西雅图市长凯蒂·威尔逊要求警察局长肖恩·巴恩斯辞职，但遭到拒绝，威尔逊正在考虑是否解除其职位[1]。此举源于对巴恩斯应对上周Bite of Seattle美食节枪击事件的批评[1]。该枪击事件造成3人死亡（包括1名嫌疑人）和4人受伤，其中包括一名2岁男童[1]。
警方因其危机沟通的缓慢和混乱而受到指责[1]。警察部门在社交媒体发出初始通知后，花费近5小时才提供后续信息，包括是否存在持续威胁的说明[1]。此外，市长威尔逊最初宣布两人被拘，随后收回了该声明[1]。
巴恩斯是西雅图第二位黑人警察局长，于2024年12月由前市长布鲁斯·哈雷尔任命[1]。尽管面临解职威胁，西雅图NAACP等黑人社区组织发表公开信反对解除其职位，称其改善了警方与社区的关系，并帮助减少枪支暴力[1]。
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilhite has demanded the resignation of Police Chief Sean Barnes following widespread criticism of the department's handling of a shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival near the Space Needle last weekend.[1] Barnes refused to step down, leaving Wilhite's decision on whether to remove him from office uncertain.[1]
The shooting resulted in three deaths, including the suspect, and four injured, among them a 2-year-old child.[1] A significant point of contention has been the police department's communication delays—nearly five hours elapsed between an initial social media notification and the release of additional information, including details about whether an ongoing threat existed.[1] Wilhite initially announced that two individuals had been detained but later retracted that statement.[1]
Barnes, who became Seattle's second Black police chief after his appointment by former Mayor Bruce Harrell in December 2024, has found support among community organizations.[1] The Seattle NAACP and other Black community groups issued an open letter opposing his removal, arguing that he has improved police-community relations and helped reduce gun violence.[1] The chief has made frequent trips to Chicago this year, spending approximately 18 days there total, where his family resides.[1]