SEATTLE, Wash. — Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has named the next police chief: Shon Barnes from Madison, Wisconsin.
Harrell made the announcement Friday morning following a nationwide search.
Barnes has served as the Chief of Police for Madison since 2021. If his name is familiar, this might be why: He was thrust into the national spotlight earlier this week when a school shooting in Madison left three dead, including the shooter, and six injured.
“Earlier this week, under tragic circumstances, the nation received its introduction to Chief Shon Barnes. We all saw firsthand what our team has known since we began this recruitment process – that Chief Barnes possesses the impressive leadership capabilities, compassionate approach, and dedication to effective police work needed to continue moving our Police Department forward,” said Mayor Harrell in a news release.
“I am truly honored to accept this position and thank Mayor Harrell for his trust and confidence. The mayor and I share a vision that crime prevention and community safety is a shared responsibility and that every community member plays a role in keeping Seattle safe,” said incoming Chief Shon Barnes in the release. “My family and I are excited about the opportunity to integrate into Seattle’s vibrant community, known for its diversity, innovation, and resilience. I look forward to working alongside the dedicated men and women of the Seattle Police Department to uphold these core values.”
The search for Seattle’s next chief began in mid-2024, after former Chief Adrian Diaz was terminated following an investigation into his behavior. That investigation claims Diaz had “an intimate or romantic relationship” with a former police department employee — one he allegedly hired and supervised for a position he created.
Sue Rahr was named interim chief, and she helped to lead the search for Diaz’s replacement.
The mayor’s office says there were 57 total applications received from across the U.S. which were reviewed and narrowed to a list of 44 qualified candidates. The top four candidates were invited to take a competitive exam in November, as required by the City Charter. Three candidates – Chief Barnes; Nicholas Augustine, Assistant Chief of the Montgomery County, Maryland, Department of Police; and Emada Tingirides, Deputy Chief, Los Angeles Police Department – passed the exam and were forwarded to Mayor Harrell for his consideration and final selection.
Mayor Harrell will welcome Chief Barnes to Seattle with a public event in January.
He has over 12 years of police command-level experience, including patrol, training, and recruitment, and served as a civilian police accountability executive in Chicago, where he helped meet the training plan requirements of a federal consent decree.
Under Chief Barnes, so far in 2024, the mayor’s office says Madison has seen a 67% decrease in homicides, a 40% decrease in auto thefts, a 36% decrease in burglaries, and a 19% decrease in reports of shots fired.