By GENE JOHNSON and MARTHA BELLISLE
Ruth Bayang contributed to this report
“I’m confident that we have the right pieces in place to make sure we have a safe weekend coming up with Seafair.”
That was the message Thursday from Seattle City Councilmember Eddie Lin, who represents District 2, including the Chinatown-International District (CID), following the resignation of Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes just one day before one of the city’s largest summer celebrations.
Seattle City Councilmember Eddie Lin addressed TV reporters on July 30, 2026. Screen capture from YouTube/@KOMONews
With thousands expected to attend Seafair events across Seattle this weekend, Lin said residents should have confidence that public safety efforts extend far beyond a single leader.
“It’s not just one person that keeps our entire community safe,” Lin said. “It’s the whole police department and our whole community.”
His comments come as Mayor Katie Wilson announced Barnes’ resignation in the wake of last weekend’s deadly shooting at the Bite of Seattle festival. Deputy Chief Andre Sayles has been appointed interim police chief as the city moves through another major public event.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, center, and Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes, left, attend the vigil for victims the day after a shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle food festival, Monday, July 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
In a written statement, the mayor said she was grateful for Barnes’ service. The statement included comments in which Barnes called it an honor to have served the city.
“I hope this transition gives the city and this department the opportunity to return full focus to what matters most, addressing youth gun violence and preventing more tragedies,” Barnes said.
Barnes was out of town at a law enforcement conference when gunfire erupted last weekend at the Bite of Seattle. Three people, including one suspect, were killed, and four people were wounded. One of the injured was a 2-year-old boy.
Dozens of officers were at the event, and at least one saw a 15-year-old suspect firing into a crowd and quickly persuaded him to surrender, according to court documents. Police are still searching for at least one other person.
While Wilson credited the quick police response with potentially saving lives, she acknowledged that the city was slow to communicate in the aftermath.
After an initial social media post announcing the shooting, it took nearly five hours for police to provide any additional information to the public, including whether there was any ongoing threat. The city also failed to send out any notifications through its emergency alert system. In the meantime Wilson announced that two people had been taken into custody, a statement she later retracted.
Assistant Seattle Police Chief Tyrone Davis finally provided an update around 11 p.m. Sunday during a news conference that was also attended by the mayor, Gov. Bob Ferguson and U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal.
“What I did not fully understand in that moment was how little information had reached the public or the press since the incident began at 6 p.m.,” Wilson said in a video statement Thursday. “Had I known that, I would have pushed for an immediate briefing, rather than waiting for a press conference to be organized.”
Barnes was the second Black police chief in Seattle
Several Black community organizations, including the Seattle NAACP and the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, rallied to try to save his job Thursday. In an open letter to the mayor’s office, they credited him with improving relations between the department and the community, helping reduce gun violence and strengthening the department’s operations.
“Chief Barnes should not be made a scapegoat for the complex challenges of public safety,” the letter said.
At least six City Council members issued statements supporting Barnes. A statement signed by four of them pointed out that the city has had four chiefs in less than three years.
“Our priority must be stability, not further disruption,” it said.
Barnes was appointed by Seattle’s previous mayor, Bruce Harrell, in December 2024 after serving as chief of the Madison, Wisconsin, police department.
When Wilson—a democratic socialist who once supported defunding police—won the mayor’s race last year, she kept Barnes on as chief.
Barnes faced some criticism for spending time in Chicago, where his family lives. Sgt. Patrick Michaud, a department spokesperson, said Thursday that Barnes has made four trips to Chicago this year and spent in total about 18 days traveling there.
Why the transition matters to the CID
For the CID, the leadership transition comes at a time when public safety continues to be one of the neighborhood’s biggest concerns. Residents, business owners and community advocates have spent years calling for stronger responses to gun violence, crime and the ongoing challenges around the 12th Avenue South and South Jackson Street corridor.
Lin acknowledged those concerns while emphasizing stability.
“I believe we have strong assistant chiefs and other folks in the police department who can step up,” he said. “I’m confident that we have the right pieces in place.”
Reflecting on his time working with Barnes, Lin said the city has made progress but acknowledged that neighborhoods like the CID and Southeast Seattle continue to face significant public safety challenges.
“Our district faces public safety concerns pretty much more so than any other part of the city,” he said. “While we have been making progress, there’s a lot more to do.”
As Seattle heads into Seafair weekend, Lin encouraged residents to embrace the city’s popular summer community celebration while looking out for one another.
“Community events are important,” he said. “Let’s be safe. Let’s have a great community event. Let’s enjoy the beauty of both nature and each other’s company.”
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