On Tuesday, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has announced his intention to nominate interim Police Chief Shon Barnes to the City Council for confirmation as permanent chief, following Barnes’ first 100 days at the helm of the Seattle Police Department. Harrell cited the chief’s early performance, including significant progress on officer recruitment, reductions in crime, and consistent community engagement, as driving factors behind the nomination.
“Chief Barnes’ record of effective, community-based policing made him an outstanding candidate in our national search for Seattle’s next police chief, and, in his first 100 days, he has further demonstrated that he is the right leader to move our police department forward,” said Mayor Harrell. “By nominating him to the City Council for confirmation as our permanent chief, I’m excited to see the continued positive impact of his work to keep our city safe and strengthen our police department.”
Harrell said he and Chief Barnes are united in their priorities and approach to policing.
“Chief Barnes and I share a vision for a Seattle-Centric approach to policing to reduce crime and harm while improving quality of life for residents, and I look forward to seeing this plan continue to come to fruition.”
Since his appointment as interim chief, Barnes has dedicated himself to connecting with residents, city departments, and local organizations. He has participated in approximately 300 meetings in his first 100 days, building relationships through community safety walks and direct engagement with law enforcement partners and city staff. He has also met with Seattle Police Department (SPD) command staff to articulate a vision focused on professionalism, accountability, and community responsiveness.
Barnes has prioritized officer recruitment and support. He has attended graduation ceremonies for four classes at the state Criminal Justice Training Commission, where he completed the Basic Law Enforcement Equivalency Academy. This year, SPD has hired over 75 new officers and received more than 1,600 applications as of mid-May. If the current pace continues, SPD is on track to hire more than 150 officers in 2025—potentially marking the department’s highest number of hires in recent memory.
In addition to staffing, early data points to a reduction in crime across the city. Reported violent crime decreased by 15 percent in the first four months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Overall reported crime declined by 7 percent. When compared to the first quarter of 2022, violent crime dropped nearly 25 percent and total crime fell by 24 percent.
Chief Barnes described his initial months in Seattle as driven by urgency and a commitment to long-term reform.
“My first 100 days can be easily described as ‘a strong sense of urgency’,” he said. “I immediately embarked on a foundation-building journey grounded in listening, assessment, strategic planning, and implementation, and the hard truth is that SPD has weathered a difficult five years — marked by leadership changes, staffing losses, and shifting public trust.”
He said the department is moving forward under a new framework.
“We are charting a new course with Seattle-Centric Policing — a department-wide strategy rooted in three interlocking pillars: evidence-based, police-led crime prevention; community and government-led initiatives; and services and support-led efforts. Together, we will become the most innovative, responsive, and community-centered police department in the nation.”
Barnes has presented his long-term vision for SPD with a focus on being compassionate guardians, trusted partners, and committed problem solvers. His Seattle-Centric approach underscores the department’s role in both preventing crime and supporting communities through collaboration with local government and service organizations.
Councilmember Bob Kettle, who chairs the Public Safety Committee, underscored the importance of Barnes’ nomination at a pivotal moment for public safety in Seattle.
“I’ve appreciated the opportunity to get to know Police Chief Barnes during his first several months leading the department,” he said. “As we begin the formal confirmation process, I look forward to hearing more about his plans and vision for the future of policing in Seattle. This is a critical time for our community, and ensuring public safety remains a consistent concern for many residents across the city as there’s more to work to be done.”
Throughout his first 100 days, Chief Barnes has worked closely with outside experts and organizations to develop an evidence-based strategy for the department. He has consulted with Seattle University’s Circle Dialogue, student safety leaders, the Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy at George Mason University, and the National Network for Safe Communities at John Jay College.
Bonnie Glenn, Interim Director of the Office of Police Accountability, spoke about her experience working with Barnes.
“It is a pleasure to work with Chief Barnes,” she said. “He is supportive of our accountability system, understands its critical role in maintaining the integrity of SPD, and its part in strengthening the relationship with the community we serve.”
Before joining SPD, Barnes served as the Chief of Police in Madison, Wisconsin, beginning in 2021. He brought over 12 years of command-level law enforcement experience, including in patrol, training, and recruitment. He also served in a civilian role in Chicago overseeing police accountability and training compliance under a federal consent decree. He is recognized nationally for work in reducing crime, improving community-police relations, and leading organizational change.
