Seattle mayor outlines criteria for new police chief amid shooting investigation
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Mayor Katie Wilson said the city will conduct an urgent search for a permanent police chief, naming Deputy Chief Andre Sayles as interim while a search committee is formed.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson announced Friday that the city will begin an urgent search for a permanent police chief, forming a search committee to guide the process. She said the next chief must be able to build relationships within the department, handle criticism and communicate clearly in stressful situations.
"Despite the challenges of this moment, I feel deeply hopeful about the future of our Police Department and of public safety in Seattle," Wilson said at the news conference.
Following the resignation of Chief Shon Barnes, Deputy Chief Andre Sayles was appointed interim chief. Wilson said Sayles was chosen because he has prior experience in the role and can "hit the ground running."
"He is deeply committed to community policing and youth engagement, consistently prioritizing the relationships between law enforcement and the people being served," Wilson added.
The leadership change comes as Seattle continues to investigate a shooting at Seattle Center that left three dead and several injured. City officials said communication delays during the incident highlighted gaps that need to be addressed.
"There were gaps in communication all around, and I definitely want to own my part in that," Wilson said. "Part of this is communication failures within SPD and part of that is communication failures between SPD and my office."
Sayles, a veteran of Wisconsin law enforcement with more than 20 years of experience, said he does not take the interim role lightly and emphasized the department’s focus on public safety and upcoming summer events.
"This week has been difficult, but I also know what this department and city are capable of when we come together with a common goal of keeping our community safe," Sayles said.
The police department continues to search for multiple suspects in the Seattle Center shooting, stating it is "very close" to apprehending at least one individual. A 15-year-old was arrested at the scene and charged with first-degree assault.
Wilson defended the timing of the leadership change, noting she has a broader perspective on department operations than council members.
"As the executive of the city, I do have a different window into our Police Department than they do. I am making what I firmly believe is the right decision at the right time," she said.
The mayor said the eventual permanent chief should support alternative crisis response models, cooperate with accountability agencies and encourage community feedback.
"I believe that the vast majority of people in our city want the same thing," Wilson said.