details.