Mayor nominates Shon Barnes as the next Seattle Police Chief
Dec 20, 2024, 9:21 AM | Updated: 2:05 pm
Headshot of Police Chief Shon Barnes, previously with the Madison Police Department in Wisconsin, superimposed over a photo of a Seattle police vehicle. (Photo courtesy of the Madison Police Department and "The Jason Rantz Show" on KTTH)
(Photo courtesy of the Madison Police Department and "The Jason Rantz Show" on KTTH)
Shon Barnes has been nominated as the next Chief of the Seattle Police Department (SPD).
Mayor Bruce Harrell made the announcement Friday following a national search. Barnes has been the Chief of Police in Madison, Wisconsin since 2021.
鈥淚 am very excited to see Chief Shon Barnes join the Seattle Police Department! He has achieved a national reputation for his focus on research and innovation while remaining centered on the core values of community policing,” Interim SPD Chief Sue Rahr said.
The Seattle City Council will have to approve the Mayor’s choice.
“Earlier this week, under tragic circumstances, the nation was introduced to Chief Shon Barnes. We saw firsthand what our team has known throughout this recruitment process 鈥� that Chief Barnes has the leadership, compassion, and dedication needed to advance our Police Department,” said Mayor Harrell in a statement. “I鈥檝e spoken with Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway to express my condolences and support as they process this week鈥檚 tragedy. We remain committed to fighting gun violence through our shared work with the U.S. Conference of Mayors.”
Mayor Harrell added, “Chief Barnes brings proven experience and a forward-looking vision to help us achieve our One Seattle commitment to safety in every neighborhood. I want to thank Chief Sue Rahr for her strong leadership this year. We took a different approach to this search, seeking the best possible chief for SPD鈥檚 future. I am confident Chief Barnes is that leader.”
“I am honored to accept this position and thank Mayor Harrell for his trust. The mayor and I share a vision that crime prevention and community safety are shared responsibilities,” said Barnes in a City of Seattle YouTube video. “My family and I are excited to integrate into Seattle鈥檚 vibrant community. I look forward to working with the dedicated members of the Seattle Police Department.”
In Madison, Barnes was known for his community partnerships, significantly reducing crime. Madison has seen significant decreases in homicides, auto thefts, burglaries, and reports of shots fired in 2024. He has over 12 years of command-level experience and has served as a civilian police accountability executive in Chicago.
“His鈥痑pproach in leading with humanity and experience in community policing will be valuable in building trust with the communities we serve.,” said Jennifer Chao, Director of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.
Barnes has participated in President Obama鈥檚 Task Force on 21st Century Policing and has been recognized by the National Institute of Justice and Radford University’s Center for Police Practice, Policy and Research. He was inducted into the Policing Hall of Fame at George Mason University鈥檚 Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy earlier this year.
“Chief Shon Barnes is a nationally recognized leader and innovator. He is highly principled, fair, and sincere, and has consistently demonstrated great care for his personnel and the communities they serve,” said former SPD Chief Kathleen O鈥橳oole in a statement. “I have no doubt he will provide the stable, effective leadership that SPD deserves.”
The search for the new police chief began in mid-2024, led by Interim Chief Sue Rahr and former Chief Kathleen O鈥橳oole.
Previous coverage: Top choice for Seattle Police chief revealed, has history of controversies
Jason Rantz: Seattle Police chief frontrunner doesn鈥檛 think 2nd Amendment is 鈥榓ppropriate鈥�
Bill Kaczaraba is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here. Follow Bill on X, formerly known as Twitter, and email him here.听
