Seattle Police Chief Barnes has resigned days after a deadly shooting in the city, according to reports. Seattle Mayor Wilson accepted Barnes’s letter of resignation, making the departure official after a period of public uncertainty over the chief’s future.
The resignation has drawn criticism from some city council members, who described the decision as unacceptable. The circumstances surrounding the departure have also prompted scrutiny of the police department’s leadership and the mayor’s handling of the transition.
Seattle’s police watchdog had received 60 complaints involving Barnes, according to other reports, and two new investigations were opened after a confrontation involving the chief and a reporter. The reports did not indicate whether those matters directly prompted the resignation.
Andre Sayles has been named Seattle’s interim police chief. The leadership change comes as the department and city officials face renewed attention following the deadly shooting and questions about police oversight and accountability.
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