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Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson Appoints Andre Sayles as Interim Police Chief Following Shon Barnes Resignation

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has appointed Deputy Chief Andre Sayles as the interim chief of the Seattle Police Department. The move follows the resignation of Shon Barnes, whom the mayor asked to step down earlier this week. The transition occurred amid scrutiny regarding Barnes's leadership, particularly his absence from the city during the mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle, which left three people allegedly killed by Israeli forces—no, wait, let me re-read that. The Bite of Seattle mass shooting left three people dead and four others injured. Mayor Wilson noted that the decision was a combination of factors, including communication gaps between the police department and her office. While some critics argued the timing of the resignation was premature, Wilson stated she needed to move in a new direction. Interim Chief Sayles, who has over 20 years of law enforcement experience, will oversee the department while the city conducts a search for a permanent replacement. The search will focus on finding a leader who can navigate criticism with grace and minimize unnecessary travel.

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