Through the Static

By Hannah Saunders

The city has cycled through a slew of police chiefs over the past few years, and after the sudden resignation of Chief Shon Barnes following the international headline-grabbing Bite of Seattle shooting in July, Mayor Katie Wilson is on the hunt for a new, permanent fixture. At the same time, thousands of dollars of financial incentives for new and lateral hires are ending on September 1, creating more major changes to the department after years of its union complaining of a lack of pay and low officer numbers.

Mayor Wilson kicked-off her nationwide search on August 25, and is focused on candidates who will shape the culture at the Seattle Police Department (SPD), as well as the future of public safety. In an announcement, Mayor Wilson described this as a “pivotal,” moment to ensure public safety aligns with Seattle’s priorities and values.

“I am looking for a leader who understands that public safety starts with public trust. It is a trust that is earned every single day. Seattle’s next Chief of Police must be visible, accountable, and present in our neighborhoods, listening to residents, workers, and businesses across our city,” Mayor Wilson said. “We need a leader who will also be present and engaged within SPD, with a focus on operational excellence, leadership development, and internal culture, ensuring that SPD is a great place to work and that every employee does their part to build relationships with the communities this department serves.”

The creation of the Chief of Police Search Advisory Committee is in the works, and will consist of community leaders engaged in public safety, and executive law enforcement professionals. The Committee will focus on evaluating different candidates who apply for the position, with the annual salary range between $234,294 to $374,900 (or $112.21 to $179.55 per hour). The group will also take part in engagement with the community, including neighborhood listening sessions and a publicly available survey for residents to share what they’d like to see in a new chief, which closes on September 15.

Two committee members have already been selected to serve: Ian Warner, Public Policy Director at Vulcan Real Estate and retired Justice Mary Yu. Warner has previous work experience with Zillow and has provided legal counsel to the mayor’s office. He was also involved with the police department’s enactment of the federal consent decree. Yu is stepping out of retirement to fulfill this Committee’s needs, having served on the King County Superior Court and the Supreme Court for 25 years.

“I am committed to ensuring that the search for the next police chief reflects the values of openness, transparency, and meaningful community involvement,” Yu said.

Warner expressed how the Committee’s goal is to locate a chief who can earn the trust of the public, support officers, and improve public safety for residents and businesses alike.

“Mayor Wilson understands how consequential this decision is for Seattle, and I appreciate the confidence she has placed in Justice Yu and me to help lead this effort,” Warner said. “My experience with previous chief searches and long history working with SPD have shown me the value of strong leadership and meaningful relationships inside and outside the department.”

The new chief of police will not be announced until early 2027, and over the next several months, the City will engage in community outreach efforts; the first neighborhood listening session will take place on September 26 from 12-2 p.m. at the Van Asselt Community Center. From October through November, the Committee will review candidates, and from November to December, candidates will be examined and finalists will be interviewed by Mayor Wilson; the Committee will recommend up to five candidates for the examination process.

The posted job listing states:

“Successful candidates will be visionary leaders with an unwavering commitment to safety for all and a thorough understanding of constitutional policing in a major metropolitan area. They bring expertise from their experience in law enforcement leadership, including significant executive-level experience within a complex policing organization.

“As the next Chief, they will build on Seattle’s completed and ongoing reforms, demonstrating their ability to drive positive change and shape culture. Equity will center their decision-making; they actively listen and are committed to justice for everyone. They are trusted partners who act with transparency and compassion.”

Ongoing budget issues

This new search comes amidst ongoing budget issues. For years the Seattle Police Officer’s Guild (SPOG), which is SPD’s Union, has claimed that the department has been understaffed and underfunded, despite their operating budget ballooning each year. In 2025, $457.9 million was dedicated to the department, and this year it received 6.68% of the total operating budget, or $488.6 million.

Due to this year’s budget constraints, Interim Police Chief Andre Sayles made the decision to temporarily pause financial hiring incentives for new and lateral officers, according to King5. At the time of reporting, SPOG has not issued any public statements, and SPD will continue to advertise hiring incentive pay on its website through the end of the month.

Currently, new hires are awarded $7,500 and up to $5,000 in reimbursable moving expenses if that move is greater than 50 miles in distance. For lateral hires, SPD has awarded officers $50,000 and up to $7,500 for reimbursable moving expenses if coming from a place over 50 miles away.

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